Twenty One (Love by Numbers Book 2) (26 page)

“Dirty plans?” I smile up at the surprised look on his face caused by my bold words.

“So deliciously dirty, that we may have to take a long, hot bath afterwards.”

“Take me home Jake.”

I realise that home is not the posh hotel suite we currently share, it’s wherever Jake is. That’s home to me.

‘VB STAR JAKE FOX AND THE RAPE VICTIM HE SAVED ARE NOW AN ITEM’

O
ne of a dozen headlines emailed to me by Tina regarding the press explosion surrounding mine and Emma’s relationship.

The worst one by far is the headline pertaining to the story that her mother sold.

‘MOTHER OF VB STAR’S LOVER SPEAKS OUT’

I
don’t really know Emma’s family dynamics but some of the things this woman has disclosed about her own daughter, boils my fucking blood.

It’s no wonder Emmy has locked herself in the bathroom. It doesn’t matter how much I plead with her, she is ignoring me and has yet to come out.

She refused to tell me who James is so I sit right outside, my back against the door frame and just wait.

I want her to let me comfort her; want her to let me make everything go away. I feel exactly like I did when I was told that I couldn’t go back home to support H through his surgery, fucking impotent.

It’s not a feeling I deal with well.

It’s not a feeling I am used to.

When the door finally opens and she emerges, it’s almost like a phoenix has been reborn from the flames.

She went into that room broken, sad and empty and yet she manages to come back out, strong, fearless and more beautiful than ever.

Her strength of spirit is overwhelming and even more so when she shares the story of how she lost her brother when she was just a small child.

The pain is still raw for her and hearing how her mother has forsaken her since that day, fills me full of so much anger that I can barely keep it under control.

W
ell no more.

No more will I allow anyone close enough to cause my girl any more pain. So when her father calls and she starts to cry, my initial reaction is to punch his fucking lights out, father or not.

“Mr Campbell, this is Jake, I’m sorry but Emma is a little upset at the moment….” I bark into the phone after taking it out of her hand.

“Jake, you don’t know how happy I am that she is with you; take care of my little girl for me please, take care of her because I was a fool not to do so myself.”

His pain is tangible, this man had nothing to do with his wife’s betrayal but still, he should have put a stop to all this many years ago.

“Yes sir, I will.”

“When she’s ready I’d like to speak to her, I have many things I need to say to her.” His words are a plea, one I can’t ignore.

“Yes I’ll get her to call you back.”

He’s barely listening to me now, the words spewing from his mouth like he can’t physically contain them, “She’s so special Jake, so precious. She deserves the world.”

“I know …..” I can’t get a word in edgeways before he resumes talking.

“She deserves to be loved, unconditionally….. Do you love her Jake? If you love her do not let her go.”

“Yes, yes I do, very much.” Finally my words silence him and he composes his thoughts.

“Good. I cannot think of a man more worthy. Just …. don’t hurt her Jake, as much as I respect you, if you hurt her I will come looking for you. I’ve allowed my child to be hurt enough by those who claimed to love her. Now go and look after our girl, I hope you will both visit soon.”

“Okay, we will speak to you soon. Thank you Mr….” He interrupts me again, “Call me George, Mr Campbell is for cold callers and doctor’s appointments.”

“George okay sir, Thank you George.”

“No thank you Jake.”

With those parting words he says goodbye and disconnects.

I
think over his words while Emmy goes to freshen up in preparation to take our friends to the airport.

“She’s so special, so precious. She deserves the world.”

I silently vow to myself to give it to her; I want to give her the world and more.

I promise myself that I will create our own world; one where she never doubts the true meaning of unconditional love and family, where she will always know home.

Right at that moment I decide I will not be waiting any longer to make her mine.

I want to stick two fingers up at all the doubters, I want to brand her with my name and I want to pledge myself to her for all eternity.

Taking my phone from my back pocket, I swipe the screen and scroll through my contacts until I find Tina’s name. She answers on the second ring.

“Tina, phone that bitch Havers and find out what she wants to make all her bullshit go away.”

“Foxy, that’s a bad fucking move; you’d be playing right into her hands. Let’s just wait to determine the paternity of the child and then we can slice her off like a piece of mouldy cheese.”

“I don’t want to fucking wait. I don’t want this shit over my head any longer. Phone her, tell her whatever she wants it’s hers but I want a full press release where she admits it was all fucking lies.”

“As your agent I have to advise you against this Foxy.”

I huff out a breath knowing she’s right but not giving a shit, “I know Tina but I’m done, I have plans and I want to move forward with my life so just make the call, this is on my head not yours.”

