Perfect match

Sweet Boy

Freya POV

I slipped my heels off and quietly tiptoed down the hallway. As I entered the lounge room I saw Gina, the nanny sitting on the lounge watching the tv with my sweet little bundle curled up asleep beside her.

“Sorry I’m late,” I mouthed to her.

“Not a problem,” Gina whispered back, gingerly standing up from the lounge trying not to disturb his slumber. “Toby is a delight to look after. I am just glad you took some time out for yourself for once, although I wasn’t expecting you home so soon.”

I waved away Gina’s last comment. “Oh, you know me, Gina. I’d much rather be at home with Toby than wasting my time in a pub after work.”

Gina’s brow furrowed. “You are allowed to have a life, you know Freya.”

“Yes, I know. It just feels weird and a bit wrong.” I admit.

“Weird, yes. But wrong, definitely not!” She replies firmly. When I do not respond, Gina picks up her bag saying “Well, it is time for me to head home, I will see you in the morning.”

“Thanks, Gina” I smile gratefully, as I curl up on the lounge next to my sweet baby boy.

“I’ll let myself out.”

I nod in acknowledgement as I push a sweaty curl off Toby’s forehead. It had been two years since Ryan had left. Toby was barely six months old, and it took all my strength to rebuild my shattered heart after Ryan’s betrayal had destroyed me. If it weren’t for Toby needing me, I probably wouldn’t have survived. Ryan had been my whole world, and when we had Toby, I thought my life was complete.

Sighing at the painful memories, I reminded myself that Ryan was not perfect. He had an awful temper that I was ashamed to admit he had turned on me more times than I should have tolerated. The final straw of our relationship was when I had walked in on him in the office, f*****g his secretary on his desk. Ryan worked for my dad at Thompson Enterprises, that is where we had first met when I began as an intern. He was a well-known player, seducing many of the women in the office, but I was a sucker for a bad boy so I couldn’t resist when he focused his charms on me. I was devastated by Ryan’s unfaithfulness. My dad had fired Ryan for unethical conduct. He offered to buy out Ryan so that Toby and I could stay in our penthouse apartment, but I refused to stay there. Every corner of the apartment reminded me of him, and really I did not like the place anyway. It was too cold and sterile for my tastes. Ryan liked everything sleek and modern, he loved to flaunt his wealth- fancy house, lavish cars and, apparently, loose women.

Instead, I had found a run-down Victorian cottage a few streets back from Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. As soon as I saw it, I fell in love with its homely vibe and surprisingly huge backyard. Dad and Elliott tried to talk me out of it. Whilst I could definitely afford the asking price, and the much-needed renovations, my dad and brother thought it was not a fit neighbourhood for their darling Freya to reside as a newly single mother. I disagreed- the artistic and eclectic vibe of the neighbourhood suited me to a tee. It was home, I felt safe here, and that was all that mattered to me. So, I put in an offer the owner couldn’t refuse and had spent the last two years renovating the home Toby and I now resided in.

Checking my phone, I saw a message from Rachel.

Rachel: you’d never guess who I saw at The Standard tonight *winky face and eggplant emoji*

Me: Ummmm, let me think… would it happen to have been Josh Mason? *squinting face with tongue emoji*

Rachel: How did you know?!?! *sad face emoji*

Me: He arrived just as I was leaving.

Rachel: Oh… damn he was looking good.

Me: I didn’t notice…

Rachel: Sure you didn’t… liar!

Me: Honestly, I didn’t pay that much attention. He checked me out though.

Rachel: OMG! You have to give me all the deets on Saturday when we catch up.

Me: There is nothing to tell.

Rachel: Bullshit!

Me: No bullshit. Nothing happened. I need to get to bed, I have a big meeting in the morning xx

Rachel: Night xx

I scooped Toby up into my arms and walked down the hallway to my room. I knew I was setting a bad habit, letting Toby sleep in my bed, but it was so comforting having him so close.