Page 42 of Strip for Me

“The last time we spoke, you told me to get back with Drew. You know what he did to me, and I was never happy. You haven’t asked where I’m living or offered any help even when you knew my house was burnt down. I don’t know why you expected me to tell you anything,” I say, and she shakes her head.

“I hoped you could fix your marriage, but we would have been there for you, if you told us you needed us, Ellie. We could have been there for you,” my mum says, shocking me. No one says anything for a long time, as I watch my mum and dad. Kaiden moves into the room, coming to stand on the other side of me. He doesn’t touch me, but I take his hand.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you and give you the chance to decide your own opinion. I’m going to be honest with you now, and you can leave if you wish,” I say, and I see my mum’s eyes widen as she looks at Andre and Kaiden. Seeing us all close and holding hands.

“Honest about what?” my dad says, placing his hands on his hips and giving me a look that makes me want to hide. I take a deep breath.Holy ducks, I can do this.

“I’m in a relationship with four men. Four amazing, kind, and loving men. Andre is the father of our baby, but they all want to be involved. This is my life now, and I’m not walking away from them because anyone disapproves or has their own beliefs. If you want to be in my life, you have to accept this. Accept us,” I say, feeling both Andre and Kaiden squeeze my hands in support.

“You’re sleeping with four men?” my mum squeaks out. Her voice is high-pitched, and I know it’s because it’s a shock. I don’t want to answer her question because it’s not the point. Yes, I’m sleeping with four men, but I love them, the sex is just a bonus.

“I’m going to be completely honest, four men who work as strippers.” I say, feeling the need to tell them everything and changing the subject a little.

“Strippers? I thought Drew was joking,” my mum says in a whisper, her face going pale, and I see a small smile on my dad’s lips, but he doesn’t say anything as he looks at the ground. That’s odd.

“Yes,” I say, and she shakes her head.

“My god, Ellie,” my mum says. I stand still as I watch her walk out. Just like I expected her to do. I get her reaction, I mean they haven’t been around for a while, so I don’t expect them to come back into my life and be okay with how things have changed. It’s not anything to them, anyway, and I’m not changing my life to make them happy with it. I married Drew because they suggested that he would be good for me. He wasn’t.

“It’s just a shock. We will call,” my dad says and smiles gently before Kaiden walks him out.

“I love you, and I am so proud of what you just did, Ellie,” Andre says softly once they have left.

“I love you, too,” I say, just as softly, and he pulls me into his arms. Our baby kicks away in my stomach, and I slide my hand across my bump. No matter what happens with my parents, I have a family.

Thirty-Five

ELLIE

“That outfit looks amazing on you,”Annie says, and Jude nods with a smile as I come out of the changing rooms. Todd’s sisters invited me to their monthly shopping trip, and I finally got to meet Todd’s youngest sister, Cleo. I don’t think she likes me, considering she left after saying hello and didn’t say bye to me. I remember her from outside the club, when she pushed me out of the way to talk to Kaiden. She was the girl with the amazing, red heels. I remember her glaring at me when I said I liked her shoes. Jude said earlier to me that Cleo had a thing for Andre and the guys before I came along.I can’t blame her.

“You sure?” I ask, smoothing down the pale, cream dress. My bump has gotten bigger overnight, and nothing is fitting me. So, I’m picking up a few outfits in the maternity section here.

“Perfect,” Jude nods. I smile and go back into the changing room, changing back into my last pair of jeans that fit and a black shirt that stretches tightly over my bump. After pulling my coat on and hanging the dress back on the hanger, I walk out. Jude picks up the basket full of clothes I’ve chosen and carries it towards the checkout till for me.

“I’m just popping to the loo,” Annie says, nodding toward the toilets.

“Can I ask a question?” I ask Jude as we wait for Annie to come back.

“Yes,” she replies.

“So, you and Todd are twins, yet he grew up with your dad in America, and you stayed with your mum in England. I just wondered why that was,” and she sighs as a response.

“It’s complicated, but I did stay in America for a while. I hated it, and I didn’t get along with our dad’s wife at the time. So, I asked to move back and Todd stayed,” she says.

“That must have been difficult, to be away from your twin,” I say.

“It was,” she says, and Annie walks over to us with a big smile.

“Ellie,” a familiar voice says behind me, and I turn to see Liz walking over to me. Liz looks amazing, in a tight, red dress, and her blonde, curly hair is up in a bun. She doesn’t seem bothered about what she did at all, and it annoys me straight away. I’ve spent way too many nights upset about her sleeping with Drew and betraying me. I really don’t understand why she did it.

“Please talk to me. Let me explain,” Liz begs, and I shake my head. I can’t reply to her, and I take a step back.

“Who are you?” Jude asks her, her tone is downright threatening and reminds me of Todd when he is protective of me.

“Liz, her best friend,” she replies, and I hold in the urge to laugh. She is no best friend to me.

“You mean her old friend. The one who betrayed her and slept with her ex-husband,” Annie snaps, both of the sisters moving slightly in front of me. I can see straight away that protectiveness runs in their family.

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