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Dad’s eyes snap up from his phone and lock with mine. My grin flattens into a firm line as I stare back at him. He sniffs, then frowns. “What the—? Fuck’s sake!” He grabs the iron up from where Mum dropped it. There’s a large black, burned patch on the shirt underneath. “I only bought this last week. How the hell did you manage to ruin it already?”
“I’m sorry.” Mum’s face crumples as she starts to fuss with the shirt.
I step forward, staring daggers at my father. “It was an accident. And it’s only a shirt.”
He watches Mum trying desperately to salvage something that’s beyond saving before his eyes slide to mine.
“Leave it, Mum,” I say as I hold Dad’s gaze. “Maybe he should iron his own shirts from now on if he has a problem.”
His eyes penetrate into mine, but he says nothing.
“Drew’s got some news,” Maddy interjects.
Dad turns to her and she’s smiling brightly in an attempt to diffuse the tension that is almost always inevitable whenever my father and I are together.
“Has he?”
Dad’s interest is forced. Nothing I do is good enough for him. That day the cops brought me home after they found me and Logan joyriding as teens was the day all his interest in my life ended, crushed like a bug under a newspaper. It doesn’t matter that I helped grow a multi-billion-pound worldwide business with Tanner, or that I’ve won the company more industry awards than any other company in our field has ever won. None of my achievements matter, because when I wassixteen, I embarrassed him by making a stupid, juvenile mistake. And he’s never forgiven me for it.
“He’s going to propose to his girlfriend,” Maddy gushes.
“Stella? The one you’ve been dating two weeks?” Dad’s head spins back toward me and he grimaces.
“Dad, a little support would be nice.” Maddy scoffs.
“Over a month,” I correct. I don’t say anymore. I don’t have to explain myself to him. He can’t even get her name right. He’s going to be a fucking stellar grandad.
He snorts. “Sounds like the basis for a long, happy marriage.”
“Like you’d know what that looks like,” I mutter so only he can hear.
He bristles.
“Time means nothing when you meet the one.” Mum smiles, having abandoned the burned shirt into the trash. “Bring her for dinner so we can meet her. I’ll book us a table for next weekend.” She looks at Maddy, who nods, then at Dad, whose jaw is ticking as he types into his phone.
“Sure.”
My eyes flick to Dad as my grip tightens on the test in my pocket. Whether he cares or not, he better show up or I’ll be hauling his ass from whoever’s bed he’s in. Because Sophie and I have news to share. And he better paint a fake smile on his lying face and not ruin it for us. Or for Mum. I know she’ll be thrilled for us and that she’ll love Sophie. How could she not?
Chapter 14
Drew
“Nice place,” I tellSophie as we take a seat in the plush all-white waiting area. I’m glad she didn’t want to wait for an ultrasound. I’ve been dreaming of this day.
She looks around the room, her gaze subtly moving over a well-known British model and her husband who are sitting talking quietly and holding hands on the other side.
“It’s the best fertility and pre-natal care clinic in London. And they’re discreet.” Sophie’s eyes drop to her purse in her lap, and she whispers, “That’s not her husband.”
“It’s not?” I fight the urge to look over at the model I recognize again.
She smiles. “Thank you for coming with me. I know you’re busy at work trying to manage the New York project.”
“Like I’d miss being here.” My eyes dart up to the open doorway where a couple are being shown toward the main entrance by a woman in a pristine white pant suit. “But you don’t have to do this. This baby is ours, no matter what some piece of paper says.”
“I know.” Her eyes shine. “And you’ve no idea how much it means to hear you say that, Drew. ButIneed to know. I wantto know if… I need to make legal arrangements if Henry is the biological father. Even though he doesn’t want to be involved, I want to be prepared and have a plan if that should change.”
I grit my teeth at the mention of the fucker who tried to talk Sophie into aborting our baby. If I ever get my hands on him…
