Millie is here all the bloody time; she’s moved in without anyone telling me. Not that I’m complaining. The house smells better. Dog doesn’t laze around in his underwear as much. His clothes get washed. His dirty socks reach the washing basket. She’s a positive influence.
And Dog… Hell.
He follows her around like a love-struck puppy. Eight weeks together, and I’ve never seen him so settled. Normally, he bounces from one shag to another, never stopping long enough to remember his conquest’s name. Has my old friend finally been tamed? It’s hard to believe.
“Do you want a cuppa, Lance?” Millie calls from the kitchen.
“Yes, please, Mills. That’d be lovely.”
She appears with my mug and places it on a coaster next to me.
“Biscuit?” She smiles, passing me a plate laden with them. She hesitates, eyes softening in a way that sets alarm bells off.
“Everything okay, Mills?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’m not sure,” she whispers. “It’s Dog. He’s different.”
“Different how?”
“Distant.” Her shoulders droop. “He’s pulling away. The other night, we were in bed, talking about Christmas and our plans. I said I’d like to spend it together.”
“Okay, and what did he say?”
“Nothing. He grunted. Since then, he’s been cold, like a wall is being built between us.” Her eyes shine with unshed tears. “I thought it was just a bad day, but that was three days ago.”
Dog has never had a girlfriend as long as I’ve known him. This is new territory for me, too. My advice is limited to guesswork. But I’ve never known him to be deliberately cruel. A pain in the ass, sure. But cruel, never.
“I’m not sure what to say, Mills. He’s crazy about you. In all the years we’ve been friends, he’s never been so infatuated with a woman.” A smile sneaks onto her lips. “Give him a few days, then ask him what’s bothering him. Maybe caught off guard. Serious relationships are new for him.”
She nods and disappears into the kitchen. An hour later, the house fills with the smell of baking, and I know we are in for a treat. Millie is an amazing creator of cupcakes. Her little business is growing fast. She supplies cakes for events and parties around the area.
Could Dog get any luckier? A beautiful woman who spends her days baking cakes—she’s bloody perfect, if you ask me.
I pull out my phone.
It’s been three days since I saw Katie. Three days since I woke up with her hair on my pillow and her soft snore in my head. And fuck, I miss her.
But she’s nervous; our age gap worries her. It’s the little comments she makes when we’re lying together in bed or infront of the fire after a bottle of wine. What will people think of us together? She’s brought it up multiple times. Never mind her crazy ex she expects to jump out of the shadows. I need to tread gently.
I send a message.
Hey Gorgeous. Are you free tonight? xoxo
Her reply pings back fast.
Sure am. What do you have in mind? Please note: fire and cozy slippers are stiff competition. xoxo
I chuckle. A grin splitting my cheeks.
A drink in the local pub? xoxo
Another fast reply.
The local pub? Where your ex-wife works? Are you serious? xoxo
The hairs stand on the back of my neck, a sting hitting my ribs.Wife.
Ainsley hasn’t been my wife in a long time. Not really. She’s been messing around for years.