“But what I believed was wrong.”
“Yup.” He smirks, then adds, his voice teasing, “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to make you pay for it.”
My cheeks flood with heat. An image of Will bending me over and ‘punishing me’ rushes through my mind. Not now, Sophie. I push the image away.
“Want water,” Heather squeaks from my lap. The sickly glaze in her eyes is enough to cool me down completely. I’m about to give her a sip of my water, but Will gestures for me to stop and gets up.
“Where do you keep her goblets?” he asks from the kitchen.
“Cupboard above the toaster,” I reply, running a hand through Heather’s soft hair. The sounds of Will rummaging through my cupboards feels strange. But I could get used to this.
Soon Will is back with a pink goblet of water and hands it to Heather, who gives him a small smile despite how terrible she must feel. She props herself up against me and starts sipping contently.
“Why don’t we put on a movie, girls?” Will asks, right before looking at me. “If it’s okay with your mom, of course.”
“I wanna watchMoana,” Gwen purrs from her end of the sectional couch.
“That’s a good plan,” I agree. I grab the remote from the coffee table and put on Gwen’s movie of choice.
In just a few minutes,Moanais playing on my TV, and my daughters and I are huddled on the couch with a blanket each. Will sits at the edge of the couch, closest to Heather, who leans against him trustingly. In return, he strokes her back in an attempt to soothe her.
I can’t help but smile, even through the nausea. The care he shows for my girls is so natural. I watch him from the couch, the fabric of my blanket hiding half my face.
“Look at you,” I find myself saying asHow Far I’ll Goplays in the background. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for someone who likes kids.”
Will glances over, his cheeks colouring slightly. “I’ve always wanted kids.” He sighs. “You’re lucky, Sophie. They’re … they’re amazing.” He looks down at Heather with fondness.
Something in his voice and gaze tugs at my chest. It feels like he’s letting down his walls, now that I’ve put down my pitchfork.
“They really are,” I respond as I hug Gwen closer to me. “They’re the absolute best part of my life. Even now, despite all this. And they’re why I want to grow my business the way I’m trying to. They deserve the world.”
“They do, but you deserve the fruits of your labour, too,” Will whispers softly.
A memory flickers to the forefront of my mind. It was years ago, before Gwen was even born. Will had come over, and we were having a typical lazy Sunday afternoon in our Mile End apartment. I remember Matthew’s harsh words, thinly veiled as jokes, directed at me—cutting slices into my self-worth. Later,I’d heard their voices raised in the other room. An argument? I hadn’t been sure; their words muffled by distance and my own desire to ignore the conflict.
Now I’m beginning to wonder if it had been about me.
But before I can ask him, I feel my body fill itself with lead, eyelids included. And before I have a chance to fight the instinct, I drift into sleep.
CHAPTER 16
WILL
Iglance over at Sophie, who’s looking peaceful as ever against the couch cushions. The messy bun in which she gathered her hair earlier is falling apart, tendrils of golden locks falling across her elegant cheekbones. I resist the urge to sweep them away.
She seems more frail like this. More vulnerable. But I know it’s only an illusion, because this woman is anything but weak. Yet, now that she needs me, there’s a driving force surging from my chest that wants to protect her at all costs.
My phone vibrates, prompting me to take it out for the first time since I walked into the house.
Ryan
Everything okay? What’s going on?
Will
Sophie’s sick. So are her girls. I’m sticking around to help out
Ryan
