by Thorpe, Elle
40
Riley
“Sadie?” I called the minute I walked in the door. The stairs squeaked as I thundered up them, making a beeline for her bedroom. The white painted door opened when I reached it, and I stopped short.
A broad-shouldered teenager, already a few inches taller than me, filled the doorway.
“Nathan?” I asked, immediately recognising Elodie and Jamison’s eldest son, but having no conceivable idea why on earth he’d be coming out of my daughter’s bedroom at eight p.m. at night. Then I remembered Eliza’s warning about our daughter’s crush on the boy.
My protective dad gene turned up to one hundred, and agitation tightened my skin. The urge to demand what the hell was going on here was on the tip of my tongue, but I’d just told Bianca I was going to try to talk to Sadie calmly, and opening the conversations with accusations about what she was doing with a teenage boy in her bedroom was not the way to do it. My gaze darted past him to where Sadie sat on the bed. Fully clothed, at least.
“You, go,” I said to Nathan sharply.
With a quick glance back at Sadie, he darted down the stairs.
I stiffly sat beside her on the bed. She didn’t say anything. No yelling about kicking her boyfriend out of the house, which told me she knew she was in the wrong. Jesus, was he her boyfriend? I pushed the idea away. One drama at a time.
“We’re going to talk about that later,” I said as sternly as I could muster.
She shrugged.
“But right now, there’s something important I need to talk to you about.”
I shifted on the bed so I was facing her, but Sadie still sat with her feet hanging down, kicking at the carpet with the tip of her Converse sneakers.
“Sadie…”
She turned, mirroring my pose, and lifted her head to look at me. “Dad…” she mimicked.
I couldn’t help but smile. She was a little smart-ass sometimes. “We need to talk about Bianca.”
Sadie rolled her eyes and went to stand, but I grabbed her wrist and tugged her back down.
“No. Sit. I’ve given you months to get used to the idea of Bianca and me. But you haven’t come around by yourself like I hoped you would. You don’t even give her the time of day, even though she’s been trying to get to know you. And I realise now, that that’s my fault. Because I haven’t been honest with you. I’ve been treating you like a little girl, and I know you aren’t one anymore.”
That seemed to get her attention.
She sat back down. “You’ve been lying to me?”
Her voice sounded small and hurt, and I understood why.
“More like I just haven’t told you the full story. Bianca and I used to date, a long time ago. Back when we were in our early twenties, we worked at a bar together. Did you know that?”
She shook her head. She seemed interested, so I continued.
“We were friends for a while, and then we started seeing each other. I fell for her, Sadie. Hard. I was head over heels in love with her.”
“What happened, then? She didn’t love you back?”
I shook my head sadly, remembering so clearly those early days with Bianca. All the mornings I’d woken up with my arms around her naked body, all the whispered words of love, all the plans we were making for the future. “No. She loved me back.” I mulled over my words carefully. “But then you came into my life. And she immediately fell in love with you, too. Just like I did. You were all blonde curls and big eyes and, baby, you made me so damn happy. Maybe too happy.”
“I don’t understand,” she said looking confused.
“I didn’t either, at the time. Bianca began distancing herself. And I admit, I thought it was because she didn’t want to be burdened with a guy who suddenly had a five-year-old in tow. I spent a lot of years being hurt and angry about that. But that wasn’t it at all. She loved me enough, and you enough, that she stepped aside. I’ve only just found out myself, but Bianca’s had a lot of loss in her life. Bianca didn’t want that for you. She wanted you and me to have a shot at being a family. With your mum. She wanted you to have a normal, happy childhood.”
“What? But you and Mum sucked at being together. All you did was fight.”
I grimaced. “You remember that?”
She shrugged. “Bits of it. I mostly just remember being happy when you moved out and we got to do fun things together on the weekends instead.” She was pensive for a moment, then tilted her head to the side. “Did you love Bianca the whole time you were with Mum?”
I let out a long breath. “Yes,” I admitted. “After Bianca broke up with me, I was hurt, and your mum was there for me. She’s a good friend like that.” I gave her a wry grin. “But as you might have noticed, your mum and I are better as friends. I love her, but…”
“But not the way you love Bianca.”
I smoothed back her hair, then pulled her head to me and kissed the top of it. “You’re pretty perceptive for a fifteen-year-old, you know?”
She laid her head on my shoulder like she had when she was five years old, and I stilled as the flood of memories washed over me. Then I put my arm around her and squeezed her.
“I want you to be happy,” she said quietly. “I do. I know I’ve been acting like a brat, but the whole sex tape thing…”
“I know. We screwed up, and you got hurt in the process. I never apologised for that, and I should have. I’m really sorry, Sadie. We won’t ever do anything like that ever again.”
“Good. Because that’s disgusting. Nobody needed to see that, Dad.”
I snorted. That was the truth. But then I sobered because there was more to be discussed. “Bianca’s moving in.”
She pulled back sharply. “What! No!”
“I need her to be here, Sadie. I love her, and she’s having my baby. I missed out on your first five years. Please don’t make me miss out on your little brother’s as well.”
