Lean On Me (Take My Hand) (27 page)

Mick
laughed at my predicament and told me beer would solve all my problems. That
was the moment I realised just how pussy-whipped I actually am. I didn’t dare
take so much as a sip of the beer Mick pulled for me, knowing the moment Rachel
smelled my breath I would be in the shit. Not because she’s turned into some
nagging psycho girlfriend – but because my parents were coming tonight
and she would kill me if she had to deal with them alone.

By
the time I got home the three girls were sprawled out across the sofas and
chairs – giggling, stuffing their faces with chocolate and drooling over
Matt Bomer on TV.

“You
know I’ve got more chance with him than you girls right?” I joked, casually
leaning against the doorframe.

“He’s
gay, Jared. Not blind,” Jess insulted. Holly almost choked on her chocolate and
then her face flamed in embarrassment when she sprayed spit all over herself.

“Need
a bib?” I couldn’t help myself. I only regretted my words when Rachel gave me a
look that promised no blowjobs for a month if I said anything else. “Sorry,
Hol. I was just teasing.” No
way
was
upsetting this girl worth having to wank alone for a month.

I
left the girls alone for a while longer whilst I headed upstairs to empty some
boxes. I didn’t think for a second I was putting the contents in the right
places, but sod it. I would rearrange it whenever she clicked her tongue like a
good little boyfriend.

When
I’d finished I stood by the large window that spanned across the wall at the
head of our bed. Looking down onto the garden below, I imagined my children as
toddlers, running around and asking me to push them on the swingset I planned
to buy. Then Rachel appeared in my daydream, laying out drinks and cookies on
the patio furniture I also intended to get before the next summer. Calling us
all over, we ran to her – wrapping our arms around her all the same time
before diving into the cookies.

I
cannot fucking wait for that daydream to become reality.

Rachel

“
You
nearly ready?” Jared asked as I stuffed
my last bits and bobs into my handbag. We were heading north today. I was going
to see Emily for the first time since she left for the States before Christmas
and I was nervous as hell. She didn’t know we were coming. What if she wasn’t
happy to see me? What if we’d drifted too far apart? What if… “Rach?”

“Oh,
um… yeah. Almost.” Tucking my scan photo into my handbag, I nodded weakly. I
couldn’t wait to show my mum and dad. They’re so excited about the babies and I
haven’t seen them since I found out. I wanted to be excited about showing Emily
too, but I couldn’t seem to see past whether she would even say hello to me
first.

I
called my mum yesterday to let her know we were coming and she squealed so loud
I think people in New York shoved their fingers in their ears. She also told me
the news that my dad has
finally
got
another job. A good one too by the sounds of it. Agency work driving HGV’s
which means he can take as much or as little work on as he likes. For now, he’s
choosing the ‘as much’ option, which means he’s earning more money than he has
in years.

I’ve
decided to keep my job at the gallery though, and not just because of the
arrangement we worked out with Jared’s father. I like it there, and by keeping
my hand in I increase my chances of finding someone willing to display my own
work someday. I’m working on a life drawing of Jess for Uni at the minute. It’s
beautiful. She posed for me, without me even needing to beg, draped across the
sofa clothed in a tight vest top which rode up over the top of her glowing
belly. Seriously, with such a beautiful model, I’m gonna ace this assignment.

“Train
leaves in an hour, saffy,” Jared reminded me, tapping his watch.

“I’m
coming, I’m coming.”

“Without
me? You should’ve said. I’d have helped,” he teased with a suggestive wink.
“You okay?” he asked, seeming suddenly concerned, narrowing his brow. “The
babies okay?”

I
followed his gaze and realised his change in temperament was down to me rubbing
my belly.

“They’re
fine,” I assured. “They’re kicking the shit out of me so I guess that means
they’re happy. And so am I. Everything’s working out pretty perfect isn’t it?
If Emily agrees to talk to me today, it means everything is going to be okay.”

“There’s
no ‘if’, Rach. She loves you. You
know
that
deep down.”

“Hmm,”
I murmured. “We’ll see.”

“I’m
looking forward to it myself. Dex has been through some serious shit, I’m kind
of eager to know he’s doing okay.”

