“I’ll meet you outside by the tree,” I mutter, lifting Oakley carefully from his arms and taking her to my room.
He’s pacing when I join him outside. “I didn’t expect you to wait for me,” he begins.
“Good.”
“But I can’t deny I’m shocked.”
“That someone would want me?” I ask, arching a brow.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I dunno, I thought you’d be busy with Oakley and—”
“How fucking dare you,” I hiss. “Don’t judge me when you know nothing about me.”
“Who looks after her when you’re with him?” he snaps. “Has he met her?”
“I’m not talking about this with you, Grim. You’ve been back a few hours and you want to start laying down laws? It doesn’t work like that. You wanted to talk about Oakley.”
“I want to be part of her life,” he mutters. “All of it.”
“Of course.”
“Bedtimes, bathtimes, dinnertimes, everything.”
“Okay.”
“Can we be around each other for that?”
I nod. “If you stay out of my private life. We can parent Oakley, but that’s it.”
He keeps his eyes to the ground. “You’re my ol’ lady.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m not.”
“Always. I’m not giving up on us.”
“Meli’s free and single still. Maybe she’ll take you back.”
I try to walk away, but I’m pulled back by my arm and pressed against the oak tree. He pushes his face to mine, and his whole body is pressed against mine. “I love you, you’re mine, and I’ll get you back.”
“I have someone,” I say firmly, ignoring the way my body pulls towards him.
He grips my left hand, holding it up between us. He places a gentle kiss against my finger. “I don’t see no ring on it, baby. He should have snapped you up when he had the chance. Now, he’s got to fight to keep you away from me.”
I pull my hand free, and he smirks, his eyes staring deep into mine. I refuse to look away and back down, so I square my shoulders. His eyes flick to my lips, and I run my tongue over them without thinking. He smiles. “Fuck, I’ve missed those lips.” He presses his thumb over my lower lip, then drags it along my jaw and loosely grips my neck. “We’re not raking up the past, Hads. Warn your man I’m coming to claim what’s mine.” He presses a chaste kiss to the corner of my mouth, then releases me, walking back towards the clubhouse.
I stare after him, butterflies racing around my stomach. “Be strong, Hadley, you’re not his whore,” I hiss to myself. “Christ, you’re the mother of his child and you deserve better.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
GRIM
As far as club parties go, this is the wildest I’ve seen it since Eagle was in charge. The ol’ ladies and other women have gone to bed, leaving club girls and brothers drinking. My blurred vision homes in on Ghost bending Skye over the pool table and fucking her, and I snigger. Mav must be in his office cos he doesn’t stand for that sort of thing unless it’s in the privacy of the bedrooms. A hand runs over my thigh, then Star lowers onto my lap. She grinds against me until my cock is bursting through my jeans. “Sixteen months is a long time, VP,” she whispers, and I nod. “Why don’t you let me help you out?”
I grip her waist to stop her rubbing against me. “I have an ol’ lady.”
“Oh, cos Skye asked Hadley and she said you were free and single. We didn’t wanna step on anyone’s toes.”
I shake my head, smirking. “She’s mistaken.”
I stand, almost tipping her to the floor. I head for bed, but as I get to Hadley’s floor, I find myself feeling along the wall and stopping outside her room. If I want her to forgive me, I have to put myself in her life until she can’t deny how she feels, so I push the door open and slip inside.
It’s the most beautiful sight seeing Hadley curled up with her hand in Oakley’s cot, her finger gripped tightly by our sleeping daughter. I take a seat in the armchair by her bed and relax. It’s comfier than a prison bed, and I have no trouble drifting to sleep.
When I open my eyes, it’s morning and there’s no sign of Hadley or Oakley. I go to my own room to shower and dress. When I get downstairs to the dining room, Hadley is at the table with Rylee on one side and a prospect on the other. I nod for him to move which he does and I slip in his seat. Hadley narrows her eyes. “Morning, ol’ lady,” I say, winking. She ignores me. “I thought we could take Oakley out for the day.”
“No.”
I take Oakley from her highchair and cover her in kisses. “Maybe the park?”
“I said no.”
“I heard, but we’re still going out for the day, so choose or I will.”
“I’m busy.”
“With lover boy?”
She rolls her eyes, and Rylee glances at Hadley. “Lover boy?” she asks.
“Oh fuck, haven’t you told anyone?” I ask, amused. Hadley’s face flushes with embarrassment. “Is he a secret?”
“Only you keep secrets around here,” she utters.
Meli walks in, blanking me and cooing over my shoulder at Oakley. It’s awkward, but I pretend I haven’t noticed Meli and go back to staring at Hadley. “So, where shall we take Oakley?”
“I’m busy,” she hisses with more conviction this time.
“No, you’re not. I’ll get Oakley ready while you dress.” I stand, and Meli steps back. She catches my eye and gives a small smile as I pass her to head upstairs. If I want to win her sister over, I have to avoid Meli.
I’m changing Oakley when Hadley comes in. “You take her, I’ll make up some bottles.”
“Don’t you trust yourself around me?” I ask, not taking my eyes off Oakley. “Are you scared I might actually win you back?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then get dressed, Hadley, because we’re spending our first day as a family and you’re coming.”
Half an hour later, I’m pushing Oakley in her stroller with Hadley by my side. I can’t keep the smile from my face. It’s exactly what I thought about on the nights I wanted to give up. “Tell me about her birth,” I say, and Hadley looks taken back. “I wrote and asked, but you didn’t write back. I’ve thought about it a lot and wondered how my baby girl came into the world.”
“I don’t really remember it,” she mutters.
“Liar. How long were you in labour?”
“Twelve hours.”
“I bet you were calm,” I say, smiling.
“Actually, no, I wasn’t. I panicked, and Mum had to keep me calm until I got to the hospital. I felt like something bad was going to happen and I couldn’t shake it. It wasn’t until I held her in my arms that I felt like I could breathe.”
I hate that I wasn’t there to comfort her when she needed me. “Did you have pain relief?”