She looked up at me with big brown eyes. “It’s a boy? I’m getting a brother?”
“I think so.”
She mulled that over for a time, and I stayed silent, praying the next words out of her mouth wouldn’t be ‘I’m going to live at Mum’s.’ Because if she did decide to leave, I knew it would break me. I was so damn close to everything I wanted, I just needed Sadie’s nod of approval.
“If Bianca moves in, I get to name the baby,” she declared.
I choked on a laugh. “And what would you name it?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Draco.”
I pulled a face. “As in the evil kid in Harry Potter?”
She shrugged. “Slytherin for life.”
“Not a chance in hell, kid.”
She pouted, but then she kissed my cheek and stood. “Maybe Bianca will like it and the two of us will outvote you.”
Relief crashed down on me. She might not have said the words Bianca can move in, but I felt her blessing in them anyway. And in that moment, I really hoped her and Bianca would join forces and gang up on me. My heart swelled at the thought of them working as a team and laughing together, even if it was at my expense.
I just hoped I didn’t end up with a kid named Draco.
* * *
I turned the radio up as high as my ears would allow and cruised through the city streets on the way to pick up Bianca. An excited buzz thrummed through my veins, as heady as any drug. I was picking up the woman I loved and bringing her home. Our house. And I couldn’t wait another minute. I pushed my foot down impatiently on the accelerator only to be on the brakes again when the light at the intersection turned red.
“Come on, come on,” I muttered impatiently. The streets outside were lit up, despite the late hour. It was Friday night, I realised. Early for most then. People moved from club to club, running to avoid the light rain that had just begun to fall. I’d been one of them, once upon a time. But now the thought of spending my night in a smoky bar, surrounded by sticky floors and strangers didn’t seem very appealing. Not even close to as appealing as stay
ing at home with my little family.
The song switched to Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, and I grinned and sang along, even though I wasn’t normally one to sing. But I couldn’t help it. I was so jazzed up, I needed an outlet, and since I was stuck in the car, singing was all I had. The light went green, and I inched forward with the traffic before the road opened up and I hit the accelerator for real. My thoughts were full of family board game nights, and bringing Bianca breakfast in bed, a tiny baby swaddled in a bassinet next to her. Damn. The thought nearly took my breath away. I knew she was worried about being a mother, but I wished she saw what I saw. I wished she could see what I already knew. That she was going to be amazing.
A screech of tyres cut through the song, and I whipped my head to the right to see headlights barrelling down on me. Blinded, I didn’t have time to do anything before the car slammed into me with a sickening crunch of metal against metal. And everything went dark.
41
Bianca
When the clock hit ten p.m., I’d call him. Not a minute before. That was the promise I’d made with myself. Riley had gone to talk to Sadie over two hours ago, and I hadn’t heard a peep from him since. I wanted to give them time to discuss everything but I was going insane. She’d see reason, wouldn’t she? Losing her now would kill Riley, and that would kill me. I was so nervous my leg had developed a twitch.
The time on my phone finally changed to ten p.m., and I hit the call icon next to Riley’s name. My stomach swirled as I waited for him to answer. But it just kept ringing. Was he taking so long because the talk had gone badly? Was he right now driving her to her mum’s place? The thought made me feel ill.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” I muttered, but the phone went to voicemail. Shit.
I dropped it on the coffee table and paced the living room again. I was worried and tired and uncomfortable. The ache in my back had gotten worse. I just wanted to go soak in Riley’s bathtub, put on some comfy PJs, and crawl into bed.
“Screw it.” I grabbed my car keys from their spot on the white kitchen bench, pulled out the handle on the suitcase Riley had shoved half my clothes into earlier, and locked the front door behind me. His house was only fifteen minutes from mine, and there was no reason for him to come pick me up. I was still perfectly capable of driving myself, even if my belly did almost touch the steering wheel.
The dull ache in my back intensified as I drove, and halfway there, I noticed pain low in my abdomen as well. I wanted to cry. Pregnancy sucked. I was so huge, something was always hurting. It was still too early for labour, and I knew a good back rub would help the pain. I’d make Riley give me a long massage before he even thought about giving me those orgasms he’d promised. The idea of his hands soothing the ache in my back was more appealing than an orgasm right now anyway.
I pulled up at Riley’s house, frowning when his jeep wasn’t in the driveway. There was a light on upstairs in Sadie’s room though. I got out my phone and called Riley again. Still no answer. Well, now what? Pain stabbing through my belly made my decision for me. “Ow,” I muttered, rubbing at the sore spot. “All right, all right, baby. I’m getting out of the car.” The door of my convertible swung open effortlessly, and I used the frame to haul myself up into a standing position. My belly was so tight and heavy, though, that it drained what was left of my waning energy. I had to stand there for ages, leaning over the car, trying to catch my breath.
A sharp pain stabbed through my back and abdomen, and something gushed within me. My heart slammed against my chest in shock as liquid ran down my legs. It wasn’t a trickle. And there was no mistaking it for something else.
My waters had just broken.
