Cataclysm (Four Horsemen #4)(65)

“Listen, I don’t need her approval. I love you, little lamb. I couldn’t leave you even if I tried.”

He let go of my thigh and wrapped an arm around me, drawing me against his chest. His warmth and reassurance bolstered me. We’d been in this bubble between the five of us and now reality was intruding, reminding me our relationship wasn’t something society would look upon favourably. It wasn’t normal. But I didn’t care about normal. I cared about us.

We drew apart when Rosie brought breakfast over. She’d made a full English for us, something I appreciated after all the energy I expended last night. She didn’t ask where I’d been, only querying how I was now and if I was glad to be back with my best friends. Prescott and I skirted around the issue of the real nature of our relationship until I nudged him with my foot after she asked if we were happy together.

“Mum, I feel like I need to explain something,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

“About what?”

“Me and Scar… and the others.”

Rosie raised her blonde eyebrows, eyeing the two of us with concern.

“Drake, Francis and West?”

“Yeah.”

“So tell me.”

She looked between the two of us when he didn’t immediately respond. I leant forward on my elbows.

“You asked if we’re happy and we are,” I started, trying to think of the right words to say. “Pres, West, Frankie, Drake, and I are happy together… as a family.”

When Rosie frowned, Prescott took one of my hands, entwining our fingers together.

“What Scar means to say is we’re all in a relationship with her and it’s okay if you’re not on board with that, Mum, but we’re not going to hide it from anyone. We love her and she loves us. I won’t abandon her. Not now. Not ever.”

She didn’t speak for a long moment, her eyes remaining fixed on her son. Then she got up and came around the table before wrapping Prescott up in her arms.

“Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?”

Prescott froze as if he wasn’t expecting her reaction.

“Mum?”

She pulled back and clasped his face between her hands.

“You’ve always worried you’ll turn out like your father, but you’re nothing like him. You’re loyal, kind, and caring. Ezra doesn’t deserve to be called your father. He doesn’t deserve you. I might wish I’d never laid eyes on the man, but he gave me you. I love you so much and I want you to take care of Scarlett. I want you to love her the way I know you can. Make sure those three take care of her too. Francis is a good egg, but I know what West and Drake are like. You keep them in line.”

“Scar does that well enough herself.”

“I imagine she does. Never let you boys get away with anything, that one.”

Rosie pressed a kiss to Prescott’s forehead, giving him a bright smile. Tears welled in my eyes at the sight of it. Then she came around to me and I found myself caught up in her arms.

“If there’s anyone who can keep those boys and my son from doing anything stupid, it’s you, Scarlett.” She drew away and looked at me. “You were always saying you were destined for each other. I suppose this isn’t really surprising under the circumstances.”

I didn’t like to tell Rosie they’d done a lot of stupid and fucked up things, regardless of my presence or intervention. Instead, I smiled and nodded. She patted my shoulder before going back to her own chair. The three of us finished up breakfast, the tension in the air somewhat dissipated from earlier.

Prescott and I stayed in the kitchen to deal with the dishes whilst Rosie took her dogs out for a walk. Prescott washed and I dried. He leant up against the counter when he was done, watching me as I put the plates away.

“What?” I asked when I folded up the tea towel and placed it on the counter.

“That was easier than I expected.”

“Telling her about all of us.”

He nodded. I reached out and took his hand.

“She watched us grow up together, Pres. It’s not like I’m some random girl you all decided to share between you. What we have is different. It’s special.”

He looked conflicted, making me wonder what was going through his head. When he let go of my hand, I almost protested, but he took his phone out and fiddled with it.

“I’m ready,” he said after a moment, staring down at the screen.

“For what?”

“To delete Ezra from my life.”

I moved closer and peered at his screen. His thumb hovered over the delete contact button.

“Yeah?”

“Mum’s right. He never deserved me. He’s a shit excuse for a man, and I don’t respect him. I might not be perfect, but I know I’m a damn sight better than him. I would never abandon my family.”

He pressed down, erasing Ezra’s contact details from his phone. Then he let out a breath and looked at me.

“I have you to thank, you know.”

“Me? I didn’t do anything.”

He shook his head, popping the phone on the counter and capturing me up in his arms.

“You came back to me, little lamb. For ten years, I hoped I’d get to see your face again. To see you laugh, smile and tell me when I’m being an idiot. You never abandoned me. You fought your way back even if you didn’t know that’s what you were doing at the time. Every day, you show me how strong and brave you are in the face of all the shit you’ve been through. And you love me, flaws and all. You’ve done everything, sweetness, absolutely everything just by being you.”