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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

REED

She lies tucked under my arm with her head on my chest, and my fingers tangle in her hair while she drapes one leg over my waist, allowing me to feel every move that our son makes.

“When my mom died, the man I knew my father to be became someone else.” I listen intensively, grateful she’s giving me this insight into her life. “He’d always been absent, cold even, but it’s as if he hated me for her leaving us.”

I knew George was a widow, but I never realized to ask questions about Gia’s family, especially given that she only classed Bryce as family, and the community too, I guess. “How did she die?”

“Cancer.”

I swallow back the lump gathered in my throat at the way her voice wavers. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I was twelve. A long time ago now.”

My fingers toy with her hair. “Still doesn’t stop the hurt, though, right?”

“No, it doesn’t.” She lifts her head to face me. “What about your parents, Reed? Do you have a relationship with them?”

A snort leaves me. “No. My father was a jackass and died about five years ago. For someone always surrounded by so many people, he died alone. A lonely old man.”

“That’s… sad.”

I shrug, not feeling the least bit sad about his death. Feeling nothing at all, like always.

Out of all my best friends, I’m the one who comes with the most influence, money, and prestige, and I grew up hating what it cost to receive it. That’s the only feelings I’ve become accustomed to over the years—hate and the physical pleasure from sex. Nothing more, nothing less.

“I have a half-brother Isacc; he’s a fuckup, thanks to our father. Our father couldn’t wait to shove us both in boarding school. That’s where I met the guys, and I’m grateful for that, at least. But I don’t have one fond memory of my father, not one. He just was never there, and I spent a long time hating him for it.

“Isacc didn’t thrive on the structure of school, like me. He was the bad boy, and our father constantly threw money at him, and it left him spoiled and made him think he was invincible to the world, when in reality he had a harsh lesson to learn.” I clear my throat and shake my head, appalled at my brother’s indiscretions.

Gia must sense my unease because she doesn’t push me further, and I’m grateful for it. I’m sure I will share the story of his downfall sooner or later; I am, after all, his lawyer.

“What about your mother?”

A disgruntled sound bubbles out of me. “She’s a bitter, twisted old woman. My brother’s mother passed away in tragic circumstances, and she took great pleasure in making sure we weren’t going to support him, as if it was his fault our father strayed countless times and created him. Whenever it was the school holidays, me and my father would spend an afternoon with him, and she constantly reminded me that he’s nothing, a worthless bastard child that nobody wanted.”

I laugh, but there’s no amusement in my tone. It’s bitter like how I feel. “The funny thing is, I had a family, and they didn’t want me either.” I shake my head. My kids will never feel the way I did growing up. They have an incredible mother, and I may not know much about parenting, but I know the kind of parent I want to be, and I’ll do my utmost to protect my family from the likes of mine. “I never want you to meet her.”

“Oh.” The disappointment lacing her tone has me wanting to elaborate.

“She has a cruel tongue, Gia. I can guarantee you, she’ll have nothing nice to say to you. You deserve better than her judgment, and I’d never put you and Bryce in a situation where you’d be uncomfortable, and trust me, you’d be uncomfortable.” The hypocrisy of my words isn’t lost on me. That’s the exact same as Gia not wanting her sons around her father, and my blood runs cold at the way things went down back at the restaurant.

“I’m sorry about what I said at the restaurant.”

She places her finger over my mouth. “It’s okay,” she whispers.

I gently remove it and shake my head while entwining my fingers with hers. “It’s not. I’m sorry, and you’re right. If you don’t want our children to see your father, then that’s up to you. You’re their mother, a damn good one, and I support you.” I feel the tension drain from her body. “And as much as I wish I was Bryce’s father, I’m not.” I swallow thickly, hating the words as I say them. “I won’t push for his adoption, but I need you to know I want it.” I stare into her green orbs, and they fill with tears. My heart pounds, and I long to tell her how I feel but can’t quite make the words come out, so I hope she can decipher what I’m trying to say. “I want all of you, Gia. You’ve stolen my heart, little thief.”

She lifts up, and I think she’s going to kiss me, but her lips rest over my heart, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing about it. “You’re a little thief too.”

* * *

The sun streams through the curtains, and I reluctantly lift my head from off the pillow and glance at the clock—10:30 a.m. Fuck!

My eyes latch on to the spot where the photo that normally sits beside Gia’s bed is, and it’s absent, as is my girl. Her side of the bed is cold, and my body fills with a need to be near her to make sure she’s aware of how much she means to me. So, with that thought in mind, I throw the sheets back and grab my boxers and pants from the floor, then slip them on before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.

When I make it down the stairs, I glance at the sideboard and find the photo’s missing from there too, causing my heart to constrict. She’s fucking trying, and that means the world to me.

The smell of pancakes fills my nostrils and has my stomach growling. A smile tugs on my lips as I enter the kitchen, but it soon dies when Tyson comes into sight. He sits at the counter drinking coffee with a sly smirk on his face when he sees me. Then he trails his eyes up and down me before flicking his gaze back to Gia.

“Pleased to see you got your head out of your ass,” he grunts, and stares at my girl’s back, and my body tightens at the thought of him staring at her ass. She is, after all, in my white shirt. Does she even have panties on?

A feral sound leaves my throat, then I quickly mask it with a cough, and when douche canoe chuckles, I snap my gaze back to his. “Why are you here, anyway?” I grit out while Gia thrusts a coffee in my hand.

She tilts her head to face me with a serene smile, ignoring my souring mood. “Do you want pancakes?”

“Are they organic?” I ask while glaring at Tyson.

“They are.” I gift her a nod while smiling smugly in Tyson’s direction. There you go, motherfucker. She’s accommodating my needs.

“I came to take Bryce to summer camp,” he declares, with a grin mirroring my own.

Mine slides off my face in an instant, and my spine straightens at the thought of him continuing to play a father figure in Bryce’s life when he has me. “Well, I’m taking him.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “He’s already there.” Then he glances at his watch. “Camp started at eight a.m. today.” As he clucks with his tongue, it makes me want to rip the smug look off his face.

“Well, then, you’re not needed here any longer,” I clip out, and wave my hand toward the door.

“I have a late meeting at the center, so he’s going to need to be collected from camp.” Gia’s eyes ping-pong between mine and twat waffle’s.

“I can do that. What time?”

“Six.” They speak at the same time.

“That’s fine. I’ll go into the office for a couple of hours, then collect him.”

“Thank you.” Gia lifts onto her tiptoes and places a kiss on my cheek. I band my arm around her waist and hold her while my eyes remain locked on Tyson. Turning her, I lower my lips to hers, all while watching the prick from over her shoulder, staking my claim on the woman who’s captured me. He rolls his eyes, and I lift my finger behind Gia’s back, flipping him off.

“Okay, lovebirds. I’m out!” he declares, and I smile into our kiss. That’s right, fuckwit, you’re not needed here.