“Brad!” she smacks my arm with the back of her hand, “It's not funny!”
“Your reaction is a little funny,” she moves as if to pinch my side, “Ok! Ok, I'll be serious. Larissa and I broke up tonight,” I admit softly. “Right before I came to your house. Did you not wonder why I was there?”
This gives her pause, “No, I...I didn't even question it.” Two little lines form between her brows as she mulls it over. “Wait, you broke up with Larissa and came straight to my house? Why?”
“I think deep down you know, but it can wait for tomorrow. The only important thing right now is that you know we're not doing wrong by Larissa.” My heart still aches for her, because she's a wonderful person.But she's not Shari.
Shari lies back down slowly, resting her head on my shoulder once more. “Is she ok? Larissa?” And this is one of the many reasons why I love her.
“Honestly? Not really, but she will be. She deserves the world, and I can't give that to her.” My hand gently combs through Shari's long hair as I speak, and the motion helps to soothe me. I know I'm not the one who needs soothing, but it does, nonetheless.
“Brad?” she asks in a small voice several minutes later.
“Yeah, Blaze?”
“Why can't you give the world to Larissa?”
I smile against her hair because she almost sounds hopeful. And that in itself givesmehope. “Because my world already belongs to someone else. Now sleep, love. We'll talk about it tomorrow.”
I stroke her back and just breathe her in. She's here, she's safe and hopefully soon, she'll be mine. Forever. Withinminutes, I'm listening to the rhythmic breathing of her, thankfully, dreamless sleep. But I can't switch my mind off. I lie there for hours, listening to her breathe, and watching the ceiling change slowly from darkest grey to a muted gold with the rising of the sun. My mind swirls withwhat ifs. What if her neighbour hadn't phoned the police? What if Larissa hadn't urged me to go to her? What if Lizzie had been there? That one is the hardest, and I'm so grateful my parents had her here.
My whole world has flipped over in less than twelve hours, but selfishly, I'm trying to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. I hate that I broke Larissa’s sweet heart. I hate that Shari had to go through any of what she endured at Jake’s hands. I hate that cunting prick, and every time I so much as think of him, I want to set the world on fire. But Blaze is with me now,and I'm keeping her.
35
BUMPY GONNA LOSE HER MIND
SHARI
15th February2026
I wakeup to a paw scratching the mattress next to my face, followed by a little whine.
“Ok, Pickles. I'm up, I'm up. I'll take you for weewees.” As I start to rise, the warm arm banded around my waist tightens and pulls me back down into a hard body.
“Don't get up,” Brad's gravelly voice rumbles through my skin. “I’ve got him. You have a lie in. I'm sure Little Miss will be harassing us soon enough.” As he stands and pulls on a pair of sweatpants over his Elmo print boxers, the events of last night come flooding back in.Oh god.Jake.But instead of being upset, the thought of him makes me absolutely furious.
I throw the covers off angrily, wrap Brad's bathrobe around me when I find it hanging on the back of the door, because I'm cold and it smells good, and storm downstairs to catch up to Brad. I'm ranting before I've even hit the last step, “That motherfucker! I could kill him! How dare he?—”
My words cut off abruptly when I see Phil sat at the dining table doing a crossword puzzle, wide eyes staring at me.
“Oh, Phil! Shit. I'm so sorry, I completely forgot you were both here for a moment. I'm...just...ugh!” I drop my face into my hands and mumble another apology. When I hear his low laugh build to a hysterical crescendo, I slowly peek through my middle and ring fingers before finally dropping my hands altogether.
His raucous laughter is infectious, and soon I find my lips twitching along with him. Brad is leaning against the wall by the back door with his arms crossed, shaking his head with a smile.
Phil finally calms down enough to attempt a serious face and asks, “Now. Who are we killing and why? Do you need any help? I'm bloody good at digging holes.”
“Don't you worry, Dad. Jaime has it covered.”
I roll my eyes, but wince when I realise I have to tell the girls everything that happened. I probably have missed calls from Jaime already after the voicemail I left.Where is my phone now?
“Shari? Do you want to take this one? I'm not sure anything I say will be favourable,” Brad grits out.
“Trust me, it won't be favourable from me either,” I grumble. Grace appears at that moment with a surprised expression when she's sees me standing there in Brad's robe.
Lizzie is perched on her hip looking all sleep rumpled, hair shooting off adorably in every direction, but her face lights up when she sees me. “Mama! You come! Lizzie cuddle.” I could just eat this girl up! I rush over and take her from Grace to bury my face into her soft, little neck.
“I missed you Lizzie Loo! Did you have a good night with Nanny and Grandad?”
