“Oh my God,” She whispers, looking over her diploma, her eyes filling with tears. “I can’t believe it. I mean, I knew it was coming but to actually have it, it doesn’t seem real.”
I couldn’t contain my excitement for her. I grin proudly. “It is real. You did it, Shay, you worked hard and never gave up on your dreams, and the result is right there in your hands.” I tell her, reaching up and brushing her tears away. Shayla looks up into my eyes as I stroke her jaw. “You should be proud of yourself,” She smiles, and her whole face lights up.
“Actually, we did it. You probably don’t remember, but I couldn’t have done it without you, Cole. You were honestly so supportive and helpful. You stayed up late nights helping me with assignments, and when I was ready to give up, you wouldn’t let me. You always reminded me who I am and kept me on track.” Shayla says with a sigh. “No matter what has happened between us, I want you to know that I’m grateful to you and all the opportuni
Ten minutes later, we are on our way to the hospital. Shayla called Janet, her midwife, who told her not to panic and come in right away. I look over at Shayla, who winces a little while she inhales and exhales slowly. “You okay, sweetheart?” Shayla shakes her head, closing her eyes.“I’m getting contractions.” She whispers, rubbing her stomach. I bite my lip, feeling so utterly useless. What the hell do I do? I’m trying so hard not to panic and stay calm for her, but I am freaking the fuck out inside. “I need to call my mum and the girls. The hospital bag, my medical file, it’s all at home.” Shayla explains, taking out her phone but stops when she gets another contraction. “Cole, please hurry.”“We’re almost there, baby, just a little bit longer.” I drive faster, and each time I hear Shayla whimper in pain, my insides clench tight. We finally get to the hospital, and they take her in right away and hook her up to a CTG machine that measures the baby’s heart rate and h
The words love at first sight didn’t mean much of anything to me until I laid my eyes on my daughter. My daughter. I have a daughter. How crazy is that? A couple of hours ago, she was inside me, and now she’s out and sleeping peacefully beside me. It was just like everyone said to me, she will heal all the broken pieces inside of you, and she has. The moment I held her, and she opened up those beautiful green eyes, my heart was captivated. There really is nothing more important to me than her. After her birth, we had to spend a week in hospital because she was born preterm, and the paediatricians wanted to keep an eye on her; however, she was absolutely perfect. She’s feeding well and gaining weight by the day. All her tests have come back clear, which meant we finally get to take her home.I jump awake when I hear Alaia fussing and see Cole was holding her against his chest, rubbing her back softly. He’s obsessed with her. You wouldn’t think this was the same man that said h
After dressing myself and getting Alaia ready and strapped in her car seat, we finally leave the hospital and head back to the apartment, much to Coles dismay.“Aww, here’s my princess.” Aimee coo’s when we walk into the apartment. She takes the car seat from Cole and sets it on the sofa. “Welcome home, baby girl.” Josh, Aimee, and Jo all gather around the baby as I watch them. Not even a week old and she’s already so loved by so many people.“Hey, I’m home too.” I voice put out, and the girls look over at me and wave before cooing over Alaia again.I hadn’t noticed I was crying until Cole lifts my head and brushes my tears away. “Hey, what’s wrong?”I shake my head, “Nothing, I’m just feeling overly emotional again.” I tell him, and he smiles and pulls me close hugging me. I lay my head on his chest and sigh, closing my eyes as he holds me tight. “I better go shower and get some rest while she’s asleep. Can you keep an eye on her while I shower? I won’t
