I stare at Cole numbly, while my fingers lose the grip I had on the glass, which slips and smashes on the tiled floor. Did he just say Sophie is pregnant? Did I really hear him, right? I don’t even think I was blinking while I just sat there staring at him like some kind of an idiot. I think I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
“Oh. Wow. Congratulations. I should, uh, c-clean the glass...” I mutter pathetically while I kneel on the floor attempting to pick up the shards of glass with my trembling fingers.
“Shayla, what are you doing?” I hear Cole say as he hurries toward me, kneeling in front of me while I pick up the broken pieces of glass.
“It just slipped out of my hand when you…uh, God, I’m so sorry.” I apologise.
“Shayla, leave it. Stop, you’re going to hurt yourself, just leave it.” Cole frowns and reaches out to touch me, but
Cole shakes his head and looks into my eyes; his fingers combing through my hair, “Please don’t go. I’d rather see you every day, and have it kill me. I’d rather love you quietly from afar than have you walk away and never see you again, please don’t.” He pleads sorrowfully. “I know I have no right to ask this of you, if you have to hate me, hate me, I’ll take it. I’ll take you hating me any day over losing you completely.”“I wish I had it in me to hate you, Cole, it might have made this constant aching in my heart more tolerable, but I don’t think I have the strength to watch you get married and have a baby with her,” I sigh with a shrug. “I just can’t.”Cole drops his gaze from mine to my bleeding hand and licks his lips, “I understand.” He whispers woefully and frowns when he unwraps the cloth and sees more blood oozing from my hand. “The bleeding won&r
He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “No, I’m not. I’m going to fuck it up like I have everything else. I’m so fucking terrified Shay.”I lift my hand and stroke his jaw, “It’s okay to be scared, but you’ve got this.” I assure him, and he presses his lips to my forehead.“How do you still have so much faith in me after everything I’ve done?” He questions, pulling back and looking into my eyes with such devotion it stole my breath.“Because I love you, you stupid boy,” I whisper, and he smiles a little, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.“And I love you, you silly girl.” He whispers back and leans in kissing me softly on the lips. I sigh when he pulls back, and his eyes search mine for a moment.“You should go,” I tell him, and he shakes his head.“No, I’m not leaving. I’m staying with you.” He declares reta
I moan when I feel something softly comb through my hair. “Get up you goof.”“No,” I mutter my voice muffled my face currently pressed into my arms which are resting on my desk.“Cole, I need the blueprint, but your giant forehead is covering the part I need to see,” Shayla complains and taps my head with her pencil a couple of times. I smile into my arms and peek up at her, not fully lifting my head.“Excuse you, this forehead has expanded to capacitate the knowledge and wisdom my brain has accumulated over the years,” I tell her and Shayla narrows her eyes at me and tilts her head to the side while her lips curl into a smile.“Uh-huh, looks like a receding hairline to me, but whatever makes you feel better, big boy.” She says, pulling on the paper and glaring at me playfully when I don’t move. “Let go.”I grin at her, and she blinks at me. “Big boy?”
I reach over and put the music on to drown out the silence in the car. I glance back at her through the mirror when a song we love comes on, and she looks at me briefly her lips curling into a smile as I sing the lyrics along to the music.Forty minutes and a lot of discreet stares later, we arrived at our destination. We walk through the crowd of people— it was more crowded this time than the last time we were here. Shayla was walking beside me with Josh on her left, and I had Sophie on my right. Sophie laces her fingers with mine and my insides recoil, but I let her hold my hand, she is carrying my baby after all. We weren’t even there five minutes before Sophie was complaining.“Oh, good grief. Like hell, I’m eating off those disgusting carts. This place is completely unhygienic. I can’t eat anything from here. I wind up getting sick.” She utters in distaste and Shayla, and I glare at her.“I think you’ll find t
“Aimee,” I say back holding her gaze steadily until she looks away. I nod and smile at Jo, who waves at me. Jo is lovely; she’s a lot more laid back than Aimee. Although, I am happy she has loyal friends who love and care about her enough to protect her.We walk around and try different foods from different carts. “Oh baby look, can you win me one of those cute bears,” Sophie asks, wrapping her hand around my arm, clinging to me.I resist the urge to roll my eyes and nod, letting her drag me to the stall where you had to shoot down the targets to win the prize. “What do we have here,” Josh says, picking up the gun next to me. What was this boy doing? Is he seriously flirting with Shayla right in front of me? I fight off the agitation and shoot down the targets and Sophie squeals, and wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. I pull away instantly and sigh.“That’s my sexy man.” She coos, pressing her
I clear my throat interrupting their conversation. “Are you ready to go?” I ask Shayla and Josh, who look at one another just as Sophie comes back when the rain stops.“Actually, we’re going to stay a little longer. I’m still dying to try out more food, and the girls want to go drink some margaritas, they’ve kindly offered me a ride home so I’ll pick my car up from yours tomorrow,” Josh tells me, and I nod looking at Shayla who holds my gaze for a moment.“Girls, I’ll be right back. I just need to go give Rico something.” Shayla says, and I watch her as she walks off into the crowd.“I should go say bye to Rico, Sophie, you go to the car. I’ll be there in a bit.” I say and hand her the car keys. Sophie begins complaining once again and asks Josh to walk her to the car as I follow Shayla.I see her hand something to Federico and he nods winking at her. She smiles at him, bl
