Tonight, I need to shake this off.
Tomorrow, I need a plan I feel safe in.
A plan that can rewire what this Axel is doing to me.
‘I’ll walk you back.’
‘That’s not necessary,’ I say.
‘I ain’t asking.’
‘But I’m telling.’
‘Tough.’
I clench my jaw, aware of Lottie’s eyes darting between us as she tugs on one of her pigtails, a sure sign that she’s tired, regardless of what she says.
‘You wanna talk, Tay, we’re gonna talk.’
10
AXEL
I’ve never been a great talker.
But watching her retreat from me on the sand… retreat and try to run…
I’d rather talk until I’m blue in the face than watch her run from me.
We do the rounds on the beach, letting Lottie say goodnight. She’s quicker than we are to notice Granny Anna’s absence. Sterling’s gone too: a fact we don’t make Theo aware of when we meet him and Sadie mid-stroll.
If they find it odd that Taylor’s retiring early, they make no show of it.
Lottie looks ready for bed anyway, head heavy on Tay’s chest, tiny fist tucked under her nose, eyes drooping.
‘Night, darling girl,’ Sadie murmurs, leaning in to give her a kiss. ‘You be good for Aunt Tay-Tay.’
Lottie nods but barely stirs and Sadie smiles.
‘Exciting day tomorrow: you get to be arealpirate princess.’
Lottie’s eyes flare wide and she jerks upright, arm soaring and almost chinning Tay in the process. ‘ARRR!’
Theo chuckles. ‘You’ve still got it,’ he murmurs, grabbing her fist and kissing it softly. ‘Night, kiddo.’
She gives a yawn as she tucks her hand back under her chin and gives him a sleepy smile. ‘Night night, Daddy.’
Daddy.
Every adult stills as Lottie settles back down into Tay’s arms, blissfully unaware of the impact one word can have.
From the look on Sadie and Theo’s face, it’s as much a shock to them as it is to us. The happiest kind of shock. Sadie turns to Theo, clutching his hand, her other coming up to smooth away a tear before it can fall.
‘Wow,’ he whispers, the sound catching in his throat.
‘Yeah.’ She leans in to rest her head against his chest. ‘I guess now we’re married, it’s truly settled it for her.’
He nods, gaze still fixed on Lottie already dozing in Tay’s arms. Then he wraps his arms around Sadie and kisses her hair. ‘I guess it has.’
