Chapter 18
Lacey
Why does no one talk about the fact that, when you are pregnant, you get wind and bloating that make you feel like a hot air balloon? Don’t get me started on the heat; every morning, it feels like a furnace is heating my bed, made all the hotter by Cole draping his arm over me.
I gently move said arm away from me, and ever so slowly, I inch out of the bed until I’m slinking onto the floor like some cat burglar. I sneak a peek back at Cole, making sure I haven’t woken him, then I run to empty my bladder before Peanut wakes up and starts the Irish jig in my stomach.
Someone pounds on my front door as I’m finishing up, so I make my way through my apartment, sure it’s the bailiffs with how hard they’re knocking. My jaw falls open as I look through the peephole. On the other side is Ted.
I unlock the door and yank it open before he can start banging again. “What the hell do you want?” Am I a cranky bitch? Yes. Does he deserve it? Also, yes.
His eyes narrow as his mouth lifts to one side. “Is that any way to talk to the father of your child?”
“You texted me telling me you didn’t want anything to do with the baby.” I cross my arms over my chest and give him my best ‘fuck off’ look.
“Maybe I’ve changed my mind.” He lifts his shoulder in a shrug.
“I’m not buying it, sorry. You’re not using my baby as a pawn in whatever game you're playing. Now, please leave.” I start to shut the door, but he puts his foot in the way and pushes it open. I silently curse myself for not waking Cole.
“Now, now, Lacey. Don’t start getting nasty on me; that won’t end very well for you or your new boyfriend.
Which reminds me, you have a pretty nice set-up with him.
I did my research – the owner of Peterson Construction is very nice, wealthy…
” I snort, but he carries on. “It seems like if you want me out of the picture, and I’m guessing you do…
Well, I think I should be compensated for that, don’t you? ”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You think I’m going to give you money that doesn’t belong to me, by the way, let’s make that very clear! Do you think I’m going to use my baby as a pawn in your sick game and pay you not to be in her life? Is that your whole plan?”
He moves forward, and for a moment, I’m frozen in fear. There is no way I can move fast enough away from him, and I don’t know this man, not really. I could try screaming for Cole, but the minute I do, what would Ted do?
“I could have sworn I heard her tell you to leave.” Cole’s cold voice floats between us, and Ted snaps his eyes up as Cole walks towards us with just his pyjama pants on.
“I’m done here anyway.” Suddenly, his bravado seems to disappear, and he starts to retreat.
“You’re done when I say you’re fucking done. Get outside, now.” He doesn’t sound like my Cole; this Cole is cold and demanding.
“Cole, just leave it…” I try to bring him back and grab at his arm, but he shrugs me off.
“Stay inside, Lacey.” He strides out of the door and follows Ted.
I’ve never been good at being told what to do, so I follow him.
He catches up to Ted outside and spins him around before he can open his car door. Ted throws a punch, but Cole is quick, ducking, then bringing his fist into Ted’s stomach with such force that the latter doubles over, gasping for breath.
Cole grabs the scruff of his jacket and tilts Ted’s face upwards.
“I am only going to say this to you once. They are my girls now. You don’t come near them.
You don’t contact Lacey. You will never, ever have anything to do with that baby.
And if you don’t listen and you choose to come back and threaten her again, then I will make you pay. Do you understand me?”
Ted can’t speak but nods, his eyes wide and scared.
Cole lets go of his jacket and opens the car door for him, an act that is completely at odds with how he just threatened the guy.
Ted starts his car and peels out of the car park. Cole watches him go, then turns to find me standing there gawping at him.
“I thought I told you to stay inside.” He must realise how that sounds the minute he says it because he shakes his head. “Sorry, I just meant–”
“I know what you meant, relax, Cole. But I didn’t ask for your help. I could have handled that.” I absolutely could not have handled that, but the stubborn part of me won’t let him fix everything for me. What about when he leaves? What do I do then?
“I do not doubt that you could have handled it. That isn’t why I jumped in.”
“Oh no? Why did you then?” Jesus, Lacey, stop being a bitch with him.
He smiles as he reaches out and cups my face. “I love you both, and I want to protect you. When he…when he said those things, it made my blood boil. I couldn’t stop myself even if I tried.”
I immediately soften. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I find it so difficult; maybe I’m just too stubborn to be loved.” I give him a little self-deprecating laugh.
“Don’t do that. There is nothing that could make me fall out of love with you. You forget, Lacey, I’ve been your best friend all these years. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the gross, and I’m still here. You’re worth it, Lacey, and I’m so lucky you gave me a chance.”
I have no words that can describe how that makes me feel; they all pale in comparison, so I show him instead. Standing on my tiptoes and cupping either side of his face, I kiss him softly and slowly, languidly moving our tongues in a slow dance.
**********
“So, wait a minute. You’re telling me that this little shit stick rocks up to your apartment and he asks to be paid to have nothing to do with his child?
” Hayleigh’s face is turning redder by the minute, and her voice is getting louder.
Because I can’t help it – if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry – so I start giggling.
“That’s about it, yeah.” My giggle turns into a full guffaw when she starts rolling her sleeves up.
“Okay, hitter, calm down.” Emmy tries to pacify her, unsuccessfully, might I add.
“No way! There is no way I am calming down after that. Who does he think he is? Why does he think he can get away with this? Where the hell was Cole during all of this?” Her questions are rapid fire.
Like she has done this a million times before, Emmy rolls her eyes and tugs on Hayleigh’s arm.
“Will you sit down? People are staring.” She laughs at the outraged look on Hayleigh’s face.
I pat her hand. “Thank you, both of you, for being such good friends. I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet…” I pause for dramatic effect and also because our drinks arrive at our table.
Hayleigh’s knee starts bouncing like crazy, and she gives me the look to hurry.