“How do you say it again?” Josh asks, squinting as he leans into me so he could hear me better over the loud music.“Salud,” I repeat with a snicker, and he nods and holds his Margherita glass up.“SALUD!” He hollers and the people around cheer and repeat it holding up their drinks. “Oh, my God. This place is just awesome. I can’t remember the last time I had such fun.” Josh laughs, clinking his glass with mine.“Ah, all you really need for a good time, is some decent company. Surround yourself with people who are on the same wavelength as you and you’re good to go.” I say with a shrug and watch as Jo and Aimee dance with two guys they just met.Josh leans forward and licks his lips. “You know I get it.” I look at him with a smile and shake my head confused.“Get what?”“Why Cole is having such a hard time letting you go.” I keep the s
Cole:‘Did you get home, okay?’Me:‘Yes, Cole, I’m a big girl. I can take of myself.’Cole:‘I know you can, but I still worry. What are you up to?’Me:‘Watching a movie with the girls and Josh.’While I wait for his reply, my phone starts ringing with his name on the screen. I excuse myself and walk to my bedroom to answer the phone. “Why are you calling me at this time?” I whisper as I close my bedroom door.“Why is Josh at yours?!” Cole barks and I close my eyes sighing.“I told you we’re watching a movie. What’s it got to do with you anyway?” I ask hotly trying to keep my voice down, and I can hear Cole pacing on his end.“Christ, Shayla, are you trying to make me crazy? Are you deliberately doing this to make me jealous to get a reaction out of me? because you’re fucking succeeding!&rdquo
Twenty minutes later, the house smelt sensational with home-cooked goodness. Cole strolls into the kitchen while his wife cooks pancakes. He wraps his arms around her from behind and kisses her pulse. “As good as this food smells, I can’t wait to eat you later,” Cole growls in her ear hungrily, making her grin. “Shh, baby, the kids are going to hear you,” Shayla whispers back, looking up at him, and he matches her grin leaning close. “They’re not even in here.” Cole chuckles, kissing her softly. Shayla wraps her arms around her husband’s neck and parts her lips when his tongue silently requests permission to meet her own. “Oh, barf. Mum and Dad are making out again.” RJ grumbles, walking into the kitchen, followed by Alaia, who grimaces as they take their seats at the dining table. Shayla and Cole laugh as they pull apart. “Now you know how we feel watching you slobber all over your little ‘friends’ you keep bringing over.” Alaia retorts, making air q
Sixteen years later…On a beautiful Saturday morning in the month of August, Shayla Hoult rolls over in the bed she shares with her gorgeous husband Tristan Cole Hoult and smiles contently. At the tender age of forty-six, he was still every bit as handsome as he always was. She lay on her side and admired him while he slept. He still looked the same—but older with fine lines that came with maturity, which made him even sexier. The stubble of his beard had specks of grey, which she loved.“Why are you staring at me?” Cole mumbles, his eyes still closed, causing his wife to start while she was lost deep in her thoughts. Shayla smiles, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly, and reaches over to brush her fingers over his cheek. Cole smiles, peels his eyes open, and blinks, looking at his beautiful wife smiling at him lovingly.“How long have you been awake?” Shayla giggles when he wraps his strong arm around her waist and drags he
I exhale slowly, and Cole sits up and turns the night light on, blinking a couple of times till his eyes adjust to the light. “My water broke,” I tell him, and he shifts and pushes the covers off himself and gets out of bed. I watch him walk around the bed to my side, and he takes hold of my hand to help me sit up.“Are you having contractions?” He questions, brushing my hair away from my face, and I nod. “What do you need me to do?”I exhale slowly when another contraction comes. I wait for it to pass before I speak. “Call my midwife, then my mum. Tell her I’m in labour, and we’ll drop Laia to her.” I instruct him, and he kisses my forehead before he grabs my phone. While Cole was on the phone, I take off my wet clothes and change into a pair of grey comfortable tracksuit bottoms and one of Coles oversized hoodies. The pain was getting worse by the minute, and I was worried we wouldn’t make it to the hospital. “Cole, we have to go. Like right now.” I whimper, and he l
“Shay.” I lift my gaze from staring at my huge baby bump and look at my husband, who rolls over when I turn the night lamp on. “You okay?” Cole questions drowsily, and I glower at him.“Why won’t this baby come out.” I hiss angrily, and Cole groans, leaning up on his elbow and looks at me, his green eyes narrowed.“Maybe he likes it in there and isn’t ready to leave just yet.” He smiles, rubbing my bump, and the baby squirms inside me at his father’s touch. My due date was six days ago, and this stubborn child is showing no indication of arriving anytime soon.“I’ve had enough.” I whimper, agitated. “I’m uncomfortable. I haven’t slept a wink in days, and I’m swollen like a beached whale. Look at me.” I complain, gesturing to myself, and Cole lets his eyes wander over me, and he smiles. “What are you looking at?”He blinks, bemused.“You just said—”“You get this baby out of me right now.” I huff, and Cole scratches his forehead, his brows fu
Shayla pulls back and looks up at me, tears flowing from her beautiful eyes. “Did you...” She trails silently, asking me if I had something to do with her killing herself off, and I shake my head.“No, I had nothing to do with that. She obviously couldn’t handle being locked up. The warden did say girls like her are like fresh meat to a hungry lion.” I explain, brushing her tears away.“I did.” I turn and look at Sam, and Shayla frowns. “I may have visited the prison. A guard there is a friend of mine, and when he found out you were my sister, he did me a favour.” He explains with a shrug, stuffing his hands into the pocket of his jeans. “It wasn’t enough that she was locked away, I wanted her to suffer, so I had my artist friend paint a photo of you and Cole kissing on the wall opposite her cell, she’d be forced to stare at it, be reminded every second, of every day that she didn’t break you,” Sam tells her. Shayla pulls away from me and runs into her brother's arms.