“The
American will be fine. He’s got my girl looking out for him.” My girl –
Emily. My heart constricted at the thought of seeing her again – hugging
her again. God I’ve missed her.

“So,
you ready now?” Jared asked again.

“Yep,”
I replied confidently because this time I was – physically at least. I
had all the belongings I needed, but I doubted my mind would be ready until I
held Emily in my arms again.

“Good,”
Jared said, walking behind me and taking hold of my handles. “Come on, saffy.
Let’s go get our friends back.”

The End

Next I need to give a special mention to all the
amazing bloggers out there. Without you guys I would never have reached where I
am today. Thank you for all your hard work, for reading, for pimping, and for
being all round amazing people. I feel privileged to have work with so many
amazing bloggers since I started this journey and I’m proud to have made some
very special friends along the way. The Book Enthusiast, Mia’s Point of View,
Reading Rainblog, Book Hooked, The Book Trollop, Holly’s Hot Reads, Love
Between the Sheets, A Pair of Oakies, Rumpled Sheets Book Blog, Debbie the Book
Vixen… to name but a few – thank you for your continued support. You guys
rock my world!

I’d also like to acknowledge the girls at The Book
Enthusiast. Thank you for letting me join your team of awesomeness! Debra,
Paula, Cindy, Kelly, Erin and Tami… you girls are fabulous and I’m so happy to
be working with you! Debra, you get an extra thank you because you arrange all
my tours and promotional shizz, and so does Paula because she has quickly
become one of my very best friends in the whole world. I love you ladies BIG
time
J

Time to thank my cover designer now. Kari at Cover
to Cover designs, thank you for another beautiful cover which I am very proud
of! You are super talented and I can’t wait to get stuck into the next cover
with you.

Now for my readers. Seriously, you guys never cease
to amaze me. I am so grateful to every single one of you. Thank you to
everyone
who has read my books and
especially those who have taken the time to rate and/or review, or sent me a
message with their thoughts. Honestly, I will never be able to express how much
that means to me. You are amazing and I would be nowhere without you.

Last but not least I need to thank my wonderful
family. Without such a supportive network I would never find the time to do
what I do. They encourage me, inspire me and help me out every single day and I
love each and every one of them.

Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the last one… I should
say if we’ve ever spoken, shared a comment on social media, been involved in
messages or had absolutely any other contact then I am grateful to you too!
Like I said I have met SO many amazing people – far too many for my
little brain to remember to list here, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think
you’re awesome. I have loved meeting new people and made some life long
friends. I am bound to have forgotten someone here and if I have, I’m sorry - I
still love you!

Oh, oh, oh…one more!! Heather Reed – my
partner in naughtiness! I love this lady HARD. We share the same dirty mind,
wicked sense of humour, and seriously she has the
best
pictures stored on her computer that she is awesome enough to
share (I’ll leave it up to your imagination!). We are complete and utter
trouble together… and I wouldn’t have it any other way ;-)

So, there you go. I’m all thanked out. Thank you
for reading!

I live in Rochdale, England with my husband, four children and Heinz 57
puppies Pippa and Gio. I’m a true home bird and have never lived more than a
street away from the family home where I grew up – currently living smack
bang in the middle of my parents and my sister and her family.

I read as much as I write and am a self-confessed ‘book whore’ who is
proud to have a list of book boyfriends longer than my arm. When I’m not
reading and writing I can usually be found being the house’s resident slave
– cooking, cleaning, picking up after everyone… although if you ever
catch me doing a bucketful of ironing – call an ambulance. That means
something’s seriously wrong with me!

That’s about it really. I’m actually pretty boring. That’s why I write
– all the exciting stuff goes on in my head! Oh, and did I mention I’m
the world’s biggest Twilight fan? Well I am – so there ;-)

And that’s my life…

Oh… one more thing - if the kids ever ask, I moonlight as the Pink Power
Ranger while they’re sleeping :-)

Thanks for reading!

The
fourth and final book in the Take My Hand series – Never Let Go, and the
continuation of Dexter and Emily’s story, will be coming to an e-reader near
you in April 2014. Stay tuned!

Other Titles
by Nicola Haken

Saving
Amy

Missing
Pieces

Take
My Hand

Hold
On Tight (Take My Hand #2)

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