“Please, Cole, stop eating those!” My laughter picks up when he grimaces and carries on chewing.
With one eye closed, he, very unconvincingly, over exaggerates his chewing. “Mmm…really good…mmm.” He shovels more of a pancake into his mouth. There must have been a pocket of air trapped because, as soon as he bites down, flour explodes out of the pancake and around his face. He stops chewing, and my eyes widen. We look at each other for a moment before we both burst out laughing.
Cole dusts off his face. “You ready for your first babymoon surprise?” I nod in excitement, “Okay, well, go and get ready. We leave in ten minutes, and we’re going to need some breakfast before we do anything.” He stands and surveys the kitchen before linking his hands behind his head and blowing out a breath.
As I’m walking up the stairs, I hear him shout, “How the hell did you use every single utensil?”
I chuckle to myself.No idea, Cole…but you’re stuck with me now!
I get ready in record time and patiently wait while Cole finishes up. Just because I love to wind him up, I pretend to check my watch and plaster a bored look on my face when he walks down the stairs. When I catch the look he’s giving me, I giggle.
“Don’t think I won’t take you back upstairs and throw you over my knee, Lacey Fullman.” His eyes heat, and my mouth drops open. He walks over to me and, with his index finger, he pushes gently underneath my chin. My whole body burns up like I’m in heat, and I have to rub my thighs together. Cole's eyes zero in on the movement, but he shakes his head and grabs my hand. “Come on, before you have me walking out here with a boner. Let’s get some food.” Pouting, I follow him to the truck.
We arrive at a little café, and Cole helps me down from the truck. My back is aching, so I give it a little stretch to try to ease the pain. He finds us a lovely little table to sit at in the back.
“I’ll go and order us some food and drinks. Do you want anything specific or happy for me to pick you something?”
Cole bends down and kisses me on the cheek, and I reply with, “No, you pick. Surprise me.” I smile over at him and watch as he goes to order our food.
I take out my phone to send a message to Emmy, Hayleigh, and Daisy to let them know we’re okay, but I notice a message already waiting for me.
Ted the DBD Dick
Clock’s ticking, Lacey. You have no idea who you’re messing with! Pay me the compensation I’m owed or face the consequences. I could send you another visitor if you like?
My whole body begins to vibrate, and I wait for the shortness of breath, clammy hands, blurred vision, and tingling hands, but none of that comes. Instead, the feeling is all-consuming rage. I know it’s a stupid idea to bait him and reply. I know I should ignore him, but I can’t. This ismybaby, mine and Cole’s, and this prick thinks he can come in and demand money off me because of a contraception failure.Fuck that and fuck him!
Me
Listen here, limp dick. I am not scared of you. You are NOT getting a penny out of me OR Cole. You aren’t anything to me. You made that choice when you decided not to be in the baby’s life. If you want to be a parent, then you can do that LEGALLY through the courts. Other than that? Don’t fucking contact me again. If you do, I’ll report you forfucking harassment. Oh, and props to you for mansplaining your master plan, you dumb fuck! I’m keeping these messages for proof!
Ted the DBD Dick
I’m not one for playing games. You’re going to regret this, Lacey, you and that jacked up boyfriend of yours. Just you wait.
Chapter 26
Cole
28weekspregnant.Babysize – Aubergine
As I wait at the counter for our drinks, I’m lost in thought as the events of the past few months play like a movie reel in my mind. Sandra has been helping me sort through the mess in my head, and I’m finally in a place where I feel like I’m good enough for Lacey and the baby. It happened suddenly. I think it’s the prospect of letting them both pass me by that I can’t do; I especially can’t leave them to the likes of Ted.
Fucking Ted.
He is another issue altogether. Just thinking about him makes my blood boil, how he treats Lacey, how he views Peanut. Something is wrong; it doesn’t add up. Why demand money from her as ‘compensation’? Why doesn’t he just leave us alone to get on with it?
“Are you going to stand there all day or what?” I startle at the stern voice behind the counter. A woman, hands on her hips, taps her foot.
I mumble an apology, grab the tray of drinks, and walk over to where Lacey is sitting. She has her phone face down and her hands on her stomach, rubbing gentle circles as she stares off into the distance. One of the benefits of being friends with someone for so long is that you can notice their tells and emotions. Lacey is pretty good at trying to hide hers, but I see more than she thinks I do.
“Penny for your thoughts?” I place the tray on the table, and she doesn’t respond. Odd. I look right at her, but her eyes are downcast. “Lace, what’s wrong?”
Tears start to fall down her cheeks silently; she doesn’t move to wipe them away. She sits deathly still, rubbing her stomach, and silently cries. I’m out of my seat and kneeling next to her within a millisecond.
“Lacey, whatever it is, we can sort through it together. Just let me help you.”
She slowly moves her eyes to meet mine, and that’s when I see the utter devastation swirling around them. Her voice is so quiet when she says, “I’ve fucked up, Cole.”
