Page 12 of Come Back To Me

His eyes meet mine. He looks shocked that I haven’t laid into him or addressed his, in my eyes, ridiculous comment. “It’s a girl,” he smiles.

He’s been adamant from day one that it’s a girl. Never once has he changed his mind. Not even when I suddenly developed a habit for preferring savoury over sweet which, according to Eva, the new lady at work, means it’s a boy. “Well, tomorrow we can find out. Unless you still want it to be a surprise?”

“What do you want?” Dean asks me.

I like the idea of a surprise, I really do. But I also really like the idea of knowing so we can be organised. I was shocked when he suggested waiting to find out to be honest. “I want you to decide. I also want you to come to the scan tomorrow knowing, that girl or boy—”

“—girl,” he interjects.

I laugh and continue, “girlor boy, they will love you, more than anything or anyone ever has. Because you are their daddy. And you are brave and fierce.” I see his eyes glaze as his thumb starts stroking my bump. “We are yours,” I say, my throat suddenly burning as I place my hand on top of his, “and you will always be ours.”

Dean pulls me closer to him, and we fall into silence.

Chapter Four

MADISON

An hour later, freshly showered and smelling like a god, Dean walks downstairs to me.

“Didn’t think poker started until eight?” I ask, looking up at the clock.

It’s almost six, yet he picks up his wallet and keys as if he’s going out now. “Travis called earlier, needs me at the clubhouse before it starts.” I watch his eyes flick to me as he puts his things in his pockets.

“Oh,” is all I reply. There’s curiosity in my voice. Dean knows that I know they’ve been searching for Lauren. I wonder if why Travis needs him is related to that?

It’s been three months and I’ve had a few texts from her.

That’s it.

I drove myself crazy at the start, literally driving around in my car at God knows what hour trying to find her. But as the weeks dragged on and the evenings grew darker, I concluded that if she wanted to see me, she would reach out.

After she messaged me the day of Rocco’s funeral, I thought she’d be coming back. But when I asked where she was and wanted to know if she was safe, she didn’t reply. She only reached out to me after that to say ‘Merry Christmas’, two months later.

I’d let her down. I should have done more to protect her. Partof me feels broken that she’s out there somewhere with nobody, and I’m here, not helping her.

“If it’s related to Lauren, I’ll let you know,” Dean says as if reading my thoughts.

I smile at him, even though I know he probably won’t. He won’t give me any false hope.

I was kept in the loop at first, but the deeper things get with the club, they’re starting to leave me out of it. He and Travis don’t want to stress me or the baby out. “Thank you,” I say anyway.

Dean bends over me sat on the sofa and places a kiss on my head. “What are you doing tonight?” he asks.

“Oh, I have a hot date,” I quip, trying not to dwell on my failings.

Dean smiles. “Who is he? Where does he live?”

I smile back, tapping the book on my lap.

“What’s his name?”

“He’s a billionaire book boyfriend.” I laugh when he looks down trying to get a better look at the cover.

“I’ll kill him,” Dean jokes.

“Thank God he’s fictional and you can’t hurt him.” My phone vibrates in my hand, making me look down. I smile seeing the name on the screen.

“If he were real, he’d be dead,” he says jokingly, making me look up as he turns to retrieve his helmet.

---