We’re stood, her still in my arms, listening as the sound of her tyres screeching disappears. She’s leaning into me with all her weight and I can practically feel her heart as it’s pounding in her chest.
“I’m so sorry.” I murmur.
“I’m not.” She says turning round to face me.
I raise an eyebrow.
“There’ve been so many secrets.” She says. “So many lies. I’m pleased it’s finally all out.”
“How long have you known she was having an affair?” I ask.
She winces. “A while.”
I narrow my eyes. “And yet you said nothing?”
“I didn’t…” She screws her face up for a second. “I didn’t want to tell you because it felt too manipulative. I knew she was screwing her boss, I found out just before she went away but it felt like if I said something I’d only be doing it to try and separate you. To make you leave her for me.”
“Oh Eden.” I sigh. How the fuck could she think I’d believe that? That I’d even think she was capable of that?
“There’s more.” She says.
“What else?”
“She’s pregnant.”
“Excuse me?”
“She told me, before you came in. It’s her bosses. Colin’s.” She states.
I shake my head. “That fucking bitch.” I growl.
“Why are you so angry about that?”
“Because she tried to trick me. She tried it on, she said she wanted us to have a baby.”
Her eyes widen. “She tried to sleep with you?”
I nod.
“You think she was going to pass it off as yours?” She asks.
“Don’t you?” I half snarl.
She shakes her head. “And she said I was manipulative. What a fucking bitch.”
“When did she say that?” I ask.
“All the time.” She mutters. “She said I was like my dad, manipulative and a waste of space. But it doesn’t matter now.”
“No it doesn’t.” I say pulling her back into my arms. “She’s gone and she won’t be coming back.”
“And everyone knows.” She whispers.
I lift her face up from under her chin. “At least we no longer have to hide it.”
She laughs. “Yeah that’s true. We can be us now. We can be together, we can…” She hesitates.
“Can what Eden?”
“Get married. I mean not now, not straight away but…”
“Eden.” I say. Sure we’re technically now free to do what we want but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m way older than her.
“I want to marry you Dominic.” She says looking so fierce as she does. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“You say that now, but sweetheart, you might change your mind. You’re still young.”
She shakes her head. “I know what I want and besides everyone marries with the belief they’ll be together forever but no one knows what they’ll feel in the future. How their feelings might change. You’re making an unfair assumption about me based purely on my age but you could change your mind, in ten years’ time you might decide I’m not who you want anymore.”
I smirk. Like the hell that would happen but she’s right. As much as she might change her mind there’s an equal chance she might not. My little Lolita has perhaps more wisdom than her years.
“I see all those essays you write are rubbing off on you, stating your case like that.” I reply.
She rolls her eyes. “Dominic.”
“No, listen to me.” I say putting my finger over her lips. “I love you Eden. I didn’t mean to start this. It was a mistake but by god is it the best mistake of my life and if you want me, if you want to get married, hell if you want me to father your children then I’m there, for every second, every minute you’ll give me.”
Her eyes widen. “I want you Dominic. I’ve always wanted you.” She half breathes out her reply.
I grab her face, plunging my tongue into her mouth.
My sweet little angel is mine, all mine, and no one now can take her from me.