Page 19 of Hap

“Darlin’, if I hear you call another man ‘Daddy’ and talk about your fucking cooch again, I will spank your ass so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a week,” I hear Ghost threaten. Jesus Christ, just what I need to hear.

“Sorry, baby. How about you bend me over your knee later, and I promise to only call you Daddy?” Star purrs.

“Hello, I’m on the fucking phone,” I yell in protest.

“Oh right, sorry. Look, just cooking her something nice and simple. Just some good home cooking. If she throws it up, cook something else. I need to go,” Star says, her voice coming out all breathy.

I hear muttering, then the phone being picked up. “Sorry, she snatched it from me, but what she said is right. You can’t go wrong with meat and vegetables,” Queenie adds.

“Thanks, Queenie,” I mutter.

“You want me to come out and cook you something?” she offers.

I smile and shake my head, “No, you’re good, thanks though. Tell Ghost to call if he needs me, but I want to spend a couple of days here with Alina,” I state.

“Sure thing. Call if you need anything,” Queenie says before disconnecting.

I place my cell back into my pocket and unload the cases. Something tells me this is going to be a lot harder than I thought it would be.

CHAPTER TEN

ALINA

I wake from a nap,feeling rested. As much as I didn’t want to sleep, I did it because I wanted to be alone and cry. Why I wanted to cry, I wasn’t entirely sure. I was surprised that we had separate rooms. At first, I thought he was stating that we were going into this together, but I guess he just meant that he was taking care of me and the baby. I realised while I lay there that, of course, it would have been stupid and completely unrealistic of me to think that he had turned up and declared in some romantic way that I was his and he would love and care for me and the baby. Living a happily ever after.

Ridiculous, I know. Being pregnant was making me soft and delusional. Just because he was a good lay, okay, a fucking great lay, doesn’t make us a thing just because I’m pregnant. No, he was merely doing the decent thing in being here for his child. I would just rather we did it in separate homes and me not be kidnapped and forced to come here.

I decide to get up and go downstairs rather than wait for him to come up and wake me. Clear-cut rules and boundaries needed to be made if he was going to make me stay here.

I walk into the large living room, and the open roaring fire makes it feel warm and cosy. Turning, I follow the sound of potsand pans clattering coming from the kitchen, and I find Hap deep in concentration. He has a towel slung over his shoulder as he stirs something in the pan frantically.

“Need a hand?” I ask.

His eyes snap to mine in surprise. “Did I wake you?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No,” I answer.

“Well, food is ready, so take a seat.” He nods over to the table where two places have been set.

I walk over and sit down. Reaching forward, I pick up the glass of water and take a sip. A moment later, Hap places down two plates before he takes a seat beside me.

I look down at the food in surprise. “You cooked this?” I ask as I stare down at the beef Wellington with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes.

Hap leans over, pouring the sauce all over it. “Yeah.” He shrugs as he cuts into his food.

“You made beef Wellington?” I ask.

He chews on his food and nods, swallowing before answering. “Yes,” he confirms again.

“How?” I ask. “I thought this took hours to make. I’ve only been asleep for…” I pause, wondering what the time is.

“You’ve been asleep for nearly three hours,” he answers. “Eat your food.” He points with a fork to my plate.

I pick up my knife and fork and start eating, unable to keep the moan contained as I taste how delicious the beef wellington is. “God.” I moan as I cut myself another piece and another. I’m eating like I’ve not had a meal for weeks, which I guess I haven’t since I’ve been living alone. I’ve not really cooked for myself, and since the sickness got worse, I’ve avoided food like it was the enemy. I look over to Hap and see his eyes watching me. “What?” I ask, wiping my face with the back of my hand.

“When was the last time you ate?” he asks.

I finish chewing my piece of food. “I eat. I just...” I pause. “Well, there is no point cooking for just me.” I shrug. “Plus, I’ve not been able to keep food down,” I add.

---