In Hate With You [mlm]

the fifth instance

I collapse onto a bench, panting heavily. My headphones thrum against my eardrums, sending shock waves of sound through my brain.

The bottoms of my feet are sore from running and are probably covered in blisters. In my pocket, my phone vibrates again, and I roll my eyes.

Hannah has been texting me all morning, excited about moving in with her new beau. I'm happy for her, obviously, but I wish she wouldn't rub her happily-ever-after in my face. Especially because any chance of me having a happily-ever-after disappeared along with my dignity when I became a primary school teacher.

Running doesn't help the lonely thoughts leave my head, but it creates a different kind of cramping pain that trails up my legs and twists around my ankles.

I lean back into the bench, enjoying the feeling of the sun's rays painting across my skin, curling along my neck. My eyes flutter shut, and I sigh; I could fall asleep right here.

But then I remember the sweat crawling across my skin, pooling on the back of my neck, and I reluctantly open my eyes, shielding them from the hot sun with my hand.

In front of me, a mini-boating lake shimmers in the Saturday morning sun. Moored to a narrow pier, small plastic boats bob gently on the surface, creating an illusion of peace in the midst of the busy park.

Children are gathered by the pier; the youngest clutching at their parents' hands, the oldest desperate to escape their parents' watchful eye.

My eyes follow the path stretching around the lake, catching on a man stood close to the shore. He's laughing; his head thrown back, as he threatens to push the small girl beside him into the shallow waves. She giggles, glancing away from him, so I can make out her face more clearly. Ady.

Involuntarily, a smile perks up my lips, as I watch Ady tug at Dante's shirt. She screeches triumphantly as he stumbles, almost falling into the water.

Dante snarls in retaliation, making Ady shriek as she tries to escape. He winds his arms around her waist, picking her up and walking over to the water.

She shouts something, wriggling in her dad's arms.

It is then that I notice her mum; dyed blonde hair knotted in a loose bun, a summer dress cinched at her waist. She walks up to rescue Ady, chuckling at Dante's expression as Ady dances away from him.

Dante pouts, but amusement, and love, fills his eyes as he watches his daughter. Ady's mum wraps her arm around his, threading their fingers together with a soft smile.

How do they do it? It's way too hot for couples to be holding hands.

I stand up, suddenly very ready to go home and shower. That woman doesn't know how lucky she is to already be settled down with a partner like Dante and a daughter like Ady.

As I begin walk home, my phone buzzes again. I glare at the text from Hannah, inwardly regretting ever telling her about the hot guy who kept showing up at my door.

Now she thinks I'm a lunatic, because "He's got a daughter, James. He's probably already married." I scowl, cursing her out in my head.

Why did I ever think it was a good idea to move here?