Page 56 of Loving Wild

Someone calls my dad’s name. “I’ll catch you a bit later. Nice meeting you, Lauren,” he says before walking away.

I don’t want to look in Jackie’s direction and have her think I’m watching her, but I want to give Lauren a heads up that she’s making her way over to us.

Pulling her in tighter, I kiss her temple again and say into her ear, “Jackie’s making her way over to us. You’ve got this.”

She looks up at me at the same time as she pulls her shoulders back and straightens.

“I’ve got this,” she whispers with a nod and a slow exhale.

I fucking hate this. Hate that what Jackie did all those years ago has putmein the position of putting Lauren through this right now.

“Love your boots, Lauren. Where are they from?” Jess asks, and I know it’s a distraction.

“Thanks,” Lauren replies. “I actually bought them online . . .”

“Gabe. Glad you could make it.”

I don’t bother turning my head towards the sound of her voice, instead, I wait for her to come into view. She knows better than to try and get too close. Knows my brothers, Jess, and Sam won’t allow it, and won’t want to risk being seen publicly getting the brush off from me.

“How are you?” she asks when she’s standing in front of me.

“Iwasdoing fucking great, then you appeared,” I tell her honestly. Her green eyes narrow, slicing from me to Lauren. I brace, waiting for the strike.

“And you must be Lauren,” Jackie says with a fake smile and a head tilt. “I heard you were older.” And there it is.

Lauren looks up at me, gives me her own fake smile and I squeeze her against me just a little bit tighter as she looks back at Jackie.

“And you must be Jackie . . . I heard you were a paedophile.”

I shouldn’t smile. Nothing about this situation is even remotely funny . . . but that comeback? I couldn’t love Lauren more right now.

I smile.

“Ohhh shit!” I hear Zac say from beside me as he spins in a circle.

Leaning towards Jackie, I realise Lauren hasn’t finished.

“Iknowwho you are, Iknowwhat you did. I know theonlyreason you’ve not served time or been added to the sex offenders’ register is because this lot love their dad too much to put him through that. I hope to grow to love that man and become a part of this family too, butyou, you will never be included in that equation. I’m here today to celebrate Joe’s birthday. I’m not here to mingle and make small talk with an absolute oxygen thief, so off you fuck, and do not, ever attempt to engage me again.”

Convinced that everyone must’ve heard what was just said, I shift my gaze from a still and rigid Jackie to take in the room. Lauren has said what she has to say so quietly, everyone else is oblivious to what’s just taken place amongst our little group.

Breathing through her flared nostrils, Jackie keeps her eyes fixed on Lauren and says, “Gabriel, keep your dog on a tighter . . .”

“Donottalk to him,” Lauren steps forward and hisses. Hooking her around the waist, I pull her back into my front.

“Don’t youevertalktohim,abouthim,tome, oraboutme.Wedo not exist as far as you’re concerned. Now fuck off Cruella, before I really put on a show, and believe me, sweetheart, you want a show, then I’m an Oscar-winning fucking performer.”

“Umm, gourmet party pie or sausage roll?” All of our heads turn towards the young waitress holding out a tray of food.

“Why did we bring food if the gig is catered?” Lauren looks up at me and asks as if nothing has just happened.

“That’s for later,” Sam says. “Everyone else will be gone by about six o’clock, but we’ll all still be here. The kids will be starving, the boys will be starving, that’s when we’ll tuck into the good stuff.”

As everyone around us reaches for a pie or a sausage roll, Jackie turns and walks away.

“Sam,” Zac says through a mouthful of pie and sauce. “I love you, but I’m sorry, I think I love Lauren more.” Dropping down onto one knee, he takes Lauren’s hand, looking up at her, he asks, “I know we’ve not known each other for a very . . .”

“Get the fuck up,” I order him. “And let go of her hand, you fucking idiot.”