“So, what is the deal with you two now?” Jo asks me quietly as she takes a bite out of her slice of pizza.I sigh and look over at Cole, talking with Josh. “I don’t know. He keeps saying he wants us to be a family and that he loves me, but I…” I trail off thoughtfully.“You’re scared he’s only saying that because of the baby,” Aimee finishes for me and I nod, closing my eyes. “Have you mentioned the divorce to him again?”I shake my head and look at her. “No, he keeps changing the subject whenever I try to bring it up. He’s refusing to give up on us, even though there hasn’t been an us for months now. It’s just not the same anymore.”Jo frowns, “Does that mean you don’t love him anymore?”“Of course I do, but my heart still wants the old Cole, and I know he’s not coming back,” I utter miserably while picking at my slice of pizza. “There are these moments where I feel like he’s back to himself again, but then he’ll look at me impassively, and it hit
“Let me love you, baby.” Cole whispers, ghosting his lips over mine, his fingers tangled in my hair. Cole’s lips brush mine apart, and just as our mouths were about to fuse, Alaia’s cry makes us jump apart.“I better go check on her,” I utter, stepping away from him. Cole nods, watching me as I walk to my bedroom and pick up Alaia. He walks over to us and leans close, dropping a kiss on Alaia’s head, all the while his eyes staring into mine.“Don’t break up our family, Shay,” Cole whispers pleadingly. “We can make this work. I know we can.”“We’ve never been a family, Cole,” I reply, looking at him steadily. “I’m tired of being married to a ghost. My husband is gone, and it doesn’t look like he’s ever coming back.”Cole licks his lips with a shake of his head, “Shayla, you’re not married to a ghost. I’m right here.” He tells me, frustration evident in his tone. “Why are you so reluctant on giving us a chance, babe?”“Because you hurt me one too man
“What do you think?”Shayla looks at the wall and wrinkles her nose in distaste. “I am not loving it.”I frown and look at the wall and then at her. “You said pink.” I remind her, and she lifts her jade gaze to mine and narrows her eyes.“I thought it would look cute, but now that I see it, I hate it.” She utters with a shrug of her shoulders.I exhale and frown thoughtfully. “Okay,” I bite my lip and look at her again. “I’m thinking, yellow?” I suggest, and she tilts her head to the side and looks around the nursery, and nods.“Yellow might work. It will definitely brighten up the room.” She sighs, glancing down at the baby monitor to check on Alaia before she looks at the wall again. “Maybe we can do a feature wall with her name in the middle.”I nod again and look at Shayla. It’s been two days since she and Alaia have moved back into our home. Shay’s been pissed about having to come back, but day by day, I’m hoping her anger will simmer,
“I mean, it has been a very long time since I’ve been scrubbed.” She breathes, reaching up and trailing her fingers down my throat.“That makes two of us, sweetheart,” I groan, pressing my forehead to hers. I can’t remember the last time I had sex actually, I know it’s been a hell of a long time if my achy balls were any indication. “When was the last time I gave you a good…scrubbing? Other than that little moment in your bed a few weeks ago, that is.”Shayla’s cheeks go beet red, and I chuckle when she looks at me with wide eyes. “I am not answering that. Get out.” She incoherently mutters as she shoves me away from the door and slams it shut in my face.“That long then?” I tease, pressing my face against the door with a grin. “I know you want me, Shayla.” I sing to her.“Shut up, Cole!” I hear her complain on the other side of the door before she runs the shower. I laugh, shaking my head, and leave her to shower in peace while I go and check on Alaia.
“Nothing really, just trying to process everything she said.” She replies with a little shrug as she looks ahead, avoiding my gaze. I smile and take her hand in mine as we reach the car and spin her around so she could face me. Shayla gasps when her body is pressed to mine, her fingers splayed out on my chest as I back her up against the passenger side door.“Cole, what are you doing?” She questions breathily as she glances around warily before she cranes her neck to look up at me. I brush my thumb along her jaw gently while I look into her eyes.“Reminiscing.” I drawl hoarsely as I press myself against her more intimately. “That little flashback I had of us in Nice has got me feeling some type of way.” I moan, looking at her lips hungrily when she licks them. “Stop torturing me, baby.”Shayla’s eyes light up, and she bites her bottom lip, “You heard the therapist, sexual contact is forbidden. You’re breaking the rules, and it’s not even been five minutes.”
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