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The way he says my nickname makes cold goosebumps scatter up my spine. I nod at Drew to indicate we’re done, but Henry’s words stop me.
“You know he’ll let you down.”
He doesn’t look at Drew while he’s bad-mouthing him. His eyes are trained on my face and reaction. I refuse to give him one.
“You’d know all about the ingredients for a happy relationship, wouldn’t you?” Drew snipes before turning to me. “You ready?”
I nod and move to stand, but Henry grabs my wrist across the table. His hand makes contact for less than a second before Drew’s fist closes over it.
“Touch her again and you’ll lose your hand.”
I look between the two men and my heart clenches at what Drew had to endure growing up. I know their relationship has completely broken since I came along. But even before, it was never a loving parent-child one as it should have been.
I slide my hand onto Drew’s thigh underneath the table and squeeze. He wraps my fingers inside his, stroking my pulse point with his thumb.
“He’ll let you down,” Henry repeats, stupidly ignoring the tense energy radiating around our table. “Look, I’m sorry I spoke to your client. I overstepped.”
“You think?” I arch a brow.
Henry’s lips purse. “But someone needs to think about the baby.”
Drew’s legs tenses to the point that it’s like resting my hand against granite.
“You’re working long hours on this case. You’ve been followed, threatened. You could be in real danger. I just want what’s best for you.” Henry looks at me with what appears to be genuine concern in his eyes, but I don’t buy it for one second.
“Right,” I mutter.
“I just want what’s best for you,” he says again, not even looking at Drew as he adds, “And my son is not it.”
“I’m sitting right here,” Drew growls, but Henry ignores him.
“You know I was overlooked for promotion for years because of that joyriding stunt he pulled. I could have made it to Chief Inspector by now. You might believe in him, but he’ll let you down, and you’ll pay the price, just like I did.”
Drew’s hand tightens around mine beneath the table. “We’re leaving,” he hisses.
“It’s not too late, Soph,” Henry continues. “You’ve been stressed at work, not thinking clearly. It’s time to stop this nonsense now and come back to me.”
“You want me to forgive you?” I scoff. “You’re married and have been lying to everyone.”
Henry lowers his voice. “Look, I’ll forgive you for sleeping with my son. We can leave this all behind us.” He sneers at Drew. “It’s okay, you don’t have to call her stepmum when she marries me.”
Drew’s chair crashes to the floor as he hauls Henry to his feet by his collar. There are a few collective gasps around the room as people stare.
“Enough!” I snap at Henry, standing and grabbing my purse.
Drew’s jaw clenches as they glare at one another. I wrap a hand around his bicep and he drops Henry.
Henry rubs his throat, wincing.
“I will never be coming back to you. Accept it,” I say.
“Then maybe I’ll be seeing you both in court. You can’t ignore me and play happy families when that’s my baby you’re carrying.”
I step closer to him, dropping my voice so the few people who are still staring at us can’t hear.
“We wanted to be mature about this. But if that’s how you want to play it, then I guess wewillbeseeingyou in court. But mark my words. I will wipe the floor with you should you try to do anything that isn’t the best possible thing for mybabies. You know I never lose, Henry. And I won’t start for you.”
I turn to Drew, who’s standing like a giant force of aggression, ready to unleash at the slightest thing, and I sink underneath his arm as he holds it out for me. I curl into his side, inhaling honey and smoked wood. My favorite scent in the world.
