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Defeat claws its way into me, making me slam back against the wall again for support.
“You’ll never leave her alone, will you?” I narrow my eyes at him. “I’ll warn her to keep away forever if I have to. If that’s what it takes for her to be free of you. Because I know what it’s like to love someone more than anything.”
I slam a fist against my burning chest.
“I know what it’s like forthreeother people to matter more to you than your own life. I could have loved all of them enough for both of us,” I choke out. “I do love them all. More than you’ll ever understand.”
I shake my head, clarity dawning on me and making sourness coat my tongue as I stare at my father. He might as well be a stranger. Because when I look into his eyes, I see nothing that I recognize.
Not one damn thing.
Especially not the love Sophie and the babies deserve.
I step forward, bringing myself toe-to-toe with him until I’m staring down my nose at him.
“I won’t let you hurt her. Whatever I have to do… Whatever it takes… I swear on my life you’ll never hurt her again.”
Then I shoulder past him and storm a wavy path away up the street.
Chapter 37
Sophie
“I felt one.” There’sa delighted squeal from my four-year-old niece, Summer, as she keeps her little fingers painted with blue glittery nail polish pressed against my bump.
“Here, Sydney.” She takes her younger sister’s hand and squishes it against my stomach, holding it in place until Sydney’s eyes widen.
“Babies,” she breathes before breaking into a delighted giggle.
“Yeah, babies,” I repeat with a smile.
I can’t help but feel a little better with the sweet distraction they’ve brought since I came to stay with Holly and Jay in LA. They’re completely obsessed with all things baby, pushing their dollies around in little strollers and pretending to change their nappies. They’ve been fascinated with touching my bump every day and feeling for movement. And I’m thinking mine and Drew’s babies are going to be attention seekers, because they’ve put on a performance each time, making my entire stomach roll in waves as they shuffle about.
Drew. The thought of him brings a lump to my throat. I haven’t spoken to him since I left over a week ago. I can’t bring myself to hear his voice, because I know I’d run back to him.
I love him.
It’s as simple as that.
No matter what else is happening, I can’t deny that I still love him with everything I have.
I press a kiss to each of my niece’s little blonde heads as they snuggle either side of me on the sofa, still feeling all over my bump.
“Girls, Auntie Sophie might not want you climbing all over her all the time,” Holly says as she comes into the room and surveys the scene.
“Are you kidding? Auntie Sophie loves it.” I grin at Summer and Sydney and hold them closer. “I don’t get to see you two nuggets very often. I want all the cuddles.”
They beam, the perfect little blend of Holly and Jay in their little faces. Where Summer is the more commanding of the two, always looking after Sydney and instructing her on how to do things, Sydney makes up for it in her stubbornness. If she doesn’t want to do something, she won’t.
“I wonder what these two wrigglers I’m carrying will be like.”
Holly sinks into the sofa opposite me, twisting her lips as she thinks.
“If they’re like their mum, then they’ll come out studying a textbook and laying down laws.”
I smile. “Yeah, sounds about right.”
“What if they’re like their daddy?” Summer gazes up at me.