“No,” I whispered, staring at the amniotic fluid puddling around my feet. It was too early. I was only thirty-five weeks. I still had at least two weeks to prepare. To paint the nursery. I had no baby clothes! No car seat. Nothing.
“Riley,” I yelled in panic before remembering his car wasn’t here, which meant he wasn’t either. I looked around the dark street helplessly. My breaths came in short, shallow gasps until the pain stabbed through me again.
A head appeared in the upstairs window. “Bianca?” Sadie’s voice yelled.
I had to wait a beat before the contraction passed and I could talk again. “Yeah, it’s me,” I called back weakly. “Where’s your dad?”
“He went to get you. At least, I thought he did?”
Another pain gripped my belly, and I doubled over with a cry. Oh my god. I fought to control my emotions as the pain ebbed away. These contractions had gone from uncomfortable to painful in the space of minutes. Was that normal? My heart thumped. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared. I wanted Riley.
Sadie appeared out of the darkness, making me jump. Her light-coloured PJs, and long, blonde hair was ghostly, streaming out behind her as she ran around my car. “Bianca?” She asked in a small voice when she reached my side. “What’s wrong?”
I smiled at her, trying to be reassuring, but another pain gripped me, stealing my words. When it subsided, I looked up into the girl’s frightened face and realised I didn’t get to be the one to fall apart right now. “I think I’m in labour. How long ago did your dad leave? He’s not answering his phone.”
She bit her lip. “Ages ago. I’ve been wondering where he is.”
I nodded, not letting her see how worried that information made me. Where the hell was he? It wasn’t like he’d stop off for a drink at the bar. He’d said he’d be right back to pick me up.
Another contraction hit and I tried to stifle a groan, but the noise seemed to startle Sadie into action. “Shit, Bianca, you need to go to the hospital. Can you drive?”
I shook my head, because no way was I getting back in that car and trying to drive myself somewhere with pains like this. “I think we need to call an ambulance.”
Sadie’s eyes went wide, her fingers trembling, but she nodded, and I watched her stab out 000 for emergency.
“Yes, hello. I need an ambulance, please,” she said in a steady voice.
In the darkness, her hand found mine and squeezed it. I looked down at her fingers clasped around my own, and even through my worry about being in labour and my missing partner, the sight filled me with happiness.
“They’re on their way,” she said, finishing the call.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
She nodded, suddenly seeming older than her fifteen years. “I’ll stay with you until we find Dad. Where the hell is he?”
My eyes misted over, emotion overwhelming me. “I don’t know.”
And then we stood in the darkness until sirens pierced through the night.
42
Riley
Something was dripping. The constant drip, drip, drip was all my foggy brain could comprehend. Drip. Drip. Drip.
I cracked open one eye but quickly shut it as a bright light pierced through and splintered my brain. Nope. Wasn’t doing that again anytime soon. Audio only seemed the safer bet. Drip. Drip. Drip.
With my eyes closed, I slowly became aware of other noises, but they just confused me more. They were all mixing together until it became one big blur of noise. I couldn’t hear the dripping anymore. And I missed it. The drip was better than the chaos that swirled around me now. I forced myself to concentrate and identify the individual noises. Sirens, horns, people yelling, someone screaming. Where was I? There was no two ways about it. I was going to have to open my eyes again.
But even when I did, I couldn’t make sense of what I saw. Everything looked wrong. Lights flashed, people peered in at me through cracked glass, and they were all upside down.
“Hey, mate,” a voice called. “What’s your name?”
I turned my head stiffly, wincing at the pain in my neck. I squinted through the darkness, trying to find the voice that had spoken to me. If someone could just explain where I was and what had happened…
With a sudden rush of clarity, the fog in my
brain cleared, and I realised I was still in my car. It wasn’t the people who were upside down.
It was me.
Adrenaline coursed through my system, and I panicked, thrashing from side to side trying to free myself from what was left of my car. Something cut into my neck, choking me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe!
I opened my mouth to yell for help, but nothing came out. Jesus Christ. What was going on? I looked to where the man who’d asked me my name was and realised he was still there, speaking to me in a slow, calming voice.
“Whoa, whoa, mate. Eyes on me.”
I did as he said because the thrashing wasn’t getting me anywhere.
“You need to stay still. You’ve been in a car accident. You’re upside down, and we’re working to get you out. We’re almost there, but you just gotta chill till we can get you, okay?”
“Okay,” I managed to get out. God, it was loud. So loud. What was that noise?
“What’s your name?”
“Riley.” At least I remembered that much. Good start.
“Riley, I’m Ethan. I’m a paramedic.”
I frowned. He had long, dark hair and a leather jacket. A chunky, masculine-looking ring of black and silver adorned the hand he was gesturing at me with. And tattoos crept up the side of his dark skinned neck.
“Riley, you with me?”
“Huh? What?”
“I asked where you have the most pain?”
“You don’t look like a paramedic.”
Ethan grinned. “Off duty. I was out on my bike.”
That explained some things. I did a quick sweep of my body. “My head. Hurts.”
Ethan nodded. “Yeah, you’ve got a pretty nasty gash on it. I’m going to hand you some gauze. Do you think you can hold it to the wound?”
