Screw you too, p.24
Screw you too!, page 24
His jaw is clenched, and his eyes are red-rimmed. He swallows, avoiding eye contact.
"Craig?"
I place the lid back on the pot of veg, lowering the temperature down to a simmer.
"We need to talk," he says after a pregnant pause.
Oh shit. What happened?
My eyes rake over his body; no busted knuckles, no blood spatter. He didn’t kill anyone. There are no signs of a scuffle.
"Ok." I slowly lower myself into one of the kitchen chairs, wringing my hands while I wait for him to speak.
"I… eh… I haven’t been entirely honest with you lately."
Oh shit.
Craig continues before I can think of a reply, "I’ve been keeping something from you. Something I’m not proud of."
What the hell did you do?
"I was afraid of you finding out—that if you found out, you’d see me in a different light."
What the hell is it?
Drugs?
Gambling?
Drinking problem? No, that can’t be it; he doesn’t drink enough for that.
Smoking. He’s back to smoking again!
It better be that!
I swear to Christ, it better be that. If you tell me you’re having an affair, Barnes, I will cut it off!
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out foil packaging.
Pills.
Oh God, it’s drugs!
How the hell did he get hooked?
Right, deep breaths, Lottie. Counselling, rehab—we can get through this.
"Here," he says, passing me the packet. I turn it over in my hands to see the label. Sertraline 100mg.
Antidepressants.
He’s on antidepressants.
Thank Christ for that!
Placing the packet on the table, I stand and go to him. Craig looks everywhere but at me.
I frame his face in my hands; he’s still trying to avoid my gaze. "This is it? This is the big secret?"
He nods.
I haul him down, pressing my lips against his. His body relaxes in my hold after a moment. "Don’t ever be ashamed to come to me with this."
"I didn’t want to let you down," he says in a mere whisper. His eyes squeeze shut, and his forehead presses against mine.
"Craig, look at me."
His eyes drift open, and I’m left gazing into those stormy grey eyes.
"You can never let me down."
The sides of his mouth pull into a slight grin, and he lets out a sigh of relief. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He nuzzles into my neck and stays there for a short time. I won’t budge. I hold him close, playing with the tufts of his hair.
"Eww!" Ethan grimaces from the hallway.
"If you don’t like it, don’t watch," I call back.
"You two are always kissing!"
"And I’m about to kiss Dad again."
He’s gone running.
I turn to Craig and smirk, "kissies?"
"Gladly," he says, kissing me tenderly and looking more like himself now that he’s spoken to me. "Am I still your Superman?"
"Always."
While the kids are at school, we drive to AJ’s. Apparently, he has a gift for Craig and Jason. With James’ assessment today, Jay couldn’t make it, so I’m going in his place.
AJ’s house is colossal. We are let in by a member of staff and find him sprinting on a treadmill in his home gym.
"Craig!" Aiden slaps the stop button, slowing the machine to a standstill. His broad, tattooed chest rises and falls in time with his rapid breathing. Reaching for a towel, Aiden brings it to his face and wipes away the beads of sweat from his forehead. "Charlotte," Aiden rasps, offering me a dapper smile, "it's lovely to see you again. Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you."
“You’re sure?" He cocks an eyebrow at me, taking my measure.
"Positive."
"Well, sit down, love. A woman in your state should be resting," Aiden says, ushering me to the couch and stuffing two sizeable cushions behind my back before turning to Craig. "You’re a lucky man."
"I know; they’re not ours." Craig points to my bump and snorts.
"Jason told me," Aiden admits. Reaching for a bottle of water, he spins the lid open with a mere flick before taking three long gulps.
"You said you had something for me." Craig looks around, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "I hope it’s not an open grave."
"I’m offended." Aiden’s hand lands on the tattoo above his heart.
"You’re not."
"I’m not," Aiden grins. His grey eyes spark: "You looked after something very precious to me."
"Craig did?" I can’t help but narrow my eyes at my husband. What the hell did he do? Hide a body?
As if reading my mind, Aiden scoffs. "Nothing illegal, Charlotte."
"I should hope not."
"What’s the gift?" Craig presses.
"Come here," Aiden marches around his desk, taps a few keys, and I see Craig’s brows furrow. "These are the right details, no?"
"They are." There is an air of suspicion in Craig’s tone.
"Very good. Do me one little favour and sign yourself in there." Aiden walks around the desk to give Craig privacy or space. I don’t know what the hell is going on; I’m about to get to my feet when AJ plonks his arse down on the armrest of the chair and says, "You might want to stay sitting for this part, love."
