The Secret Of Us

fifteen

"Taylor."

I knew who the voice belonged to before I turned around, and my blood flooded with ice. Travis had just gone to the bathroom, leaving me alone with Clover. Security was nearby but they weren't hovering in the party, which left me to face the man I'd never wanted to see again.

I turned around. Matty stood there, his arms folded, looking at me. He looked like he hadn't shaved in a week, and the stubble did not suit him. I could smell the alcohol from feet away.

"Matty." I whispered, automatically putting a protective hand on the back of Clover's head where she rested against my neck. "How'd you get in here?"

"It's an open garden Taylor, it's not that hard." Matty shook his head at me. "I guess this is the baby huh?"

"No, no it's not." I sighed at him sarcastically. "What do you think?"

"So is she mine?"

"What?" I blinked.

"Is she mine?" Matty repeated. "I figured out when you would have gotten pregnant. She could be mine."

"Well she's not." I said defensively.

"Did you do a paternity test?"

"I didn't need one." Turning to the side, I showed him Clover's face. Her eyes. The color of Travis' eyes in one of hers. "You see?" I asked. "She's his." Matty pressed his lips together, obviously not expecting that answer, trying to think of something to say. "So you can leave us alone now." I turned Clover away, wary. "You don't have any right to be here."

"I have every right to be here Taylor, up until eight months ago you were my wife."

"Were." I snapped, shifting back a step. "Were. So go away."

"Hey, get the hell away from her." Travis' arm appeared around my waist, pulling me against his side. I breathed out in relief. 

"You." Matty huffed, glaring at Travis. 

"You." Travis growled back. "Get the hell away from my family."

"This is all your fault." Matty stabbed a finger at Travis. "You were always going to take her from me. You and your stupid movie nights and your football games and your fucking cuddling with my wife. I should have known you'd fuck her and ruin our lives."

"No, I just loved her." Travis countered. "I didn't hit her, and I actually cared. So leave her the hell alone unless you want me to put you in the damn ground."

Then security was there, dragging him away. I turned my face into Travis shoulder, hiding the fact that I was trying not to cry, my body trembling. He wrapped his arms around me as I sniffed, trying desperately not to let the tears fall, but I felt so vulnerable. I'd forgotten how scared I was of Matty even though I knew I had nothing to be scared of. Travis would never let him hurt me again.

"I've got you Bug, it's okay." Travis kissed my hair.

"I know, I just forgot." I mumbled.

"God I don't know how he got in."

"It's fine." I shook my head. "Let's not ruin Sabrina's party. I'm fine."

It was obvious that Travis didn't believe me, but he nodded and let it slide. We'd talk about it later, but Sabrina deserved to have the perfect birthday party. I just turned all of my attention to taking care of my daughter, going off to feed her and change her. Once she'd settled again, I took her back out. Travis took her then to give me a break, but I couldn't so much as move a meter from his side. I all but clung to him, brought down from my happy mood.