London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 34. Daniel

Alex and I walk back into the cafe. The way her son is staring at us doesn't bode well for the beginning of a good relationship. So while Alex is talking to the guys, I go and meet the kid, grabbing my coffee mug from the table.

- Hey. Can I sit down? - I ask.

- Would it make any difference if I said no? - He answers, crossing his arms. Cheeky lad.

- I don't think so, - I say, pushing back a chair. There is tension between us. I study him and he studies me, as if the roles in the team were being secretly allocated.

- Well, now that you're seated, go ahead, - he says casually.

- Look, I'm just trying to get to know you. We kind of have a relationship with your mother, and it would be great if we could get along, - I say, sipping my coffee.

- All right, daddy, can I have some money? - This insolent man asks, I choked on my coffee.

- What? - the kid caught me off guard.

Max bursts out laughing:

- Chill out, I'm certainly not going to peruse you as a father. I googled you, I know what you're famous for. I don't like you. If you hurt my mother, blame yourself. You got it? - Is he trying to scare me? Really?

- I'm not going to hurt her. It's good that you're so protective of her. But you and I are on the same side. Relax.

- So how are you guys doing? - Alex asks, coming up to our table, - is everything okay?

- Fine, Mum, - Max replies, looking at me. - Daniel was just telling me in all colours about the delights of teenage life in London, - he adds, pulling on a sugary smile. Alex looks at me expectantly.

- Daniel's playing football with his friends, by the way. You might want to join them sometime. It'll help get you settled in quicker. What do you say, Dany? Is it possible? - she asks with such a pleading look in her eyes that I decide to play along. I can imagine how hard it must be for her to cope with that bundle of nerves.

- Yeah, sure. We're playing with guys tomorrow, we can take you with us. But I'll tell you right now, we're playing like grown-ups, full force. No one's going to give you a head start, - forewarned means armed, let him not hope for leniency.

- I can handle it, - Max snappes. - Give me the number, tomorrow we'll see who will win.

I dictate my number to him. Despite this, the atmosphere between us is quite heated, but Alex stubbornly refuses to notice. She's happy. You can see it in her eyes and by the wide smile on her face.

I want more than anything to be alone with Alex right now, but her son's presence and behaviour somehow interfere with my plans.

- Anton's calling, - Max says, pointing to his phone. He switches to Russian and chats animatedly about something with this jerk. Damn, Anton has the advantage. And I don't like it at all.

- He's picking me up soon, he wants to see me, - Max informs as he hangs up. - I'll be home in the evening, don't worry, Mum, - he says, rather to me. So we have to make it while the boy is away.

The Russian dude arrives an hour later. He walks into the cafe and smiles all over his mouth, it's already blinding my eyes. He's all luscious, walks over to Alex, hugs her, shakes hands with the kid, hugs him too. So, I guess they're closer than I thought.

- Daniel, - he holds out his hand to me without much enthusiasm, as if I want to be close to him. I nod and shake it silently. How he annoys me.

Anton exchanges a few words with Alex, and he and Max leave the cafe. Finally, I can be alone with her and enjoy her. I need her so much right now! I need to forget, I need to process all this stress, distract myself, and with Alex I can do that. But first I need to get her out of the cafe very quickly, leaving all the unnecessary politeness behind. So I take her by the hand and drag her with me to the exit, throwing to the guys on the way that we're in a big hurry.