Another one to stir things up! haha :)
“Stop.” Jack insisted as he placed a hand to Aaron’s back,
trying to grasp his attention.
Instantly pulling his eyes away from Sophie, he managed to
refocus his attention and place it onto Jack instead.
“What?”
“Stop fucking mopping. You either need to do something about
it or get over it and move on.”
“I have moved on.” Aaron protested but even he wasn’t
convincing himself.
It had been a year since Sophie had finally got her business
fully up and running and things had been going amazingly. She had packed up all
of her stuff in Brighton and moved across to New York City where things were
only on the rise for her.
She never imagined things would turn out the way they had
but with Felix and his boyfriend Mitch by her side, it had made it that little
bit easier.
She had quit her job at Topshop and was now working for
herself with a huge team behind her. It was the first time ever she had been
able to call herself a real boss. She no longer had to look to someone above to
tell her what to do and was finally calling all of the shots.
However, the price of that success had not come with
complete ease and it had caused some issues back in Brighton with Aaron. The
arguing had begun well before she decided she needed to move to New York
however, it had been pushed to the limit when that had been put forth.
Sophie’s long working hours had put a strain on their
marriage and although she had planned to move Aaron and the kids with her, he
wasn’t so excited about the idea.
“No, you haven’t. Every time she comes back here you turn
into a fucking mess.”
“It’s just weird. It’s taking some time to get used to.”
“A whole year?” Jack questioned with raised eyebrows.
“If this was Jess, you would be the same so don’t give me
that shit.”
“If this was Jess, I’d have done something about it rather
than just standing around and waiting for something to happen.” Jack corrected
as they both watched as Sophie was surrounded by her kids, craving her
attention.
Not getting to see their mum everyday was tough on the 7, 4
and 3 year old and a year later, the late night tears still occurred. Although
it had been tough, Sophie and Aaron had both agreed that it was better for them
to stay here in Brighton. They had their whole life here and had already
started schools and preschools so it seemed unfair to move them.
Sophie had kicked up a fuss to begin with but Aaron had
managed to talk her down from it when he placed the reality of the situation on
her.
Therefore, they had managed to make an arrangement whereby
the kids went to stay with Sophie in New York through all the half terms and
holidays and then they stayed in Brighton with Aaron during term times.
It was difficult as that could mean they would go long
periods of time without seeing their mum however, that was why these visits
with Sophie coming back home were essential.
“She has her whole life sorted now and I’m happy with mine.
I’m not ruining things now.” Aaron continued to protest against Jack as he
refused to see that his best friend was right.
“You mean, she’s dating some rich guy while you fail to stay
with a girl for longer than a week?”
Jack looked at Aaron expectantly and he
knew he was right.
“I’m figuring stuff out.” Aaron mumbled under his breath as
Sophie then began approaching them with all 3 kids excitedly surrounding her.
“Hey, Phoebe just told me Tiger won an award at preschool
for his behaviour. You never told me that?” Sophie looked at Aaron in question
while Jack couldn’t help but grin.
Even though these two had divorced and had tried to get past
all of their arguing, the bickering still persisted. It was usually the
childish back and forth that consumed their relationship before and he knew
neither of them would ever be able to stop it.
“Oh shit, yeah. I didn’t think you’d care that much.”
Although Aaron hadn’t meant what he said as it came out, he
definitely should have been more careful. He suddenly saw the offended
expression spread across Sophie’s face before it quickly turned to anger.
“You thought I wouldn’t care?” She clarified as Aaron
quickly began shaking his head.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Soph. I just mean, it was a
sticker and it went straight over my head.”
Aaron was waving his hand around
and trying to emphasise his point but it wasn’t working with the blonde.
“I told you I didn’t want to miss out on anything. You can’t
keep this stuff from me Aaron... even if it’s only minor. It’s huge to me.”
Lifting Tiger from his feet and into her arms, Sophie took
note of his beaming face as he was still expressing how proud he was for what
his sister had told Sophie.
“Next time it happens, I’ll tell you. Alright?”
