My Shari Amour, I am truly sorry if I hurt you last night, I think the world of you and can't wait to have you in my arms again soon. Love, Jake xx
This is such a thoughtful thing to do, he must have paid a hefty sum for same day delivery. I pick up my phone and call him.
“Hi, Amour, did you get my gift?”
“I did, thank you. You really didn't have to go to all this trouble.”
“It's no trouble. I've been thinking about you all day and wanted to make sure that you know how important you are to me. How important your happiness is to me.”
“Thank you, Jake. I'm so touched,” I gush.
He groans down the phone, “I would love to be the one touching you right now.”
Well, that took a turn.I suppose boys will be boys...although I really hate that phrase. I chuckle to keep things light, “Soon, Jake. Soon. How's your day been?”
It takes a moment for him to reply, but his tone is playful when he does, “Miserable without you. But I got in a workout and a swim at the gym, and I'm meeting Freddy and Owen at the pub later to watch the football.”
My doorbell rings before I can reply, and I look out the window to see Brad's car in the driveway.
“Oh, sorry, Jake, I've got to go. Brad's just arrived with Lizzie. I'll speak to you tomorrow?”
“Is he,” he grits out, “staying? Or just dropping her off?”
Opening the door, I hold a finger up to Brad in the universal sign ofI'll just be a minuteand walk into the kitchen. “Jake. I understand that the trust thing is new to you, and I will do my best to help with that, but I can't have you questioning every interaction I have with him. He's the father of my child, and we're friends. He's going to be in our lives whether you like it or not, so I just...I just need you to try and trust me where he's concerned.”
Jake's silent for too many heartbeats, but eventually he blows out an uneven breath. “You're right. I will try harder. Maybe...maybe if we met, that would help. You said he has a girlfriend, what about a double date?”
My eyes flick to the doorway where Brad is now leaning against the frame, his brow furrowed in concern. “You know what? I actually think that's a really good idea. I'll speak to him about it and try and get something organised. I do have to go now, but have fun with the guys and I hope Bristol wins the match!”
“Ok, bye, Amour,” he clips.
“Bye.”
I hang up and blow out an uneven breath of my own.
“Everything ok?” Brad's deep rumble is like a balm to my wavering thoughts.
“Yeah, all good. Did you guys have fun last night?”
Brad regales me with what they got up to last night – Spaghetti Hoops on toast for dinner followed by Disney's Hercules and a bath – as well as what they've been doing today since feeding the ducks, whilst I scoop Lizzie up and bury my nose in her hair. I take a big sniff directly from the source, “Man, it's like a drug. The smell of your own child, baby or no.”
Brad grins his agreement with a nod as Lizzie giggles at my antics and decides to tell me her version of the day’s events. Only about half the words are coherent, but it's adorable and her little face is so animated that I crush her in a frenzy of kisses at the cuteness, making her squeak in laughter again.
Setting her down with a snack, I hear Brad behind me mumble something that sounds dangerously close towhat the fuck?I turn around to find him looking into the open box of surprise gifts that Jake sent and am about to gush over it when I see that he looks furious.
“Brad...what's wrong?” I take a tentative step forward, unable to figure out why he might be angry when he holds up the card.
“I am truly sorry if I hurt you last night?Blaze, what the fuck? Did he hurt you?!”
Oh shit. “No, no, no!” I'm waving my hands, attempting to defuse the situation as I hurry towards him, “He didn't hurt me. Not like that. It's not...it's not what you think.”
“Shari, I need you to explain this right now because ‘not what you think’ makes me believe it'sexactlywhat I think. Or worse!” his voice gets louder with every word.
“No! It's not, I promise! I understand it sounds like I'm just trying to sweep it under the carpet, but you just need to trust me. He didn't hurt me like that and?—”
“What does that even mean? Blaze, I'm really close to losing my shit and storming out to kill him, so you need to?—”
“It was sex!” I shout, exasperated. But I immediately cringe as silence falls between us. “It was...that. He was just worried he hurt me...during,” I murmur quietly to Brad's chest, unable to look him in the eye.
