“Ha, where’d you read that? I’ll be up every few hours, exhausted and stressed. And that’s just from taking care of the baby. This all seemed like a good idea a month ago, now the more I think about it the more I want to leave.”
“Hey,” she said, grabbing my arm, bringing us both to a halt. “You can do this. Hell, you’d pass with flying colours right now. Stop stressing, you’ve got this.”
I didn’t feel like I had it. Nothing was under my control any more, not even my own body.
“Yeah. Thanks, Yas,” I said. We started walking again, and she linked her arm through mine. “What’re you doing this weekend?”
She paused before answering.
“Out with the girls. Shame you can’t make it.”
“Next weekend maybe.”
“You’re here next weekend. Cool. Jasper coming?”
“He’s not said anything. Think I need a weekend with you guys anyway. I’ve barely had any girl time since I’ve been back.”
I’d been home the last two weeks. Some girl time was definitely in order, and they’d make me relax and see things more clearly.
As soon as we got back to the flat, I started packing to make my way home and Yasmin hopped in the shower to start her night-out preparations. She went all out, glamorous make-up, nails, classy fake tan, natural-looking false eyelashes and killer dresses. If I was to do the same I would look ridiculous, but Yasmin always looked flawless. She was Jasper’s type, definitely.
“I’m heading out now,” I called as I pulled my small suitcase on wheels behind me.
She looked up from where she was painting her toe nails hot pink.
“Okay, babe. Safe trip back and I’ll see you Sunday night.”
“You will. Have fun and be careful.” I kissed her cheek and left the flat.
When I arrived home Jasper’s car was in the drive. I made my way in, butterflies in my stomach as I made my way to see him.
“I’m home!” I shouted, closing the door behind me.
Mum came rushing out of the living room and gave me a bear hug.
“Hi, sweetheart. How are you and the little one?”
“We’re good.” She pulled me in the living room and Jasper sat on the sofa next to Brad laughing about something. My heart skipped a beat at how beautiful he was. He looked up, and a smile slowly crept on his face.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jasper
“Uncle Jasper, can I feel Auntie Holly’s belly too?”
Auntie Holly?
“Um,” I said, taken aback by her new name for Holly. How could I tell her she’s not really her aunt?
Holly took Everleigh’s hand and placed it on her small stomach. She wasn’t freaking out about just been called aunt at all. I should be freaking out, but I wasn’t.
“Of course you can. Can you feel that? That’s the baby kicking.”
I stared at Holly. Why wasn’t the idea of her being Everleigh’s aunt suffocating? Yes, we were having a child together, but that didn’t mean we had to be together.
I swallowed what felt like sand. Holly beamed down at my niece, and something inside me stirred. Holly. I liked Holly. A lot. The realisation hit me like a fucking freight train. How the hell could I have let that happen? I didn’t want to want anyone.
Everleigh squealed and pulled her hand away, and then put it back. “It feels funny!”
“Tell me about it,” Holly said.
“Where’s my granddaughter,” Mum said, bursting into the room with her arms full of presents. Miles followed behind her carrying a large pink gift bag and another three presents in the other hand.
“Mum, I told you not to spoil her,” Oakley scolded.
“Hey, I cut down a lot!” she replied. Everleigh turned around, and her eyes almost popped out of her head. She lit up and ran towards her nan, and I stood still, rooted to the floor.
I was falling in love with my baby’s mum.
“You okay?” Holly asked. “You look pale.”
I’m finding it hard to breathe right now.
“Fine,” I replied. “Drink?”
Her forehead creased, probably concerned that I was finally having a breakdown.
“Sure. You really okay?”
She stepped closer, and I could smell her Charles Worthington shampoo. I only knew what it was because I checked the ingredients to make sure there was no funky stuff in there that could make the baby come out green or have five heads. It didn’t.
I stepped back, needing to put some distance between us before I did something stupid like kiss her.
“Orange juice?”
Turning around, I walked to the kitchen not waiting for a reply. I knew that was what she’d have. Idiot. I’m a massive idiot. My divorce wasn’t even close to being final and here I was falling in love with someone else.
“Hey, man,” Brad said, standing up straighter.
Well at least it wasn’t ‘hey, fucker’ anymore. “Hey,” I replied. “You alright?”
“Yep. You?”
“Yeah, just getting Holly a drink.”
His lips thinned.
“Look, mate, can we get past this?”
“If I’d got Oakley pregnant?”
“Cole would killed you.”
He sighed sharply. “You know what I mean.”