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“It’s ok—it changes nothing,” Robert continues softly, sensing his son’s distress.
Joshua stands furiously. “It changes everything. I’m not your son,” he yells as he breaks into full-blown tears. “I’m not your fucking son,” he sobs. “My whole life is a lie.”
I hold my hand up to my mouth as pity and hurt fill me. Oh dear god, he’s so hurt.
“Don’t you dare say that,” Robert replies. “I love you and you will always be my son.”
I sob loudly and screw up my face as I try to hold in my tears.
“I don’t give a damn what blood type you have. You are my son! Do you hear me? I will not let a blood test determine that!” he whispers.
Joshua puts his head in his hands and Robert wraps his arms around his broken son. They stand in an embrace, both in tears about a circumstance that they have no control over, both gutted by a woman they loved and trusted. For the first time I see Joshua as a broken child and not the powerful man that he is. This is devastating for him.
Cameron walks to the door and I see his face drop. I stand and quietly leave the room and as I turn the corner I see Scott and Wilson. Oh my, all of the Stanton men are here in LA.
My man needs some time alone with his family.
It’s Sunday and Adrian, the girls and I have arrived back at Adrian’s apartment after wedding-dress shopping all day. Joshua has spent most of the weekend at our house with his father and brothers and I have been making myself scarce by hanging out with my gang… um, our gang. It’s weird. I adore Adrian and I know Joshua thinks the world of the girls. The boundaries of our friends are being blurred. I think Joshua’s little speech to Max the other day has cemented in my head what I have always felt. This is my treasured and very much deserved family unit and if you’re not in the team, then jump ship, because it won’t be tolerated. I haven’t really had any time with Joshua alone to talk but he has come to bed in a good mood every night if you know what I mean. I don’t know what that means but I think we are definitely taking his mind off his problems when in bed together.
“Just weeks till you’re married, Tash.” Adrian smiles
I flop onto his lounge. “Makes me nervous just thinking about.”
“I love that dress,” he replies.
I put my hand over my heart and I pretend to swoon. “Oh my god, so do I. I can’t believe we found that on our first day shopping.” The girls sit on the floor opening the boxes that the newly purchased bridesmaid’s shoes are in and my eyes flick around the surroundings of Adrian’s beautiful luxury apartment and I smile.
“Remember how you told me I needed a bathroom renovation on the first time we met?” I ask.
Adrian puts his hand over his face in embarrassment. “Oh, don’t remind me. I know, how rude,” he murmurs as he shakes his head in disgust at himself.
“I thought I might have hated you then.” I smirk.
He shakes his head. “I knew I offended you.”
“Totally. I thought to myself who does this guy think he is: Donatella fucking Versace?” I reply.
He smiles broadly.
I hold my hand up in the air and gesture around the space. “But now I see your apartment I know that you put Donatella to shame. You have amazing taste, Adrian.”
He looks around his beautiful apartment proudly. “I do, don’t I?” He winks cheekily and Abbie sticks her finger down her throat in disgust. “Pity I don’t pick men as well as I pick furnishings and wedding dresses.”
I smile warmly to hide a tinge of sadness. Adrian has been a little down this weekend and I know that Joshua and Cameron having their large family around is only reminding him of what we all know. He doesn’t have a family anymore and even though the Stantons are totally messed up at the moment, everyone is alive and dealing with this nightmare together. I want Adrian to go back to Nicholas. I know he still loves him and I also know how totally unproductive and heartbreaking it is taking the high road to loneliness. They both deserve better.
The girls stand and start to parade around the lounge room in their shoes.
“We should have gone higher.” Bridget frowns as she looks down at her feet. “My legs look short and dumpy.”
Adrian rolls his eyes. “I told you there are 167 stairs to climb down and I am not scraping your ass off the steps when you fall over.”
Abbie holds her hand up in the shape of a bird’s beak and opens and closes it a few times to simulate him nagging.
“Did Joshua get his suit?” I ask as I walk into the kitchen and flick on the jug. “Who wants tea?” I call. Joshua wanted to pick his suit through the week with Cam and Adrian. I wasn’t invited.
“You will be happy with the result. He’s the easiest man on the planet to style,” he calls.
I smile. “That’s because he looks orgasmic in everything,” I mutter as I exit the kitchen.
