Page 121 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

“It’s very nice to meet you.”

She smiled at him, extracting her hand and curling it around my arm.

“Ben didn’t mention you had a girlfriend.”

He waved a hand between the two of us.

“It’s kind of new.”

We all sat down. Grant went back to his phone whilst I put an arm around Avery. She leant into me.

“So we’re just going to hang out here until the baby comes?” she whispered.

“Yes… I know it’s not what you expected to be doing this evening.”

She rested her head on my shoulder.

“It’s okay. This is more important.”

She looked downtrodden and resigned. I felt like shit. I wanted to sort this crap out between us but now we couldn’t because Grant was in here. I wasn’t going to talk about our problems with an audience.

“Do you want me to get you a drink or a magazine?”

She shook her head.

“I just want to sit here with you if that’s okay.”

“Of course it is, princess.”

She curled a hand around my waist and closed her eyes.

l

Hours passed without a word from Ben. I fiddled with my phone when Avery fell asleep on me. I didn’t want to disturb her. Grant got coffee for both of us but didn’t say much else to me. He’d always been the stoic type.

Finally, Skye’s mum, Deb, came in around two in the morning to let us know Skye delivered a healthy 7lb 9oz baby boy. Grant went with her to the delivery room leaving me alone with my sleeping girlfriend. I told Deb to send Ben to get us when Skye was ready to have us in there.

Avery looked so peaceful curled up on the chair with her head in my lap. I stroked her hair back from her face.

“Princess, wake up.”

I shook her gently. She shifted, turning her face up towards me and blinked.

“What time is it?”

“Like two.”

She sat up, rubbing her eyes.

“Why’d you wake me up?”

“The baby is here. We’ll go see them in a bit, but I thought we should talk first.”

She eyed me for a moment before standing up, stretching and walking towards the window. She stood looking out at the city beyond. She didn’t say anything for a long moment and when she did, she didn’t turn to look at me.

“Aiden… I feel like this is all my fault.”

It wasn’t. I opened my mouth to speak, but then closed it again. John told me earlier to let her talk.

---