I turn to the spiteful woman before me and lean in close. “I can see why he never came back to you, whoever he was. Goodbye, Ms. Vee.”
Cassie’s face turns puce with anger, but I head to the car, no longer giving a fuck what she thinks of me. “Yeah? Well, I hope that baby isn’t yours, you son of a bitch!”
I slam the door and reverse off the drive so quickly I can barely take a breath.
The car screeches down the street beneath my instruction, and I glance at Danielle.
“Are you okay?”
“Blake, I’m sorry, she’s my mom…I didn’t think she’d ever be so cruel.”
“Huh.”
Danielle turns away, staring out of the window as I reach for her, lifting her hand to my mouth.
My lips skim her knuckles, and she sobs softly.
“Fuck them all, Danielle. It’s us against the world.”
CHAPTER 30
DANIELLE
I’m horrified.
Blake seems calm enough, but his knuckles are gripping the steering wheel so tightly I know he’s furious.
My heart is still doing cartwheels in my chest, the disgust in my stomach churning like a rocky ocean of bullshit. If it’s not Issac, it’s my mother.
I never knew she could be so cruel; to the man I love, the man I’ve always loved. I know she’s upset, but it was like she’d been waiting to launch that attack, not giving a shit that I’m pregnant. I’ve never seen her like that.
Blake glances at me, reaching out to rest his hand on my thigh as my mind whirs at a thousand miles a minute.
“She’s right, though.”
Blake’s words make me whip around in disbelief, my mouth parting as I glare at him. “Blake! How can you say that?”
Blake sighs, leaning down to clutch my hand in his, pressing it to his lips. My heart softens, and tears prick my eyes again.
“I massively fucked up, and you’reyou. Ifanyonehurt you, Danielle, I’d be the same. Maybe worse.” He grimaces, and I shake my head, refusing to agree with him.
“You were young, and you know, we found our way back to each other…”
Blake interrupts me with a sigh. “Dani. I was a prick.” He was. But he didn’t deserve that greeting from my mother.
“I still love you.”
Blake turns into the driveway to his house and cuts the engine, turning to me. He still knocks the breath from my body. My fingers reach up to stroke his exquisite jawline, my fingers dropping to the softness of his neck beneath his collar. He closes his eyes as he leans forward, resting his head against mine. I can taste his breath, his scent, everything.
“I’ve always loved you, Dani. Never stopped. A scary mother-in-law won’t send me away from you; nothing can.”
His lips caress my cheek, and his hand drops to my stomach as he groans.
“I want this baby to be ours so bad, Danielle.”
My heart sinks.
We’re in this situation because of me.
