Page 56 of Ruin Me Sweetly

“He’s using the bodyguard to spy on you,” said Rhea, aka Captain Obvious.

I answered the call.

“Hello, darling—”

“It’s all pasteurised,” I snapped, and hung up on him before sticking my middle finger up at Rem, who had the decency to look away in shame.

“He is kind of cute for a bodyguard. All rough and ready.”

“Rem is a backstabbing son of a pimp.”

“So, how’s those hormones working out for you?” she snickered.

I was halfway through my pregnancy now. It wasn’t my hormones that were the problem—it was my husband’s insanity.

My lips touched the straw, and I finally got my exotic milkshake fix.

So damn good.

Sweet, milky, creamy, and ice cold.

I was having two.

“You should have hooked up with Callum at the wedding,” I said, taking a breath before diving back in.

“What’s the point? He lives in Australia. I couldn’t live out there. Boxing kangaroos and being chased by spiders bigger than my head.”

“There’s life after divorce,” I told my friend gently.

She shrugged, lifting her tuna melt panini.

“Too much hassle.”

Most men would be put off by her strength, or even her lack of filter, but I believed there was someone out there for her. She had too much life and fire in her. She’d need someone exceptional.

I lifted my burger.

My phone rang.

I ignored him.

❧ ❧ ❧

His embrace, and his cologne, felt like a second home. I clutched the lapel of his expensive suit and kissed him back. His hand came to rest on our son.

We were halfway to his car when I mentioned I’d had sushi earlier.

The drive home was so good.

A full-blown lecture.

It wouldn’t surprise me if he’d taken a midwifery course behind my back, purely so he could torment me some more.

It wasn’t until we reached home, the metal gates beginning to swing open, that I finally told him the truth.

“I don’t know why you’re so worked up, darling. It was vegan sushi.”

The gates were fully open, but his attention stayed on me. I stared straight ahead.