Cole brushes his fingers through my hair. “Well, you are going to come back to work eventually, right? I don’t see you being the kind of girl to want to give up your career to be a stay-at-home mum.” He explains, and I chew my bottom lip. That thought hadn’t even occurred to me. Cole noticed the saddened look on my face and tilted my head up so I could look at him. “Hey, what’s with the sad face?”
“Cole, I don’t want another woman raising our kids,” I tell him ruefully, and he brushes his thumb along my jaw, his mouth set in a thin line.
“Of course you don’t, baby, but what about your career? You worked so hard to get your degree. The last thing I want is for you to be unhappy.” Cole expresses thoughtfully, and I sigh, my shoulders dropping. “Honey, I was raised by a nanny, and I turned out fine.” He specifies with an assuring smile. “I want you by my side at Cult. We have an empire to run, baby,”
“I know, but I don’t want a live-in nanny,” I say, peeking up at
The following two weeks were spent packing the old house to move to the new place. Cole was at work, so the girls came over to help me pack.“Jesus, I thought I had a lot of crap.” Aimee huffs, settling a box down on the floor, and winces.I smile sheepishly. “It’s mainly Cole’s stuff. All my stuff I fit into like four boxes. The rest is all his, Alaia’s and kitchenware.” I sigh, looking around the house sadly. “I can’t believe we’re moving again. I feel like that’s all I've done lately, packing and moving from one place to another. I moved out of the apartment to Coles, then back to the apartment, then back to Coles, then here, then back to the apartment, then back here again and now to a whole new place.”Aimee blinks at me and sighs. “I’m exhausted just listening to you say that sentence, girl.” She grumbles sitting on the floor, and she smiles when Jo comes waddling over. “That better be pillows in that box.”Jo smiles and sets the box beside the othe
“Oh my god!” Jo gets up from the bed. “You two are killing me. Why don’t you do it together? Aimee, use the other bathroom, Shayla you go in here. Go!” Aimee and I jump, and I hurry into the bathroom while Aimee leaves the room to go to the guest bathroom. My fingers were trembling as I ripped the test open. I can’t be pregnant again; it’s not possible. I pee on the stick, wash my hands, and leave the bathroom. I place the test on my nightstand, and Aimee puts hers beside mine. We look at each other. I hold my hand out to her, and she takes it. Aimee was shaking too. We wait anxiously for three minutes.“It’s time,” Jo says, looking at the watch on her wrist. Aimee and I walk over to the nightstand.“On three?” She whispers, and I nod. We exhale and lean to look at the test. I stare at the word ‘Pregnant’ numbly. Well shit. I look over at Aimee, who had the same look on her face.“I’m pregnant.” She whispers.“Me too.”“Guys! This is so great! Why
“We’re going to church?” I hear Shayla ask sceptically from inside her dressing room.“Yes, we are,” I answer, pulling on a pair of boxer shorts. Shayla pokes her head out and gives me a bemused look.“Since when do you want to go to church? You don’t even believe in God.” I walk over to her dressing room and lean against the door, watching her stand there, her back to me while she looks through her selection of dresses in a matching pair of sexy black lace bra and panties.“I do now.” I declare, and she looks back at me over her shoulder.“You do?”I nod and stride over to her. Shayla turns and faces me while I place my hands on her waist and pull her against me. “The one and only time I have ever been to church was after you got kidnapped,” I explain, gazing into her eyes. Shay’s face falls at the mention of the incident. I lick my lips, brushing my fingers through her long dark hair. “They found a body that matched your description, and I had to
“What if we have another girl?” Shayla asks, resting her chin in her hand while she watches Alaia and I play.“Good, I hope we do. I’d love another girl.” I tell her earnestly, and Shayla blinks. A look of surprise fleets across her beautiful face.“Really? I thought you would want a boy.” I shake my head, looking at her over Alaia’s head.“I don’t mind what we have as long as he or she is healthy, but I love the idea of being a girl Dad,” I explain, and Shayla smiles adoringly at me. “A boy doesn’t need a Dad much, but a daughter will always need her father.”“Why are you so darn cute?” Shayla asks with a sigh, and I smile, resting my chin on Alaia’s shoulder, looking into her eyes.“Could ask you the same thing, Buttercup.” I quip, and Shayla rolls her eyes.“You’re really not letting that nickname go, are you?” She huffs, sitting back in her chair. I laugh and shake my head.“Not a chance.”“Excuse me?” Shayla and I look up
After we get home, Shayla goes to change and put Alaia down for a nap, and I throw myself on the sofa with a sigh. I’ve got so many meetings lined up on Monday, and it’s honestly exhausting just thinking about going into the office. I untie my tie, leaving it hanging on my neck, and unbutton my shirt, feeling too lazy to get up and get changed. As I mindlessly flick through the tv channels, I see Shayla coming down the stairs, and she’s changed into a pair of grey, tight-fitted booty shorts and a white crop top. I smile up at her and toss the remote aside when she straddles me and kisses my chest. I pull her head up and curl my fingers at her nape, pulling her mouth hungrily to mine.“Mm, baby, can we talk for a second,” Shayla mumbles in between kisses. “As insanely sexy as you look right now...” She moans when I aptly flick my tongue over hers, her hands running over my chest.“Mhm, talk. I’m listening.” I groan, grasping her hips and rocking up against her hot core.
“Are you going to find out the sex of the baby?” Aimee asks while she scoops up a piece of chocolate cake and eats it, followed by a delightful moan. I sip my mixed berry smoothie and nod.“Mhm, for sure. Are you?” I ask her, and she nods enthusiastically, chewing on a mouth full of cake. “Does Josh have a preference?” I question curiously, and she nods, glancing over at him.“He said he doesn’t mind as long as it’s healthy, but he’d like a boy.” I smile and nod sipping my smoothie. We were having lunch before our appointments. “Can you believe how late Jo is? She’s overdue by eight days.”I wince and nod, “I know. I spoke to her earlier, and she’s very irritable. Sam said she keeps snapping at him. They’re both on edge, just waiting for the baby to arrive. Even I’m getting antsy waiting for the phone call.” I explain, fiddling with my straw, and Aimee sits back in her chair and rubs her baby bump.“I hope I'm not overdue. I will literally rip Josh’s head
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
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
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