Page 49 of Ruin Me Sweetly

I stayed exactly where I was. Our bodies locked together, arms holding each other. My chest felt lighter now, from the confession I’d finally let out.

“Still think I should’ve let you start without me?”

Her only answer was a sleepy, satisfied hum.

❧ ❧ ❧

The following morning, everything had settled, and Isabella was ready to speak to Amber and Zach. I perched on the arm of her chair while the children sat on the couch opposite. My hand rested on her back, so she knew I’d back her up, should she need me to.

“Do you know why Clive wanted us to adopt one another’s children?” Isabella asked quietly.

Zach shook his head, and Amber looked curious.

“To protect you both, in case something happened to either one of us.” Her voice dropped lower. “I guess I failed your dad, when you left.”

I glared at Zach, but his eyes stayed fixed on Isabella.

“So this—it’s actually a good development, from what Amber’s told me. Clive would have been happy,” she said, as I gently rubbed my hand up and down her lower back.

Zach stayed quiet, though he looked to be processing everything—shock, confusion, then his features settling again. Amber’s knuckles had gone white from how tightly she gripped his hand.

“Mark and Zoe wouldn’t have been there for either of you, so we created our own little family instead,” Bella continued.

There was logic in that planning. I approved.

Zach sighed, looking almost defeated, and nodded slowly.

“Yeah. It makes sense now,” he said.

Amber looked up at him, her eyes soft, full of something unspoken. He was a better fit than Gollum, at least. That boy hadn’t a single backbone and had the shifty, nervous eyes to match.

I’d let Zach know I was watching.

If he broke Poppet’s heart, it would crush Bella, and that simply wasn’t happening.

The tension in the room eased as Bella began laying out curfews, followed by an extended discourse on the many benefits of contraception. I think even I rolled my eyes at one point.

But the children stayed respectful, even if their eyes were full of quiet rebellion.

I liked that spirit.

Chapter 24

Luke

Almost everyone was here for the rehearsal. I scanned the church. Amber and Zach were missing. Callum had straight-up told me he wasn’t attending because of jet lag. The pussy.

Rhea’s laugh made me smile. It was unhinged, unguarded.

Bella was surrounded by several friends, and I moved in closer to Rhea.

“Can I have a quick word with you?” I whispered.

Her eyes narrowed, and she looked at me suspiciously before glancing over at Bella. Her expression softened, and with a grunt, she peeled away from the crowd.

“So you know about my ex.”

“Who doesn’t?” she said, raising a dark eyebrow.