"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 105 - "Staff Leavers Party Part I..."

Chapter 105 - "Staff Leavers Party Part I..."

Clara's PoV

'I don't want to go but I sort of feel like I have to go' I complained Saturday evening. 'It would be better if you came with me?' I suggested with battered eyelids but it couldn't happen.

John was going to spend the night preparing hopefully for Poppy's brief discharge.

It would be brief but we were hopeful and it would be nice to have her home for a few days. That way she gets to see everyone.

'I can't and you know why. But you go out and have a good time. You completely deserve it' he hummed kissing my forehead as I straightened out the curls that were resting on my shoulders and sighed.

I wasn't a boy going out person anymore but it was one of the teachers going off on maternity leave that had been at the school for like ever and I knew her really well so I just had to pop along.

Even if it was only for a few hours while I sit at the bar and down orange juice.

'Fine'

'I'll come Mummy' avia said but it would be totally inappropriate. She was one of the kindergarten teachers at the school and had known avia since they moved to the country but it wasn't for her.

There would be drunk teachers and me sober and that was bad enough without worrying about an 11 year old all night.

'That's a nice offer sweetheart but your boy invited' I gunned. 'Maybe some other time' I grinned kissing her forehead and turning to John for a quick kiss before leaving the bedroom.

It was going to be a long night.

- - -

'Clara you came? What you drinking?' Adrien said as he dragged me towards the bar and I had to laugh at his excitement.

He was a good laugh sometimes I had to admit but I could tell he was already quite under the influence of alcohol.

'I'll just have a coke' I laughed at the bar tender as I spotted one of the bar men duck down under the bar.

I was going to look back because I swear to god whoever it was I had seen before or looked fricken familiar to me when I heard another voice that took me by more of a surprise.

'What the hell?' I scoffed as he wandered along the room hand in hand with a very tanned woman and gave me a cheeky smile. 'Good god Adrian did you know he was coming?' I growled.

'I had no idea' he smirked which was such a blatant lie but there was nothing I could do. He was here now.

And if was too late for me to escape - I had been spotted.

God if John know he was here he'd go crazy insane with jealousy.

'I thought you were in Australia?' I hummed taking a sip of my coke and turning away from him as to not make any eye contact at all.

If I don't make eye contact then I can't admit I've even seen him.

'Don't be like that Clara. My whole life is in London. I was entitled to move back' he said rolling his eyes.

'You promised Danny. You said you wouldn't be back to bug me again' I whined looking up at him now because I really had no choice.

'And I didn't know what the future held. You never can. But I ain't here to get in your way I promise. We'll never bump into each other again' he said rolling his eyes.

'And suppose John sees you huh? He just bumps into you in the local Tesco?' I snapped.

'Then I promise that I won't tell him I've seen you' he said with another eye roll as we plunged into silence.

I sat there tapping my glass hoping he would go. I knew he was quite good friends with Claire which is why it didn't overly surprise me that he was here but at the same time it bugged me.

'Are we going to sit in a depressing silence of are we going to catch up as friends?' He suggested with a smug smile and nudged my shoulder.

'We were never friends' I groaned I turned to look at him properly when I did a double take.

I swear someone had just ran behind him and bolted out of the door. It looked a lot like Richard?

But then Richard had promised to help John tonight so it just couldn't be?

Maybe it was just a really good look alike?

'So this is Anna' Danny said all of a sudden and I looked over at him concentration back on him.

'Hi. Clara' I said bluntly, then looked at her with squinted eyes.

She was drinking orange juice and looked slightly plump. I wasn't going to say anything because that's totally rude... but she was for sure with child?

'Anna this is my ex Clara. Things ended pretty badly but she's married with 3 kids?' Danny said amusedly.

Obviously I was a lot further along than this Anna because I had far more of an obvious bump that she did.

'5 technically... I mean one is my adopted little boy from my husbands previous relationship. And one more on the way' I smiled assuredly.

'Oh good. You haven't just gotten fat?' Danny joked as I rolled my eyes.

'No. I'm pregnant' I scoffed. 'Hence the coke'

'Well it's just good to know your still alive. Once you deleted me off face book I had no idea if you got the transplant or not' Danny mumbled.

I never really realised that he cared that much.

'Oh. Yeah. Couple of years ago now' I said as I made eye contact with someone behind the bar and he ducked down.

That was definitely him.

'I'm so sorry. The catch up is great but it just going to go and grab another orange' I hummed standing up leaving them with confused faces.

I mean Danny seemed pretty sane and this Anna seemed nice enough. I never even had a chance to asked if he was married. He might have other kids?

But Muniain priority was why wasn't Richard at home?