Page 50 of Loving Wild

Another pause before she says, “I’ll let you get on with your day. Message me with dinner suggestions, and try not to be late. I miss you.”

“Miss you too,” I say quietly.

“Love you, bye,” she responds, ending the call before I can.

Placing my phone on the desk, I look up to see both my brothers watching me.

“What?” I question.

“You’re different when you talk to her,” Cooper states.

“Different? Different how?”

“You went from thoroughly pissed off to totally chilled in 0.5 seconds, bro,” Zac replies.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been less moody, not looked at everyone like you’re about to knock them the fuck out so much lately, but I just put it down to the fact you’re getting some on the regular, but it’s not, it’s her. It’s Lauren. You’re different because of her.” I stare at Cooper as he speaks, his words making me feel fucking awkward.

“Fuck off,” I tell him.

“Don’t be embarrassed, mate, happens to the best of us, or the worst in your case,” Zac quips.

Leaning back in my chair, I look between the two of them and shrug. “Despite all the bullshit with her ex, I’m probably the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,” I admit. “We had Ava with us over the weekend, everything was just so easy, normal. That’s how I want things to stay. She deserves a break, Lauren I mean. We need her husband to stay locked up, for Karen McAlister to not become an obsessive stalker, and Jackie not to be . . . well, Jackie just not tobewould be good, but not to be a bitch this weekend would also work.”

“You know that’s unlikely,” Zac states.

“Which one?” I ask.

“Any of them,” Coop replies.

“Jackie not being a bitch,” Zac adds at the same time.

“We’ll have your back with the Karen and Jackie situations, not a lot we can do about keeping East banged up though,” Cooper says.

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about with Jackie. I’m confident Lauren won’t take any shit from her,” Zac adds.

“I’m more worried about Jackie than I am Lauren. I think she’s about to meet her match when my little bird lets loose,” I tell them with an undeniable hint of pride in my voice.

“Oh shit,” Zac rubs his hands together and grins. “Coop, set your alarm, we need to get to Dad’s early Saturday so we don’t miss the Jackie and Lauren bitch fight.”

I rub at my temple, a headache starting.

“There won’t be a bitch fight, Lauren wouldn’t do that at Dad’s birthday.”

“Gets complicated when your past comes crashing into your present, right?” Coop shakes his head and states.

“You’ve no fucking idea,” I tell him.

“Sucks to be you,” Zac adds with a laugh.

“Shut the fuck up,” I tell him as I again launch my pen, this time at his head.

Chapter 13

Lauren.

Karen McAlister messagedme Monday evening and cancelled our meeting for Tuesday, so I’ve spent the week sourcing flooring, fabric, and paint samples. Her cancellation has given me time to create a mood board for the themes I’ve designed to run through the entire property and smaller boards for each room.

I’ve been busy, but it’s been a good week. The best week. We’ve had an entire week of ‘normal’. Gabe’s been out at work every day while I’ve taken over his office and worked from home. On Wednesday night, he worked late then went to the pub and had dinner with his brothers, so Jo and Jemma came over and shared a takeaway, wine, and gossip with me.