She wiggles slightly so I can tug the sheet out from underneath her, pulling it up to her chin.
Her eyes stay closed but I can see the mascara smudged on her cheeks from tears that I wasn’t here to wipe away.
I creep into the bathroom until I find a pack of face wipes. Returning to Rosie’s side, I cup her chin in my hand as I gently wipe away the streaks.
I rise again but her hand grabs my bicep, tugging me forward.
“Stay,” she whispers.
She doesn’t have to tell me twice. Shrugging out of my jeans, I round the bed, climbing in and raising my arm so she can burrow into my side, her leg hooked over mine and the gentle swell of her stomach resting against me.
I curl my arm to gently play with her hair and rest my other on her belly. “I’m right here, pretty girl. I’m not going anywhere.”
25
ROSIE
I wakeup in the pitch black with Smudge pressing on my bladder. I blink, taking in the dark room, barely illuminated by the moon, and the arm slung over my chest.
Jackson.
I vaguely remember him climbing into bed with me, but I thought it was a dream. The man softly snoring next to me assures me that he’s as real as my new reality is.
His warmth blankets me and all I want to do is snuggle further into him, safe from the day I’ll have to face as soon as I wake up.
I quietly ease out from under him, awkwardly sliding out of bed so as not to disturb him. His breathing changes but he doesn’t wake up, just turns onto his back, showing me a glimpse of his delicious torso underneath the sheet.
I tiptoe to the bathroom, quickly using the toilet and brushing my teeth with a spare toothbrush I find under the sink, since I’m sure I definitely didn’t do that before I collapsed on the bed last night.
I idly wonder if I should text Anya to tell her I’m here, but the man currently asleep in the next room leads me todeduce some communication has already been had whilst I slept.
I creep back into the bed, lifting the sheet and sliding beneath it. Jackson reaches for me, tucking me back into his side and pressing a kiss to my hair.
He must be awake but he doesn’t say anything and neither do I, and it’s only a few seconds before sleep tugs me back under.
When I wake the second time, the weight on the other side of the bed is significantly lighter, and the hand gently shaking my arm is significantly smaller.
I blink one eye open to find Anya lying beside me, head resting in her hand and a smile on her face. “Hi Mumma.”
I burrow further into the soft duvet. “Hi.” The urge to cry washes over me. I didn’t even get a chance to tell my best friend. I waited too long and now I’ve lost the chance to see her reaction in person, to show her a baby onesie or shout about it on a video call. Remorse clogs in my throat and I can’t stop my lip from wobbling.
“So,” Anya sighs dramatically. “Is there anything you need to tell me?”
I tug my duvet up to cover my face with a wet laugh.
“Is this my punishment for not telling you about Danny? Because in my defence, that was a six week secret, this is more like six months.” The mattress bounces as she burrows under the sheet next to me. “How many times have we spoken and you just didn’t mention it? I mean, yeah, I could have asked but I’ll be honest, you having a baby with Jackson Harper was never really something I was suspicious of. When did this even happen?”
“At the wedding,” I mumble into the duvet, squeezing my eyes shut.
Brightness blinds me as her startled face peers down at me. “Atmywedding? You mean after?”
“Uhh—”
Anya gasps. “You meanduringmy wedding?Rosie Taylor.”
I laugh and cover my face with my hands.
“I can’t believe this,” Anya cackles. “You got impregnatedatmy wedding. By the best man!”
