Spin My Love (My Love #1)(22)

I put my phone back into my gym bag and walk over to the equipment. I punch the boxing bag, working my aggression out and pretending the bag is Keira’s face. Four more jabs, then I start on my kicks.

“I guess this probably isn’t the best time to ask you out on a date, then?” comes a voice from behind me. I turn and face my kickboxing instructor, Greg.

“Really?” I ask, blinking in surprise. I’m sweaty and disgusting right now, red-faced with no make-up, and my hair sticking out in every direction.

Greg smiles. He’s good looking, but he knows it, which kind of puts me off. He works out a lot, and I’ve seen him around the gym flirting with different women. He’s not my type.

Still, I find myself feeling a little flattered, especially since I kind of look like shit right now.

“Why not?” he asks, tilting his head to the side. His eyes peruse my body in a suggestive way, and I clear my throat. Yeah, no thanks.

“Sorry, I’m kind of seeing someone right now,” I straight-out lie. I offer him an apologetic smile, grab my towel, and head home.

After a long shower, I clean the house then pick up Parker from kindy. Tane calls and asks if he can drop in to see Parker. I tell him yes, because what else am I supposed to say? Parker is his son, and it would be selfish of me to keep them apart.

I just hope he becomes a good role model for my son. My biggest fear is that he’ll suddenly decide he no longer wants to play dad, and then Parker is left wondering why he was abandoned and what he did wrong. I can tell Parker loves Tane already. I don’t want Tane to disappoint him. I want him to become a permanent fixture in Parker’s life.

Right on time at six pm, Tane arrives.

“Hey,” I say as I open the door for him. He’s wearing worn jeans and a red t-shirt that fits him to perfection.

“Something smells good,” he says, stepping inside and closing the door. “Thanks for letting me drop by.”

I swallow. “No problem. Parker was asking about you today, anyway.”

“He was?” Tane asks, sounding surprised.

I bob my head. “He was. He’s in the living room, playing with his toys.”

Tane nods and follows behind me. I stop in the doorway and watch Parker as he plays with his toy soldiers. “Do you want to play with him while I finish up dinner?”

“I’d love that,” he replies in a low tone. I nod, force a smile and head back into the kitchen. As I set out the food on the dining table, I can hear their laughter from the living room.

I smile, letting them enjoy their time together for a little while longer before I call them for dinner. After I do, Tane walks into the kitchen with Parker on his shoulders.

“Mum!” Parker calls out, a huge smile plastered on his face. “Look at me.”

“I can see.” I giggle. “Come and eat your dinner.”

“Can I sit next to Daddy?” he asks, wide-eyed.

My eyes dart to Tane, who can’t hide his amazed expression at Parker’s question. I offer him a small smile, which after a few moments he returns. I have never heard him refer to Tane as that before. I never thought I’d see the day when Parker would call Tane his father, and this is a memory I won’t be forgetting.

“Sure, of course you can,” I tell him, giving him a gentle smile.

Tane smiles at me gratefully. Thank you, he mouths.

I nod and sit down at the table. I better get used to this.

“Mum, what time is Justin coming tomorrow?” Parker asks around a mouth of food.

My lips tighten. “He can’t come tomorrow. I think he’s a little busy.”

Or his mum is a selfish bitch who wants your dad, and is now acting like a spoiled child who got her favourite toy taken away.

Tane tilts his head and watches me. “What happened?”

I look at Parker and try to answer. “Keira wasn’t too happy after …”

Tane’s jaw ticks. “You have got to be kidding me.”

I shake my head no.

“I’m sorry Giselle,” he says. “If I’d had any idea that you two were connected …”

He would have found someone else to sleep with?

I lift my shoulder in a shrug. “It’s done. We usually spend every Saturday with Justin, so this is going to suck.”

“I will handle it,” Tane announces, a sharp edge to his tone. I’m sure he will.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll call Levi, he will handle it for me,” I tell him, placing my fork down on my plate. The air in the room suddenly turns dense.

“I will handle it,” he repeats, looking down at his plate.

Okaaaaayy then.

I don’t know why, but I push. “It’s his sister, I’m sure he can handle the situation better than anyone else.”

Tane’s hands curl into fists on the table. “This is my family, and I will take care of it, no one else.”

I raise an eyebrow, wanting to say something, but not wanting to start a fight with Parker present.

Tane doesn’t look up at me to see my reaction. I sigh, pick up my fork and continue to eat.

“I want to play with Justin,” Parker speaks up into the silence.

“Justin will come over to play. Don’t worry, Parker,” Tane says in a calm tone.

“Okay,” Parker replies, grinning widely.