“How was she?” Rachel asks Sophie as soon as she opens the door.
“Hi, come in.” She ushers us both inside.
“Sorry, hi,” Rachel says, her cheeks heating.
“Don’t be, she was fine,” Sophie replies, smiling at me with a look I can’t quite decipher.
“Hey, Rocky,” Charlie says when we enter the kitchen. He gets up and greets Rachel with a kiss on her cheek.
And now I get it—why he was so hell-bent on me staying away from Sophie. Even though I have nothing to worry about with him, the only one I want kissing Rachel is me. This feeling is foreign to me, and I find myself pulling her back against my chest.
Charlie snickers, the fucker knowing what he did, and Sophie lets out anawesound.
“Olly,” sings Molly as she comes bounding around the kitchen counter. I grab her and tip her upside down, her giggles priceless.
“Oliver, if she’s sick, you’re clearing it up,” says Sophie with a smile.
I quickly right Molly and pop her on my hip.
“Mummy, are we going to Olly’s?” she asks.
“Hello to you, too, munchkin.” Molly giggles and sticks out her arms for Rachel before giving her a big hug. “We have to go pick up Buster, and then we need to get home,” she says.
Molly’s bottom lip protrudes, not liking her mum’s answer.
“Why don’t you come out with us for Sunday lunch?” asks Sophie.
Rachel looks to me, and I nod. “I can see about collecting Buster later,” I say, about to pull out my phone.
“You can bring him. There’s an adventure playground there, too. What do you think, Molly?” Sophie asks.
Molly squeals excited at the prospect. “Can we, Mummy?”
“Only if it’s okay with Olly,” she says.
And I realise I’d do anything for this little girl if it meant seeing her smile. “Absolutely, sounds like a plan.”
She claps her hands together and then lunges forward. I manage to catch her, and Rachel covers her chest with her hand. “Careful, Molly.”
“Give me the address. We’ll go get Buster and then meet you both there,” I say to Charlie and Sophie.
“Should we ask Felicity and Nate?” Rachel suggests.
“I like where this is going. Yeah, I’ll give them a call,” Sophie says.
I can’t help but smile to myself at just how very domesticated this all is. Never would I have thought I’d be having joint family days out. My heart stutters at the thought. Rachel and Molly are like my family, and it’s a feeling I can’t quite decipher…one of joy and fear. I might not be the best guy for the job, but I’m too much of a selfish prick to walk away.
Chapter Fifty-Three
RACHEL
Today was spontaneous and unexpected…priceless. Olly never complained once, not even throughout Molly’s constant interruptions while we were trying to eat. He dropped Buster home before bringing us back to my flat.
He carries Molly, who is asleep in his arms, up to mine, and it does something to my insides. My heart beats a wild staccato at how wonderful he is with her, with us.
“Let me go get her settled,” I say, holding my arms out to take her from him.
I manage to change her into a night-dress and slip her under the covers without rousing her too much. She drifts back into a deep sleep, and I close her door behind me.
