From across the hallway

Part 13

Missy was stood in her kitchen, washing the dishes.

She was still wearing her wonderful red dress, not even having the heart to change.

She had put Emily to bed about an hour ago, the little girl questioning why Missy wasn't going out anymore, but the caramel-haired woman had merely kissed her daughter and told her to sleep.

Since then Missy had tried to push thoughts of tonight from her mind. She had housework to do. There was no point in dwelling on it...she was a single mom and she needed to remember that. She wasn't going to be able to go out like other Moms could...she needed to be here to take care of Emily.

But right at this moment, Missy felt so alone. Trapped. Not by her little girl, not at all, but just by circumstances....

She hung her head, giving a quiet sniff as a tear slipped down her cheek and dropped into the soapy water below.

But before Missy could let another tear fall, there came a buzz from her phone on the worktop beside her.

Wiping her hands on a dish-towel, she grabbed the device and peered down at the message that had appeared on the screen.

{Night kinda sucked. (No-one to help me finish my tequila shots like you promised!) But if you're still up, I have pizza. *pizza emoji*}

Missy suddenly grinned as she read the message, her heart thudding inside her chest.

Quickly wiping at her eyes she typed an immediate reply.

{Emily's asleep, but pizza sounds good}

Less than a second after she sent it, there came a soft knock upon the front door.

Missy hurried over into the living room, then through into the hallway, before tugging open her door.

Stood there was, of course, the merc.

Tonight he had on his usual sheep-skin coat and tight, white t-shirt and in his arms, was, as promised, a large greasy pizza box.

He looked like he had already thought of an opening line, opening his mouth to say something, but instantly he faltered as he took in her slender form.

Missy was still completely dressed up, minus the heels and jacket of course, but her hair and make-up still looked perfect, despite her tears.

She felt herself blush under his gaze.

"Wow..." he said longingly. "You look.....fucking amazing."

Missy stared down at the ground, feeling herself flush further.

She stepped aside to allow him to enter, tugging at her bottom lip with her teeth.

She could feel those butterflies again...

He slid past her, but his eyes never left her face, and for the briefest of moments Missy smelt cotton candy on the air ...

"I'm really sorry about tonight," she said after a moment or two, both of them standing in the hallway facing one another. "My sitter cancelled...and I couldn't leave Emily so..."

"It's fine," said Wade almost instantly, taking a step towards her. "The party wasn't that great anyway...and besides all I wanted to do was come here, stuff my face with pizza and binge watch TV using your Netflix account."

Missy gave a chuckle, tucking a strand of caramel hair behind her ear.

She moved off into the living room as Wade followed, heading instantly over to her couch and taking a seat.