Page 26 of Stone Heart

“What’s all this gift malarky?” Cole says, leaning on the countertop.

“Fuck knows,” Brant huffs. “Game’s starting soon. Did you get crisps? Kerry is starving me, says I'm putting weight on,” he mutters, moving to open a cupboard.

“Yeah, snacks are in there. Cole, grab the dips. I need to put some dinner in for Grace,” Dan replies and goes to the freezer.

“You couldn’t have pressed a little further?” I mutter, annoyed.

“Why? You’re with Nadine, it’s none of our business,” Dan says, pulling open drawers and grabbing a pizza. He slams the drawer shut and looks with a glint in his eye.

“I'm gonna go check on Grace,” I grumble, eager to discover what she meant. Beau doesn't have a father? What the hell does that mean?

“Do not grill my daughter. She’s not your informant, Cameron.”

Dammit.

“I wasn’t going to. I already told her I would watch a bit of her movie with her.” I stomp through the kitchen and ignore both Cole and Brant watching me with loose smiles. I snatch up my beer and give them the finger over my shoulder when I hear them laughing at my expense. Grace is sitting in her playroom, watching some pony shit.

“Hey, kiddo.”

“Hmm.”

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that. Your daddy will meet someone soon,” I tell her softly, picking her up. I move to the sofa and sit her down with me. “Are you going to watch your film?” I ask.

Shrugging, she toys with her hair, then twists to look at me. “Does Mummy love me?” she voices quietly. I open my mouth, then swallow all the anger I feel whenever her mother is mentioned. A shadow moves to my left, and I see Dan standing in the doorway.

“Your mummy loves you,” I tell her emotionally. “She just loves you in a different way than how your daddy does,” I say slowly, thinking over the words as I release them. I don't want to hurt her, but I can’t lie to her either. “Your mummy is unwell, and she needs to get better. She couldn’t love you how you deserved. That's why you live with Daddy.”

“So, my mummy will come back?” Grace asks hopefully.

“She might, but she isn’t very healthy, Grace,” I remind her gently.

“She could get better.”

“That's right, but she doesn’t want to be better. That's why we all help Daddy out, because we all love you lots.”

“Holly can love me too, like Beau does. She’s my best friend.” She looks at me with that same hope in her eyes.

Swallowing, I chance a look towards Dan standing gutted by the door. “She can love you, but as a friend,” I suggest.That's all you get, kid. The woman is mine.

“But not as a mummy.”

“That's right. You sound like you had a great time at Beau’s. What did you do?”

“We had ice cream and played ponies, we built a riding school and we decorated some cakes,” Grace blurts quickly, trying to list it all off so she doesn’t forget. She gasps, jumps up and nearly head-butts me. “My cakes!” she shouts, panicked. “They’re in my bag. I made cakes with Holly.” Grace runs off and grabs her dad’s hand on the way out. “My cakes, Daddy!” I hear her telling him excitedly about her unicorn cakes.

It took everything in me not to question her about Beau’s dad. I'm eager to know what the hell is going on. Now that I think about it, I’ve not seen the wet fish for a few days. So he isn't her dad, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t Holly’s partner? Nausea ripples through me. I can't bear the thought of him touching her.

“Dude, you coming to watch the game, or isMy Little Ponytoo interesting for you?” I snap around to see Cole leaning against the door frame. My little what?

“It worries me you knew what that was.” I laugh, walking past him.

“You good?” he asks, clapping a hand on my shoulder. I rub my forehead, muttering about being fine. He frowns at my tired expression. “Cam, I have no idea how you’re feeling, but you’ve come so far to let Holly send you back to that place. I’d hate to see you like that again, man.”

“I'm good. Grace is making it seem more than it was.” I waft him off and drink the rest of my beer, side-eyeing him. The arsehole even shakes his head disparagingly at me.

“So what was it?” he questions casually. “Holly’s home and it bothers you, admit it.”

“It was nothing, and I don't care about her. I'm happy,” I lie. “This one-to-one has been cute and all but,” I mutter, “I want to watch the game.”

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