AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, baby, don't worry,” her little voice chirps, and Holly laughs. She gives me a pointed look, but I smile internally, buzzing that I even have her in my life to give me pointed looks.
“Yeah, baby!” I sing, and Beau giggles, shaking her unicorn.
“Baby!” she joins in.
“Let's face it, after what you’ve been through, no one will dare say anything anyway,” I tell her truthfully. Who would have the audacity to make a comment when she nearly died days before? No one, well, not any decent person anyway.
“I guess.” Holly pouts, looking out of the window. I park up behind her shop because we’re guaranteed a space, and it's a short walk to the small supermarket. I don't want them overexerting themselves.
“Right, boo, ready to get some party food?” I grin, and Beau whoops from the back, ripping her seatbelt off.
We’re barely across the street when people stare at us. “I feel awkward,” Holly murmurs, going red in the face. I lift Beau up and walk into the store with a massive grin on my face. Hol turns to say something to me and pulls back, then laughs, bewildered. “You’re enjoying this?” she asks.
“Damn right I am.” I wink and press a quick kiss on her stunned mouth.
“Cameron, people are talking,” she replies under her breath, clearly concerned.
“They always did. At least now it’s something I can be proud of.” I hook my arm round her lower back and pull her to me. “Are you ashamed to be with me?”
“What? No!” Small hands run up my chest. “You’ve been through a lot. I don’t want this to set you back.” Her troubled eyes meet mine.
“We agreed it’s done. I'm mentally in the best place I’ve been since you left ten years ago.” I peck her cheek and whisper, “Don’t shit on my parade.” I utter quietly so Beau can’t hear.
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Slapping her arse, I lean to get a trolley. I lift Beau in so she is standing in the deep cart. “Right, we need a big cake, so you’re on the lookout, boo,” I say, pointing my finger at her seriously. She nods and squints, looking at the shelves. Holly leisurelywalks next to me as I push Beau along, picking up bits as we move round the store.
“What about a fruit platter?” Holly asks, lifting a grapefruit and leaning to see what else is available on the centre aisle.
“Sure.” I shrug, happy with anything they choose. Beau hangs over the trolley and grabs a bunch of grapes. “What other fruit do you want, boo?” I ask, encouraging her to choose more. Nadine appears in my periphery, and I groan because she walks straight for us. “Incoming,” I whisper to Holly, who twists round and drops the punnet of peaches she was holding in the trolley with a thud.
“This looks cosy,” Nadine says. I bristle and step round the trolley to defend my girl to the fucking death when Beau holds up a box of figs.
“Hello,” our little girl says simply, innocence personified. “We’re having a party because our house died in a fire.” She frowns at the fruit in her hands. “What’s this?”
“Figs, baby girl.” I take the box from her. “Do you want to try one?” I open it up and bite into the fleshy pear-shaped fruit, showing her the seeds inside. She wrinkles her nose. “I take that as a no.” I laugh, swallowing it.
“That was your house?” Nadine inquires, seemingly shocked.
“Yes.” Holly tucks her hair behind her ear in a gesture I know to be anxious.
I know from Dan that Nadine is already in another relationship, so I refuse to feel sorry for her. It’s been months. “I'm sorry to hear that. Where are you staying?” Her eyes shift from Holly to me, digging for information. Holly’s shoulders stiffen, and my hackles rise. I haven’t forgotten what she said to me all those months ago.
“With me,” I respond and decide before she can say more to fill her in so she’s up to speed. “We’re together. A family.” Her jaw clenches, and I ensure she has no room to comment. “I hearyou’re in a relationship now. I'm happy for you. We both are.” Holly nods numbly, obviously feeling far more uncomfortable than me. “All the best, Nadine.” I give her a brief smile and manoeuvre the trolley round her. “Baby, let's grab a cake,” I say to Holly.
“I didn’t like that,” she hums in my ear, and I peck her hair. I fucking love her hair. It’s yards long and the silkiest gold I’ve ever seen. Plus, it smells like vanilla.
“It’s done now. Don't let it get to you.” She gives me a strained smile. “We’re looking forward, not back. That's what we agreed on.”
Shopping wipedHolly and Beau out. I’ve left them sleeping whilst I prepare the food and clean the house. It’s another hour before I'm expecting anyone to turn up, but I want everything perfect for Holly. Beau chose a unicorn cake and helped me fix the horn when we got back because it had an extra nose when we removed the packaging. Now, it's a wonky unicorn cake.
“Hey.” Holly’s hands slip round my waist and her ear lays flat to my back.
“How are you feeling?”
“Okay. A little sleepy.” She yawns and laughs, pressing her face into my shoulders.
“Come here, I’ve got you a gift.”
