When she looked up at him for the first time, he gulped.

“Hi, Daddy,” she murmured in her singsong voice.

His breath seemed to leave his body in one large gust as his eyes glazed over. His eyebrows knitted together as a smile slowly spread across his face, his devotion and happiness clear. “Hi, Sasha,” he croaked, seeming to be struggling to breathe.

“You gots a boo boo,” Sasha informed him, pointing at his bloody nose.

Carson sniffed and nodded, putting his hand to his face. “Yeah, I ran into something stupid,” he answered. I chuckled at that as Rory made a small scoffing noise in his throat. Carson grinned, putting the tea towel to his face and attempting to wipe the blood away but just succeeding in smearing it around so it looked even worse. His eyes were filled with tears as he looked over at me before looking back to Sasha again.

A little hand closed over my chin and forced my face toward Carson. “Mummy kiss boo boo,” Sasha proclaimed rather proudly.

I chuckled awkwardly and took her hand. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

Carson laughed and let his eyes wander over her again. “She’s so beautiful,” he whispered. I nodded proudly, planting another kiss on Sasha’s cheek. “She’s amazing, I…” He shook his head, still clearly awestruck.

I smiled and set Sasha down on her feet, watching as she ran back to the living room, shouting about dominoes again. Lucie stepped forward. “Why don’t you help Carson clean up his face while Rory and I pack up their overnight bags?” she suggested.

Rory answered before I could speak. “We’re not packing. We’re not going with him. All three of us are either staying here or going home.” He turned to me and put his hand on my shoulder, bending to look me in the eyes because he was so much taller than me now. “You don’t have to do this. Screw him. Let him try and take Sasha away. He won’t win; a court won’t side with a prick that’s not been in her life for two years. You’re her mother.”

My mouth was dry. Rory didn’t know the full story. If it went to court then of course I would lose. I worked in a lap dancing club, I danced on stage in barely any clothes, I let men push five pound notes into my thong, I took one of them in particular to the backroom for sex. They wouldn’t view me the way Rory did.

I gulped and looked at Lucie for help. She smiled sadly back at me. Carson was watching me, waiting for my reaction and I knew what I needed to do. I couldn’t take the risk of losing Sasha. I couldn’t afford to go to court at all; I wouldn’t even have the money to consult to a lawyer about it.

“I have to do this, Rory. Please, don’t make it any harder, all right? Just… just go with this for now.”

Rory shook his head adamantly. “I figured a way out of it. Kiss and tell,” he stated proudly. “They’ll pay you for a story, then you’ll have money to fight him in court.”

Carson’s body jerked behind him. “The fuck? No! What are you smoking, kid? Whatever it is, it’s messing up your brain. Kiss and tell? She’ll make herself look like a slut!” he ranted.

I groaned and gripped my hands into my hair as Rory rounded on Carson again. “She’s not a slut!” he growled.

“I never said she was,” Carson spat back, stepping closer to him so their chests were practically touching. They stood the same height so they met toe to toe, eye to eye. “She’ll make herself look like one if she does what you’re suggesting. What’s wrong with you two? Why can’t you see this is a good thing? The three of you will want for nothing, yet you’re both acting like I’m forcing you to drink acid!”

Rory shoved on Carson’s chest, pushing him back a step as he sneered at him. Anger was building inside me while they carried on arguing about me and what was best for me. Plus, they were both swearing in earshot of my daughter.

“You two need to stop this fighting and swearing, right now! If Sasha comes out here and sees this then I’m gonna go seven shades of crazy on your arses,” I growled. I gripped Rory’s arm and pulled with all my might, forcing him to step back. “Go pack up whatever you need to. We’re going along with this for now, and that’s final!” I motioned up the hallway with my chin, keeping my eyes locked on his so he knew I was serious. If he shot his mouth off to the reporters and I ended up losing my daughter because of this, I’d never forgive him. “Go pack. Seriously, I don’t have the energy for all this. Just do as I ask. I don’t ask much from you, do I? Just do this for me.”

He sighed and his shoulders loosened as he bent forward, planting a little kiss on the side of my head. “Fine. But I’m never going to like the prick,” he grumbled, pulling away from me and stomping off up the hallway.

“And this swearing stops immediately,” I called after him, watching as he waved his hand over his shoulder in acknowledgement.

Lucie cleared her throat. “I’ll go pack up Sasha’s things, too.” She stalked off quickly, leaving me and Carson alone in the hallway.

I gulped, not knowing what to say. “Sorry about that,” I muttered, wincing as I looked at his blood-stained face and shirt.

He shrugged easily, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “It’s fine. He doesn’t hit too hard, so it’s all good.”

I fought a smile and nodded toward the kitchen. “We should probably get that cleaned up before Sasha thinks that’s just your normal face.” I turned and walked up the hallway, heading to the kitchen and picking up the kitchen roll from the side, running the tap and filling a bowl with warm water. “Sit there,” I instructed, motioning toward the kitchen table. Carson sat obediently and looked up at me.