Forever & Always

7. Quality Time

Isla POV

"So how are things going with Joe?" Susies asks popping a cherry tomato into her mouth.

"Good, better than good" I smile "we had a nice weekend together and today he offered to take Maddie and give my mom a break"

"Four days and he's already playing daddy?" She says raising an eyebrow "girl that is husband material right there, snap that man up before some other woman does"

"I wouldn't say he's playing daddy but Maddie seems to like him" I say "and he definitely has a soft spot for her"

"I'm guessing he was fine about Callum being her father?" She asks and I almost choke on my lunch.

I still hadn't told him, I just couldn't bring myself to do it, how could I tell him that I slept with his enemy? He would never forgive me and I would lose him altogether and I couldn't bear that.

"You didn't tell him did you?" She asks wide eyed "Isla he needs to hear it from you and not some one else"

"I know, I know, it's just not that easy, especially now" I sigh and she looks confused "we um, we kissed"

"OH MY GOD" she screeches "your going to marry Roman freaking  Reigns"

"You are getting way ahead of your self" I say shaking my head "it was just a kiss, I have no idea where it's going"

Joe POV

Taking care of Maddie had been a no brainer, I wanted to spend some time with her, quality time so that she could get used to me. I also wanted to make a difference in Isla's world in a good way, I wanted to make it up to her for leaving her.

I couldn't help but feel guilty, if I hadn't left her she wouldn't have ended up in that bar trying to numb her pain, and maybe just maybe this precious little angel would have been mine instead of some one who doesn't want her. It was my fault and nothing could convince me otherwise, I let her down massively and I wouldn't have blamed her if she hated me.

Finding a bench in a shady spot I take a seat and lift Maddie out of her pushchair and sit her on my knee, she smiles up at me and once again I find myself wishing she was mine.

"I know you won't understand but I want you to hear me out babygirl" I say looking down at her "I may not be your daddy but I have some advice for you, one day you'll meet some one, they may be your friend or they maybe more, but that person will be the only one who gets you, who knows you better than you know yourself, when you find that person you grab hold of them and don't ever let them go" I say and she looks up at me with her beautiful blue eyes and smiles.

"For me that person is your mommy, I never should have left her, I should have stayed here and married her, I should have told her the second I knew I loved her" I sigh "but instead I put myself first, went after my dream and left her here, I know you don't understand but I promise you that I will make it up to her, that I will make your mommy happy and that I will always be there for both of you"

I was aware that I was pouring my heart out to a 13 month old girl who had no clue what I was talking about but it felt good to let it out. Maddie snuggles into me resting her head against my chest and I place a soft kiss on the top of her head.

"Well well well if it isn't the home town superstar" a familiar voice taunts.

"Callum, still ruining peoples lives" I say glaring at him

"Only your's Joe" he laughs "although since you have a brat in your arms I'd say you've done that yourself"

"Don't you dare talk about her like that" I growl putting Maddie back in her pushchair "the only brat here is you, you've never been able to stand people doing better than you, that's why you ended my football career, you're a jealous spiteful brat"

"Oh please look at where you are now you should be thanking me"  he laughs "have you seen Isla yet?"

"Thanking you? You caused an injury that meant I could no longer play" I snap "and leave Isla out of this and stay away from her"

"Little late for that" he smirks "been there done that, wasn't all that good to be fair"

"You wish, she would never get involved with you" I say turning my back on him.

"She hasn't told you has she?" He laughs "about a year or so ago we had a drunken night together, that brat of hers......she's mine but I wanted nothing to with it, see I didnt just take your career I took your girl too"

I look down at Maddie who is happily sucking on her thumb, it couldn't be true, Isla would never............would she? But then she has been keeping something from me, could that be what it is?

As Callum walks away my mind is spinning, I didn't know how to feel about this, where does it leave us? How do we move past this?