“Hey, that’s supposed to make you smile and be happy, not cry.”
He brushes away the single rogue tear that has escaped my eyes.
“I am happy,” I tell him as several more tears fall.
In the blink of an eye, I am on my feet and being engulfed in Dec’s embrace. I feel safe here and hope that never changes.
“I love you,” I manage to splutter.
“I love you, too, even if you are an emotional conundrum.”
Before I can respond, not that I really know what to say to that, Dec continues.
“But then why wouldn’t you be. You have every right to be overwhelmed. You hit the jackpot when you snagged me…I can hear the sound of a million other women’s hearts breaking.
And like that with a friendly smack to his chest, my cocky, arrogant stud has me grounded and laughing.
~~~
I drop a text to Liv and also to Christian, inviting them to meet me. The invitation to Christian was more of a demand than anything and for all his holier than though threats, he has as much to lose as I do if he doesn’t meet with me.
Liv’s reply is short and sweet, agreeing to the time and location. Christian’s takes a while longer to land and is curt to say the least, but as I suspected, he agrees.
All I need to do now is sort things with them before the hardest part, telling Dec.
Chapter 28
Declan
I am technically on my second breakfast of the day as I sit in Mase’s kitchen tucking into a full English he has prepared for us both. Accepting a refill of my cup, I look around.
“No Liv?”
He shakes his head. “She didn’t sleep very well…”
I smirk.
“Get your mind out of the gutter and stop thinking about my wife having sex.”
I laugh at the warning I’ve heard several times before.
“The baby is keeping her up most of the night. Between peeing and shoving arms and legs into her ribs and shit, neither of us are getting much sleep.”
He does look a little jaded around the eyes, but he is still smiling.
“Good practice for night feeds and dirty nappies.”
“It certainly is. I’m just hoping we get a baby that likes to sleep at night, or we might need to get a nanny.”
“You are so fucking pretentious with a live-in nanny to cover your sleepless nights.”
I feel sad suddenly as I imagine my own child waking in the night and being tended to by someone who is neither of her natural parents. Mase sees my change in demeanour, reaches across and gives my shoulder something between a rub and a pat.
“We are not having a live-in nanny.” Liv appears and does look tired but also glowing and gorgeous as usual. She rubs her hand across her belly and makes her way to Mase’s side. “We have discussed this. No nanny.” She stretches up and kisses his cheek.
“Fine,” Mase replies with a pout. “I am more than happy for you to be a full-time stay at home mum.”
The look on my sister-in-law’s face suggests this is a discussion they have also had several times and she doesn’t seem in favour of having it again.
