Wholly Apart

Chapter 24

LOREN KENSINGTON

Baby shower.

The worst thing that anybody had ever invited.

Madelyn, Sebastian and I went and I wanted to leave the minute I stepped foot into my father's house.

"Boys," he said cheerfully.

"Hi dad," Sebastian said casually.

I wished I could do that. Wished that I could be so casual around him and not always expect the worst.

"Madelyn," he smiled widely and then stepped towards her to do god knows what. I had no idea, and I didn't want to find out either.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and tugged her into me more. His eyes flicked up to mine for a second and then he put his hand out to her instead.

Damn him.

I didn't want him close to her, and really didn't want him touching her.

Madelyn hesitated for a moment and even if she wasn't feeling uncomfortable, I didn't want to put her through that. I reached out and shook his hand instead.

He looked at me and his lips twitched in amusement and I hated him for it.

"Back together again, I see," he spoke, "I knew it wouldn't last long"

"Which one's the new wife?" I asked, not even bothering to look around the room, just staring into his eyes.

Madelyn gripped the back of my hoodie tightly, and I knew she was worried. She was always worried when my father was involved.

"We got a present," Madelyn blurted, sensing the tension, and obviously not wanting to irritate him, "Sebastian has it"

Sebastian looked between us with a small frown and then handed it over and my father took it and gave a nod, "Thank you, Sebastian"

I tugged Madelyn aside, glad that there weren't many people here. I didn't want to socialise and I think I'd lose it without being able to have a drink.

I pressed a kiss to her soft cheek, "I'm gonna need lots of kisses today"

Madelyn smiled softly, giving me a peck, "I'll give you as many as you want. All the time"

She knew today was going to be hard for me. Knew that it was always hard with my father.

"Another one," I asked and Madelyn got up on her tiptoes and gripped my face.

Then she pressed kisses on my face until a smile appeared on my lips. She kissed my nose, my cheeks, my jaw, my smile.

"I love you," I spoke, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into me tightly, "Let's leave"

She giggled, "We can't, Lo"

I groaned, "I would much rather go home and have you in bed with me than be here"

She knew this of course. And we couldn't leave, I knew that too. But I really wanted to.

Sebastian was with Vanessa, sucking up like a good little son. I'd lived with this lady for a bit and I don't think I'd spoken more than two sentences with her.

Madelyn and I spent the whole time standing in a corner, talking to each other, ignoring everyone else. She forced me to go over and congratulated Vanessa once, but that was it. We didn't do much else. Didn't go to the buffet because the alcohol was right there and it was way too tempting.

And then my father came towards us and pressed a champagne flute in our hands. My body locked up tightly and I had no idea what to do. I needed Madelyn's help desperately.