She points right at me. “Oh…my…gosh! I got you so good just then!”
“Hilarious, cruel woman.” I shake my head, and we start walking back towards my car.
She’s silent for a moment before she says, “Although, I hope you know that I’m not expecting anything from you. But you…I know you’re financially better off than I am, but I’m not expecting money from you, Cole. Just so we’re clear.”
We reach my car, and I put the bags in the boot before turning around. I beckon her closer as I rest against it. She steps between my legs and wraps her arms around my neck while my arms snake around her waist.
“Lacey Fullman, just so we’re clear. I think we’re both tiptoeing around what we are without asking, and a solid foundation is built on communication…”
“The therapist told you that?” She smirks at me.
“Actually, yes, smart arse. As I was saying, you need a solid foundation for anything, especially a relationship. I’m not wasting another minute wondering whether or not I’m doing the right thing or if I’m good enough. I want you, Lacey, and I want that little girl growing right here…” I put a hand on her rounded stomach. “I want her to know that she has a dad who loves her no matter what. Is that okay with you?” She’s smiling as shenods. “Good. This may be a few years overdue, but will you be my girlfriend, Lacey? Will you let me love you?”
She brushes her lips against mine, and I deepen the kiss, my hand snaking through her hair to hold her head in place. She moans, and the sound shoots straight to my cock.
“Well, well, well. How cosy.”
As if a bucket of iced water is thrown over me, Gabby’s voice grates through the air.
Lacey turns around to face her, one hand on her hip. “Can we help you, Gabby?”
She steps forward with a look of pure hatred as she points at Lacey. “You! You were fucking him behind my back? You dirty little slag, you’re gonna pay for this…” She raises her hand, but not before I’ve stood and moved Lacey behind me.
Grabbing Gabby’s wrist, I pull her towards me and lower myself to her ear. “I don’t hit women, but you lay one finger on her and you’re going to be very fucking sorry. Do I make myself clear?”
She looks up at me, hurt clear over her face. Let her think what she likes. I’m done pleasing everyone else for their sake.
“Fuck you, Cole,” she spits out before she takes off in the opposite direction.
Turning back to Lacey, apprehension sits heavily in my stomach. Her arms are crossed above her stomach, and she’s tucked in on herself.
“Is that what people think of me, Cole? Just some cheap tart that wrecks relationships…” Her voice, usually loud and strong, is small and unsure, and I hate that.
“There was something you used to say about Gabby when we were together. What was it?”
She looks up at me, her brow furrowed, before she realises, and her cheeks blaze red. “Oh god, you knew about that?”
I shake my head. “Forget that, tell me what it was that you used to say.”
“I used to say, ‘fucking Gabby’ or ‘fuck Gabby’ or ‘fuck off, Gabby’.” What starts as a snigger soon turns into both of us belly laughing in the car park.
When we calmed down, I bundled her in my arms and whispered, “For anyone who questions you again, you use those sayings, because those people don’t matter.”
**********
We decide to get takeout and bring it back to Lacey’s apartment, where we demolish it in record time. We both have the day off from work tomorrow, and I plan on showing her the surprise I’ve had up my sleeve for a few weeks now. I’m scared to show her, but at the same time, I can’t wait.
I look at her as she watches TV, and I’m transported back to when she asked me to move in with her last year. That fucker, Pete, had attacked me as I slept in my work trailer. I was so disoriented that I didn’t fight back, not after he knocked me unconscious. When I came to and saw Lacey barrelling into the trailer, her eyes wide, I knew then that she loved me. She told me I was going to be moving in with her so she could look after me. We fell into a comfortable routine: working during the day, having tea together, and then spending movie nights on the couch. There were so many times I wanted to throw her up against the wall and make her forget her name, but I always held myself back. When it got too much, I ran right into the arms of Gabby.
Fucking Gabby.
“Hey! Are you paying attention?” Lacey clicks her fingers at me.
“Sorry, yeah, of course I’m paying attention.” I focus intently on the screen.Don’t ask me what just happened.
“Huh, okay. Prove it. What just happened?”
Great.
