Page 52 of Surrender
My rage is dampened when Sophia pummels into my legs. “Mum, when can we get a dog at your house?”
My lips purse together as I try to ignore the fact that she doesn’t call it “our house.” I hate that she looks at my home as a place she visits and not a place that’s hers.
I squat down to eye level. “Maybe someday, Soap, but I think we have too much going on right now.”
She sighs dramatically. “We don’t have anything going on. I don’t even play football like all the other girls.”
I pin her with a warning look. “Sophia. Mommy is the boss, so be a good girl and maybe we’ll discuss it again next year.”
She wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes, her voice muffled in my shoulder as she says, “Fine…It’s probably good. Rex would be sad if I had another friend.”
“That’s a good girl,” I reply, beaming with pride. I press my lips to her hair. “I have to be going now, baby. You be good for your Grandma and Daddy.”
She pulls back to look at me, keeping her cosy arms wrapped tightly around my neck. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
Heart crushing aches. Knee-trembling pain. Burning desolation all through my body. “I’m going to miss you, too. But I’ll see you in—”
“Seven days!” she sings, smiling brightly.
Hopefully sooner,I think to myself. “Give me a kiss.”
She plops a wet one right on my lips and squeezes me one last time. As I drive away, I try really hard to remember what it was that made me agree to marry Cal. Then I get a glimpse of Sophia waving goodbye to me in the rearview mirror and it all comes back to me.
SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER ATDAD’Sis madness, as usual. Tanner and Camden try to fight me for Rocky most of the evening, but I refuse them because I’ve decided my niece is my date for the night. Everyone is busy playing happy family around the table, but I’m not paying attention because I have the sweetest girl in the whole world right in front of me.
Rocky’s blue eyes are big and glossy as she faces me on my lap and runs her chubby fingers over the whiskers on my chin. The touch is a little nerve-rattling, but I focus my thoughts on her fluffy blonde hair that’s tied up into a spiky ponytail atop her head. She’s jabbering away, not making very much sense, but telling me a story that I think has something to do with an elephant, a man, and maybe her mummy. I’m not quite sure. It’s fucking adorable, though.
I can feel my dad’s eyes on me the entire time. I look over and see him watching Rocky with so much affection, it overwhelms me. The way he acts with her is so night and day different from what we experienced growing up. It’s like a puzzle I can’t quite figure out. Does he dote over Rocky because she’s Vi’s child? Would he be like this with my kid if I had one?
I roll my eyes at the thought. He won’t come to Manchester to watch me play a football game. He certainly wouldn’t coo over a fictitious child I will never even have.
My phone vibrates on the table, and I look around Rocky to read the text that says the cab I ordered is here. “Bye, Rock Star,” I murmur and kiss her on the cheek before handing her over to Tanner.
“Where are you going?” Tanner asks, looking up at me as I stand.
I push my chair in. “Back to Manchester.”
“You’re going back tonight?” Camden probes, walking over with a confused look on his face.
“Yep,” I reply simply and move to grab my bag. “I’ll see you guys next week.”
Dad pins me with a stare from the head of the table. “Must you go tonight?”
“Yes,” I state through clenched teeth while kissing Vi on the cheek and ignoring everyone’s concerned looks.
I’ve just opened the front door to leave when I hear my dad’s deep voice echo through the dark foyer. “Gareth, wait.”
I turn to see his large frame as he strides toward me and steps into the light streaming through the entryway. If I ever wanted an idea of what I’ll look like in twenty-odd years, I just need to look at my dad. Aside from his blue eyes and grey hair, we are identical.
His salt and pepper hair glows in the light, the shadows severe as he stands before me. “Why are you leaving tonight? It’s late.”
I shake my head at him. “Because I have things going on tomorrow.” More like I have someone coming over, so I’m actually excited to go home for once.
“Well, I wanted to talk to you about something quite serious.”
“Can it wait?”
Dad frowns and ignores my request. “I want you to move back to London, Gareth.”
