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“Seb’s on it,” he murmurs. “Let’s get you girls inside properly now, okay?”
“That’s not why I called you home,” I say, and his eyes narrow. I gesture to the envelope. He jogs over, picking it from the ground, and hands it over to me.
I grab the envelope once more and shred it open, balancing Phoebe on my hip so that I can read through it properly. It’s nothing I didn’t already know, but it doesn’t take the sting of the pain away.
The date for the custody hearing has been set, and it just doesn’t seem fair how close it is.
“When?” Topher asks softly.
I can’t speak, so I hand it over to him to read for himself. His jaw clenches, his fiery gold eyes meeting mine as he tucks the letter contents into his inside jacket pocket. I can feel the silent promise from Orion when he ducks to kiss my head, and I revel in the sparks that fly between us.
Two weeks from today, we’ll begin proceedings, and I have no idea what the fuck we’re going to do. I know we’ll be together, but that doesn’t mean we’ll remain together.
If they have their way… I choke back a sob, looking down at my curly-haired infant.
Phoebe excitedly kicks her legs as she coos at Topher. He doesn’t hesitate in scooping her out of my arms, a soft grin appearing on his face. It’s the one he only ever uses on her, one so indulgent and authentic.
My abdomen tightens as I take in the adorable scene in front of me. My big, hulking alpha male dressed in an expensive suit showing off his muscular, toned body gently holds the most precious little girl to ever exist.
He’s so enamoured with my child, and she is him.
There’s love in his eyes, pure adoration, as he grins at her. He switches his eyes from hazel to gold, entertaining her in her favourite way, and when she babbles, he replies back.
There’s an uncomfortable pressure in my chest, and I hate my hormones right now.
“Maia, princess,” Topher calls in his higher-pitched baby voice.
“Yes?” He doesn’t hear the shaking in my tone, does he? He doesn’t smell the affect he’s having on me?
“Go take a shower, and I’ll watch over our little one,” he says, looking away from Phoebe to grin at me. I frown, not sure why I need a shower. “I think you need to cool off.”
“Having you here has helped.” I shake my head, dropping a kiss to Phoebe’s forehead.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” Topher says, wrapping his arm around my waist as he guides me away from the front door. He kicks it shut behind him and smirks at me. “But you’re definitely a little… dirty.”
I frown before groaning. Mortification fills me, and he laughs softly. “Breathe. It’s scary and hard, but we’re going to get through it. Together.”
“Toph,” I murmur, and he pauses, raising his eyebrow. “Didn’t you—can’t you…” I trail off, and he smirks.
“I wasn’t referring to your lack of orgasm, princess,” he says, dropping a gentle kiss to my cheek. “But since we’re the only ones home and there’s a baby that needs some attention, you’re on your own.”
I gape at him as he heads through to the living room, chatting back to Phoebe’s babbles.
And I suppose I should feel mad, but I don’t.
I’m relieved.
He’s home, he helped, he made me smile… and I trust everything will be okay.
27
MAIA
“How was your shower?” Topher asks, as I enter the living room. He doesn’t hide the sniff he does in the air, his lips quirking up in amusement. I roll my eyes, as he sprawls out even further on the armchair.
“Not only is that scenting thing of yours severely creepy, it’s none of your business what me, my hands, and my, well… shower do.”
“Oh, princess,” he murmurs, rising from the chair he was sitting in to stride over to me. My nerves light up in anticipation, and he doesn’t disappoint.