I end the conversation quickly knowing that it’s time to head to the airport and not wanting Emmy to overhear.

I’ll tell her when it’s over; she doesn’t need another thing to worry about. Besides, it’s all part of my plan and I don’t want to ruin the surprise.

S
aying goodbye to H is fucking hard.

“I’m here for you buddy, day or night. I want daily updates and to ensure you do that, I’ve got you this.”

I hand over the package that contains a new iPad. I sent Nina out to buy it this morning, wanting to make sure that H has every way possible to contact me.

“Facetime me, every fucking day, you hear me?”

He looks at the box in his hand and a wide grin splits his face.

“I could get used to being your bitch. Do I get even better gifts if I include sexual favours?” He smirks at me even though I can see his eyes look a little glassy.

“Hell will freeze over before anything sexual happens between us; keep your fucking hands and dick to yourself.”

His reply is instant, “What about my mouth, I have a very skilled …”

“Do not finish that sentence, I’m warning you and I want fully clothed facetime sessions, so don’t even think about it.”

He laughs, pulling me into a bear hug and for once I let him. “Make cancer your bitch, spank her arse all over the U.K. if you want; just make sure you send her on her way once you’re done.”

“Deal.” He pats me once on the back before hugging me tighter and then letting me go. I’m not ashamed of our public display of affection, one that I fully expect to be splashed all over tomorrow’s papers. H must also be thinking the same thing “Can’t wait to get home and find out I’m your newest conquest.”

“You fucking wish.” My smile is big as he finally walks through the departure gates to catch up with Nate and Liv.

He’s going to be fine, I know it.

A
s we travel back to the hotel in the limo, my phone vibrates signalling a text. Emma moves out of my arms in order for me to read it.

It’s from Tina.

She wants 2 mil

W
hat. The. Fuck.

M
oving on with your life always comes at a cost.

T
here’s always something or someone you have to leave behind, or maybe it’s a part of yourself you forsake in order to work towards a better you.

Moving on essentially means discarding something that’s holding you back but when the something you let go of is your own mother, guilt and hope war inside of you with equal measure.

J
ake has been busy with Tina since we arrived back from the airport. He has a huge press junket here tomorrow before we move on to Australia the following day, so I use the alone time to call my father back.

“Hi Pud, I’m so happy you called back. Are you okay?”

His voice soothes me in the way that only a father’s can. “Hi Dad, I’m fine I promise. It was reading about James that hurt me the most. She can say whatever she wants about me but to bring his name into it, it’s unforgiveable”

He lets out a long sigh, attempting to clear his voice of the pain that laces every syllable, “I know Pud, I know. I just …… I don’t have the words myself. I’ve not been in contact with your mother since I left her. I’m staying in a Travelodge at the moment until I can find a place of my own.”

This news surprises me but then again where did I expect him to go.

“When I returned to the house to collect the rest of my things, I found a note on the coffee table addressed to me saying that she’s left to go on a month long, world cruise. I don’t understand it. I really don’t. She tears what’s left of our family apart and then goes on a bloody jolly for weeks? No thought to the devastation that she’s left behind.”

A rogue tear slips down my cheek and I try to keep the sadness out of my words when I reply. “Let me help Dad, I don’t want you staying in a Travelodge, why don’t you move back into the house while she’s away? Then when I get back we can find somewhere else for us together. The house is as much your home as hers, don’t let her force you out.”

“I don’t know if I want to stay there by myself, your brothers have their own busy lives and the place just doesn’t feel like home anymore. They both got in touch when they read the article but have stated that they really don’t want to get in the middle of it all and I understand that. I suppose I could stay with one of them for a little while.”

“Please Dad, just until I’m back in the U.K. It upsets me to think of you on your own and I’m on the other side of the world.”

I don’t hide the sorrow in my voice and he is quick to respond, “Hey hey hey, enough of the sadness okay? You’ve been given the opportunity of a lifetime. You get to go and explore the world alongside someone who I can tell adores you. A man doesn’t stand up to a girl’s father like Jake did to me, unless he is trying to protect something precious. So stop worrying about your old Dad and live your life Pud. Live your life, don’t let it pass you by and don’t settle for anything less than amazing.”

My Dad.

My quiet strength.

“I love you Daddy.”

“I love you too Pud. Now go live.”

G
o live.

Hours later, I’m soaking in the suites Olympic sized tub, while listening to
George Ezra.

Even he seems to be telling me to live; asking me over and over again, what am I waiting for?

What am I waiting for?

I’m done waiting; it’s time to find my path.

It’s time to live my life and to stop wasting precious time trying to figure everything out.

Time to stop letting my future be stolen by an unchangeable past.