Page 91 of The Final Beat

I grinned. “Why do you think I decided to wear it? I know how much you like it.” It was a navy blue, Tom Ford, slim fitting suit and Belle always got particularly horny when I wore it.

“Thank god our girls are in a room with your mum and the girls tonight,” I whispered against her ear. “It means I can make you scream louder.”

“Why, Mr Andrews, you are so naughty.”

She reached up to kiss my mouth and the warmth of love spread through me. I didn’t know what I’d do if I ever lost her. Belle was my rock, my best friend, my soul mate, my everything. The past ten years had been one long blast of happiness from the moment she told me she was pregnant with Lily. It had taken us a while to get married because as soon as we started to think about it Belle got pregnant with our eight-year-old Dotty. Initially we joked that she and Ivy, Beau, and Simone’s eldest daughter, were twins as they were born on the same day. Although that got all weird when we realised that Beau and Belle were brother and sister and so Beau banned any talk of it. Dotty’s arrival did however mean that our wedding plans were delayed, so we’d only done it three years ago. A quiet affair with just family and friends and a barbeque in our garden. It was perfect. I’d wanted Belle to have whatever kind of wedding she wished for, and that had been it. She’d looked beautiful, as had the girls in pink dresses that made them feel like princesses. My girls were my everything, all three of them. Although, I knew that life would get harder once the girls became teenagers. They were beautiful just like their mum and they were both feisty. Dotty’s nickname was Dotty Last Word because she always had to have it. Lily, however, used stealth to get what she wanted. That girl had me wrapped around her little finger and she knew it and would regularly manipulate me. Did I care? Did I hell. I loved it. I was dreading when boys came into the picture and now Lily was starting high school, I knew it wouldn’t be far off.Especially, if her crush on Ethan’s friend Olly was anything to go by. Thank god at eighteen he just looked at her as a little kid.

I knew Belle and I would get through it, though. We were a good team, but I would be nothing without her. My beautiful, clever, Koko.

“How was the charity meeting?” I asked her.

Belle blushed. “I was so nervous, but it went well.” She’d set up a charity to raise money to pay for aftercare for victims of sexual abuse. Knowing what I’d gone through, she had jumped at the chance to set it up. “Ali’s advice was so helpful.”

“I’m so proud of you, Koko,” I whispered after pulling her closer. “You’re amazing.”

“I haven’t done anything special.” She gazed intently into my eyes, like she always did when the subject came up. Like she was trying to see if I was still okay. “It was your idea and your money that helped set it up.” Tears brimmed at her lashes as she cupped my face. “It was you and Katie and Simmy and millions of other victims who had to endure the nightmares, not me.”

I took a deep breath, remembering those dark days when I thought I’d never feel light again. I’d had it easy compared to many, because I had no recollection of what had happened to me. The drugs Richard spiked me with meant I wasn’t aware he’d touched me for his own sick gratification. I still had no memory of it, over ten years later, but the idea of it messed with my head for a time. Thanks to my gorgeous Koko, my daughters, and my best friends, though, I was good and living my best life.

“Uncle Elliot, have you seen my mum and dad anywhere?”

I turned to see Ethan, holding two bottles of beer in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.

“Hey, Ethan.” I raised an eyebrow. “They all for you?”

He laughed, showing me a row of perfect white teeth. He was a good looking boy with messy dark hair and broad shoulders. He might not have been Beau’s natural son, but it was morethan clear he’d had a big influence on Ethan. With the leather bracelets, the jeans, t-shirts, and big chunky rings, he had his dad’s rockstar vibe going on. He was Beau 2.0. He even had his musical talent. All weird considering that there was no blood between them. Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be any of Ethan’s real dad in him.

“No.” Ethan laughed and put the drinks on the table. “I got them for Mum and Dad, but they’ve disappeared.”

“They rushed past us a few minutes ago.”

Belle brushed the hair from Ethan’s eyes. “Made any decisions yet?” she asked.

“No, but I’m thinking maybe the band.” Ethan shrugged. “Like I said to Mum and Dad, Uni will always be there, but the band might not.”

I nodded, not wanting to show too much how pleased I was about his choice. The boy and his band had talent and I knew they could go all the way. As Ethan started to tell us about the latest band news, I noticed Beau and Sim walking towards us.

“Here’s your mum and dad.”

Ethan swung around and his face broke into a huge smile at the sight of his parents. “Oh god,” he groaned. “They’ve been doing something they shouldn’t. Look at Dad’s face.”

Beau was grinning like a naughty schoolkid and Simmy looked a little sheepish. We all burst out laughing and more warmth filled my chest. Just like I did a thousand times a day, I counted my blessings.

RONNIE

Amber and I were hiding in a corner of the room, shocked with our mouths hanging open.

“It can’t have happened again.” I scrubbed a hand down my face. “And you’re sure?”

Amber nodded. “I totally blame you.”

I threw my hands in the air. “I can’t help having super sperm.”

I’d got her pregnant again, while she was on the pill—again!

“The boys start senior school in eighteen months,” I said, grabbing Amber’s hand. “And we’ll also have a baby.”

“I do know that Ronnie.”

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