Page 27 of Break Me Gently

“Hello, poppet,” he said, before his eyes wandered to me. “Hello, son.”

Everyone froze. Everyone except Luke.

“I brought some champagne,” he said to Isabella.

I felt Amber’s wet hand on mine, and that snapped me back to the present moment.

Oh, it was on, motherfucker.

Legally, Isabella was my mother, so he truly was a motherfucker. The thought only made me angrier.

“Are you okay?” Amber whispered.

He began tonguing Isabella and I quickly looked away.

“I need to bleach my fucking eyes out,” I muttered.

Amber snorted and covered her mouth.

I shook my head in disgust and began to rinse the vegetables. I was obviously the only one who could see through Luke.

Chapter 15

Amber

My heart sank as we stopped at his car. He was packed and ready to go. I didn’t get to say goodbye last time he left, and I now considered that a kindness as I stood there, fighting tears.

He placed his fingers beneath my chin, but I closed my eyes.

“Hey, don’t cry, Princess Amber,” he murmured, before crushing me into his embrace.

“You remember?” I whispered.

He was quiet for a moment, holding me tight, as if he could protect me from the world.

“I remember everything,” he said, before kissing my temple. “I’ll come and see you on weekends, and then there’s the half-term.”

“I’ve got revision,” I sniffed.

“Alternate weekends then.”

I nodded against his chest, but a bit of my snot might have rubbed off on his coat.

“Aww, fuck. That peeping Tom bastard,” he said, quickly releasing me.

I glanced back at the house to see Luke standing by the window in the front room, sipping his tea while watching us.

“He’s not doing anything, Zach. I don’t know why you dislike him,” I said, searching my pockets for a tissue.

“Just keep an eye on your mum,” he said, still glowering at Luke. “I don’t trust him.”

I paused, hands still in my pockets.

Did he just express concern for my mother?

I was almost jumped up to kiss him, but remembered Luke was still by the window. This might work out after all.

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