“Okay, so we’re talking at the door. Ted’s being all creepy and threatening, and I’m standing there, right, wishing I had woken Cole up.
Anyway! Out of nowhere, Cole just says, ‘I thought she asked you to leave.’” I try and fail to sound as sexy as Cole in that moment, but my friends both have hearts in their eyes anyway.
“Then Ted is like, ‘I was going anyway.’ Then Cole follows him outside!”
Hayleigh gasps, and Emmy clutches her coffee like this is the best story she has ever heard.
“What happened next?” Hayleigh, now calm and invested, waves her hand for me to carry on.
“Ted throws a punch–” Emmy gasps, and Hayleigh puts her hand over her mouth. “Cole dodges it, brings himself back up and punches Ted right in the stomach!” I imitate, very poorly, might I add, what Cole did.
“Fuck yeah!” Hayleigh whoops.
Emmy tuts and shakes her head. “Oh my gosh, did he fight him?”
I shake my head. “No, not only did Cole knock the wind out of Ted, he knocked his macho bullshit out of him, too. I’m glad, but I’m worried that we haven’t seen the last of him. He doesn’t seem the type to let things lie.”
“Well, you have plenty of people behind you if that happens, right, Em?” Emmy nods along with Hayleigh, and I feel a bit better.
“I don’t think it was such a good idea to drink coffee this close to our yoga appointment.” Emmy looks at her drink in disgust, and I stifle a laugh as I sip on my fresh orange.
“Are they going to be there?” Hayleigh’s eyebrow lifts as if she doesn’t believe it, and I nod.
“Yep, they don’t have a choice. They owe me for that stupid ‘spying’ debacle! They think I’ve forgotten about it, but they should know better.” I smile sweetly and grab my phone to make sure, opening the family chat.
Me
Don’t forget boys…yoga @ Petals Yoga Studio in 20 minutes! Don’t you dare think of skipping!
Cas
Emmy already reminded me, I’m ready. Gonna pick Archie it smells like she’s been baking delicious cupcakes.
“Oh my god, Daisy, what is that amazing smell?” Emmy practically salivates.
“Oh, just the incense. I’m glad some of you like it.” She smiles sweetly at us but throws a glare in Ethan’s direction. He’s standing at a mat with his arms crossed and a ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude on his face.
“What’s up with him?” I throw a thumb in his direction as I reach Cole, who rolls his eyes.
“He’s just mad you made him attend yoga. He doesn’t think it’s real fitness.” He kisses me softly on the lips, and the boys make gagging sounds like the giant man-children they are.
“Cut it out, you two, and for the record, it isn’t real fitness…” He trails off when Daisy walks back in the room. From the look on her face, she heard every word.
Instead of rising to it, she sits at her mat and presses play on the music. “Thank you all for coming. We’re going to start with our breathing exercises and meditation for this ‘fake’ fitness session.”
I can’t help the snort that falls out. Her mouth twitches in response.
She guides us through our breathing exercises and meditation, then demonstrates some gentle, low-impact yoga positions. As I’m in the child’s pose, which feels fantastic on my lower back, Ethan scoffs.
“Sorry, I didn’t quite hear you back there…Edward, was it?” Daisy’s voice is sweet, but the bite she unleashes with her delivery is outstanding.
“Ethan.” He grits out his name. Cas, next to him, is holding on for dear life as his shoulders shake.
Cole shakes his head, smiles and blows a kiss at me.
“Well, Ethan. If you’re finding these poses a little…Simple, I could show you something more advanced?” She’s sitting now, her head cocked to one side.
He takes the bait—stupid boy.
“Bring it on.” His cocky smirk is pasted across his face.
“He has no idea what he’s getting himself into,” Hayleigh whispers, and I chuckle because she’s right.
I stay in the child’s pose, but everyone else moves on to the next one, silently watching the two spar with their words.
“Handstand, please,” she instructs Ethan, and he complies.
“Easy.” He’s goading her, and he knows it.
“Ethan, don’t be a dick about it.” Archie, trying his best to do the tree pose, tries to reason with him.
“It’s okay, Archie, he doesn’t scare me.” She turns that dazzling smile on Ethan, and I could swear I heard him grumble about her remembering Archie’s name. “Sorry, what was that?”
Ethan shakes his head. “Nothing. Next pose, princess.”
She bristles. “Feathered Peacock. Seems fitting to me.” She demonstrates how to do it, her forearms out in front of her, hands clasped as she throws her legs back and in the air, straight as a pin.
Hayleigh, ever the inappropriate one, blurts out, “Shit, she’s fucking flexible. That’s pretty hot.” She fans herself, and Ethan’s jaw ticks as Daisy brings her legs down fluidly and stands straight up.
Despite his attempts and failures ten times, Ethan finally gives up. The rest of his brothers whoop and laugh, high-fiving Daisy, and I swear there is something, like a bit of pride, gleaming in his eyes when she sticks her tongue out at him.
We finally finish up the session, for real this time, and Daisy is packing away her mats. Cole comes up behind me, wraps his arms around me, and turns my face back towards his and kisses me softly and slowly.
Everything is silent until I hear…
“Ugh, guys, guys are you seeing this? They’re kissing!” Archie’s shocked voice travels through the air, making me snigger. Cole rests his forehead on mine and sighs.
Nate must smack Archie on the arm. “How did you not know? Did you not get that from the scan? Or earlier, when he kissed her?”
“I just thought they were like, you know, really friendly!”
“Oh, sweet Archie, you’re so out of the loop, considering you’re Cupid.” Hayleigh laughs him off, and we break apart.
“Cat’s out of the bag now.” Cole shrugs and, not caring, I fist his T-shirt and drag him down so I can kiss him some more.
“Guess that’s our queue to leave…” someone says, but I have no idea who.