“That was a great party. I’m a grown arse man, and I had a blast.” Josh chuckles, sitting back on the sofa, taking a sip from his beer. I smile and nod, looking over at my mother and Shay’s mother directing the kitchen's cleaning crew. Sam comes across with baby Trey in his arms and sits on the sofa with a tired sigh.“It really was. Shayla did a great job with organising everything.” I tell him, and Josh nods, looking over at the baby in Sam's arms.“How’s fatherhood treating you, bro?” Josh questions putting his beer bottle down and taking Trey from Sam.“Tiring man, but I wouldn’t give it up for the world,” Sam admits looking over at Trey curled up on Josh’s chest. “To think I was terrified of ever having one of those, now I can’t picture my life without him.”I smile in understanding. “Yeah, they really do change your life, especially if it's with the right woman,” I state, and both men nod in agreement.“I feel so left out. I can’t wait to hol
“Happy birthday, princess.” I croon, looking down at Alaia, who just rose from her sleep. She smiles up at me as soon as she sees me, displaying her two teeth. She’s always so happy in the morning, and this morning was no different. She’s just lying in her crib, kicking back with her hands behind her head. “Good morning, my sunshine.” I pick her up and kiss her cheek affectionately. “Is my baby girl one-year-old today?” We walk out of the nursery back to our bedroom, where Shayla was still asleep. “Let’s go wake up, Mummy,” I whisper, kissing her temple and smile when I see Shayla lying on her front, peacefully sleeping. I crawl up on the bed and lay Alaia down on her stomach, and she immediately crawls over to her mother. I lay on my side and watch as she makes cooing sounds, pressing her hand to Shay’s face, who stirs from her sleep and smiles.“Mm, good morning, birthday girl.” She sighs, lifting her arm and wrapping it around Laia, who tries to crawl over her. She looks o
We see Josh and Aimee in the waiting room, along with Jo’s father, “How is she doing? Any news?”Aimee shakes her head. “Not yet. We got here not long ago.” I sit beside her, and Cole walks over to Josh, talking to Jo’s dad, Phil. “Did you look in the mirror before you left the house?” Aimee grins, her blue eyes raking over me.“No, why?” I ask apprehensively and look down at myself.Aimee laughs, “You look fucked out, girl. You could have at least run a brush through your hair.” I stare at her dumbfounded and reach to comb out my hair with my fingers.“We left in a rush,” I whisper, unlocking my phone and loading up the camera. “Do I really look that bad?” I look at my reflection in the camera and gasp a little. My face was all flushed, my hair a tousled mess, my lips were swollen, and I had love bites all over my neck. “Oh shit.” I curse, pulling my hair over my shoulder to cover up the love bites.Aimee nudges me, grinning wickedly. When I look
Later that evening, Cole and I were sitting on our bed, me on my tablet and him on his, looking through emails. “Do you not think we’re going a little overboard with this birthday party?” I ask, looking away from the tablet to him, staring intently at a document on his device.“No,” Cole utters, typing away on the screen. “What my baby wants, my baby gets.” I frown.“Cole, she’s turning one, she doesn’t have a clue what she wants. She’s not even going to remember this.” Cole looks at me and shrugs.“She’s aware of more than you realise.” He replies, his brows lifting to his hairline. “Don’t you see the way her little face lights up when she sees Moana on the screen?” I smile and nod, “Or the way she sways side to side when she hears the song.”“That is adorable.” Cole nods, smiling, and leans over, puckering his lips for me. I lean in and kiss him softly.“Let’s give our baby girl the birthday she deserves.” Cole mumbles against my lips, and I grin