Nodding her head, Sophie was quickly distracted as her phone
began ringing in her pocket. This was not unusual as this thing was usually
calling off the hook all day due to her business however, this time it wasn’t
work and it was her boyfriend, Max.
“Hey babe.” She answered with an excitable tone to her voice
and Aaron couldn’t help but feel a little bit sick at the thought.
He recognised that tone and it was one he had got to hear
every time he used to call when she was away. However, he was no longer the one
that she was missing when she was in a different country and he was no longer
the one she would be eagerly waiting to get on a flight to be reunited with. That
was now Max.
“Sorry, I’ll be back.” Sophie quickly turned to Aaron and
Jack with a smile over her face before wandering off with the kids to take the
call.
Aaron’s eyes remained on Sophie as she walked away while
Jack’s attention was fully on him.
“Are you going to blink or?” He teased, nudging his best
friend’s side before laughing.
In response to Jack’s humour, Aaron stuck his middle finger
up in his direction, not appreciating the fun Jack was getting out of this.
“I still don’t get why she’s with him. She used to hate
businessmen.”
“I have moved on. I’m
fine. I’m over it.” Jack began to mock knowing that was so far from the
truth.
Aaron continued to date girls and continued to try and find someone
he wouldn’t get bored of in less than a week but it wasn’t proving successful.
In some ways he was back to his old self, yet at the mature age of 34. His life
was like a continuous session of speed dating where he was making his way
through the long list of women that lived in Brighton yet none could seem to
match up to his ex-wife.
“It’s true though.”
“Yeah, maybe but he probably gets her more. They’re both
successful business people; they understand the long hours and still want
more.” Jack was trying to rationalise the situation with Aaron. “You need
someone who is more on your wavelength. Like that girl you met up with last
night.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Aaron’s eyes were back on Jack as
he looked at him in question.
“She was alright, yeah. She didn’t say much though.”
“Exactly, that’s your wave length. Neither of you have much
to say.”
Although Jack liked to make light of Aaron’s situation, he
did feel bad for him and had been there every step of the way. The decision to
keep the kids in Brighton had been tough on both parents as it meant Aaron was
having to cope with the kids alone a lot of the time.
He was balancing both work and play well but it wasn’t easy
and that was obvious to see. Therefore, Jack had ensured to help where he could
whether that be with looking after the kids or cutting his hours at work.
“Are you going to see her again?”
“I said I would but she asked to see me tonight... and
obviously I couldn’t.” Aaron replied while waving his arm around the room.
They had all come to Jack and Jess’ for a get together and
catch up with Sophie and therefore, he had turned down a second date for that.
“Then rearrange. Your problem is that you don’t make any
effort. You’re not married anymore, it doesn’t come naturally.”
“Exactly. The whole dating thing fucking sucks, I’m over it
now. It’s awkward and uncomfortable.”
“I mean, I can’t relate because I’ve been stuck with the
same woman pretty much my whole life but...” Jack grinned teasingly causing
Aaron to laugh. “...once you get past that awkward stage, the fun begins.”
“I’ll arrange something with her but for now; I need to get
through tonight...”
“And prevent yourself from making a move on Sophie.” Jack
continued before instantly freezing as Sophie appeared.
“What about me?” She asked and although she was acting
oblivious, the smirk on her face was clear enough that she had heard every word.
“How is New York treating you then?” Aaron quickly
intervened yet with a mocking tone to his voice.
They had not even been in each other’s presence for a second
and the bickering was already back.
“Great.” Sophie remarked with a similar sarcastic tone in
return. “Not that you care... because it’s just pointless and a waste of time
when I had a perfectly good job in London.”
Although Aaron had said those words out of anger when Sophie
had first pushed for them all to move to New York, he hadn’t meant it. However,
Sophie continued to bite back with them whenever they were arguing as they had
engraved themselves deep into her mind.
It had been the one thing that hurt her the most at the time
as she thought he was supportive of her. Although, in the heat of the moment it
appeared he wasn’t her biggest cheerleader as she had hoped he would be.
****
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