Craig’s eyes grow wide like saucers. "Are you fucking serious?"
"What? What’s going on?" I move for the edge of the seat, but Aiden places a firm but gentle hand down to stop me.
Craig spins the laptop around, showing me a seven-digit number in the bank account for his latest business.
"You did excellent work on your first case. It is only right that you get paid for the months of hard work you put in. Jason mentioned the banks are giving you some hassle; I’m sure that sum should make things easier. Cut out the middleman, so to speak."
"I can’t accept this," Craig says, stepping back from the desk.
"Tough. It’s already transferred." Aiden gets to his feet and, stepping up to Craig, whispers something to him that I can’t make out. Whatever it is, Craig is left beaming.
"Now," Aiden says to me, gifting me a dazzling smile. "Make yourselves at home. I’m going to grab a quick shower, and then we can celebrate your new venture."
CRAIG
Everything has been going well for the last few months. Our new offices for our security agency are underway and should be finished soon. Nick has recovered from his stint with AJ, and Éabha is finally free and living with hot Joe.
She may have also robbed AJ blind and had him arrested, but that’s a story for another day.
Jay and I have been juggling both businesses and family, and I’ve had extra therapy added to the mix since my talk with Lottie.
That woman is my rock.
She has supported me through everything. I made sure I took the pills, and I’m happy to say I finally got the all-clear to start coming down from them. Lottie makes sure I’m taking care of myself, even if that results in her chewing the arse off me for me to actually listen.
I’m in a much better place now. William is a constant for the kids, and, if I’m being honest, it’s not horrible having him around. A major adjustment, yes, but he seems to be invested in the kids.
I’ve yet to meet Andrew, who is still off travelling, so that will be interesting when we finally meet face-to-face. In a little over a year, I’ve gained a sister, and the kids have gained a grandfather. I’m happy to leave the brother on the back burner for now.
AJ sent a massive baby bundle bumper pack to Nick’s— his way of apologising for shooting him, I guess. What’s even more impressive is that he managed to organise it all from a holding cell.
Lottie is due soon. I know this because she started devouring ice cream for breakfast; it was a dead giveaway that she is over the pregnancy and is in the final stages of not giving a crap.
She was the same on our three.
Ethan, not so much. She refused to wear a bra by the end of her pregnancy with him and lived in joggers and leggings.
With Ellie, her breakfast consisted of breadsticks and heaping amounts of Nutella. She also lived in slippers; I’m surprised she didn’t give birth wearing them.
On Tilly, well, I practically lit a fire under her arse to smoke that demon out.
After meeting Matilda, I can safely say that was her attitude and not her mother’s that I was getting at that time.
Now these babies
Yep.
You heard me right.
Babies.
Two of them.
One was hiding behind the other in the first scan picture because, come the second, they were there.
Nick passed out.
It was fucking hilarious.
I recorded that reaction and stuck it on TikTok; it's safe to say it went viral.
We have no idea what they are yet; they’re keeping the gender a surprise.
I thought I had pregnant sex with my wife figured out until I saw how big that bump got with twins. I had to get creative. At one stage, it must have looked like a bad version of Leapfrog.
Lottie has created a wall of pillows at night, so I cannot find her in the bed under all the pillows, blankets, and duvets. She looks like the collector from the labyrinth in the mornings.
For anyone who does not get the reference, let me paint a picture for you—better yet, let me show you.
Are you ready for it?
There's no going back now!
Yeah, try waking up next to that!
That expression is usually received when I tell her that we ran out of ice cream.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I kicked depression’s arse, but I’ve got the fucker on the run. How Lottie has done this several times is beyond me.
We are ready for a fresh start. A new chapter in life, and I cannot wait to take this journey with Lottie and the kids. It's safe to say Matilda will keep us on our toes if nothing else.
Jessica is leaning on the table with Lottie’s latest book in hand, "another best seller."
"What can I say, people just love Craig."
I snort, "I think Tilly sold that book for you, baby."
"I cannot deny that," Jessica laughs. "Will there be a
book three in the series?"
"I don’t know. There wasn’t even supposed to be book two, but I’ll always give my readers what they want. We’ll just have to wait and see." Lottie laces her fingers between mine, and I lean in to kiss her crown, only to step back as I feel a gush of water hit my legs.
"Your water just broke!" Jessica has the phone in hand and is already dialling Abbie.
Here we go again.
Follow Éabha’s story.
Shauna Richmond, Screw you too!
