“Oh my God,” She whispers, looking over her diploma, her eyes filling with tears. “I can’t believe it. I mean, I knew it was coming but to actually have it, it doesn’t seem real.”I couldn’t contain my excitement for her. I grin proudly. “It is real. You did it, Shay, you worked hard and never gave up on your dreams, and the result is right there in your hands.” I tell her, reaching up and brushing her tears away. Shayla looks up into my eyes as I stroke her jaw. “You should be proud of yourself,” She smiles, and her whole face lights up.“Actually, we did it. You probably don’t remember, but I couldn’t have done it without you, Cole. You were honestly so supportive and helpful. You stayed up late nights helping me with assignments, and when I was ready to give up, you wouldn’t let me. You always reminded me who I am and kept me on track.” Shayla says with a sigh. “No matter what has happened between us, I want you to know that I’m grateful to you and all the opportuni

The words love at first sight didn’t mean much of anything to me until I laid my eyes on my daughter. My daughter. I have a daughter. How crazy is that? A couple of hours ago, she was inside me, and now she’s out and sleeping peacefully beside me. It was just like everyone said to me, she will heal all the broken pieces inside of you, and she has. The moment I held her, and she opened up those beautiful green eyes, my heart was captivated. There really is nothing more important to me than her. After her birth, we had to spend a week in hospital because she was born preterm, and the paediatricians wanted to keep an eye on her; however, she was absolutely perfect. She’s feeding well and gaining weight by the day. All her tests have come back clear, which meant we finally get to take her home.I jump awake when I hear Alaia fussing and see Cole was holding her against his chest, rubbing her back softly. He’s obsessed with her. You wouldn’t think this was the same man that said h

“So, what is the deal with you two now?” Jo asks me quietly as she takes a bite out of her slice of pizza.I sigh and look over at Cole, talking with Josh. “I don’t know. He keeps saying he wants us to be a family and that he loves me, but I…” I trail off thoughtfully.“You’re scared he’s only saying that because of the baby,” Aimee finishes for me and I nod, closing my eyes. “Have you mentioned the divorce to him again?”I shake my head and look at her. “No, he keeps changing the subject whenever I try to bring it up. He’s refusing to give up on us, even though there hasn’t been an us for months now. It’s just not the same anymore.”Jo frowns, “Does that mean you don’t love him anymore?”“Of course I do, but my heart still wants the old Cole, and I know he’s not coming back,” I utter miserably while picking at my slice of pizza. “There are these moments where I feel like he’s back to himself again, but then he’ll look at me impassively, and it hit

“What do you think?”Shayla looks at the wall and wrinkles her nose in distaste. “I am not loving it.”I frown and look at the wall and then at her. “You said pink.” I remind her, and she lifts her jade gaze to mine and narrows her eyes.“I thought it would look cute, but now that I see it, I hate it.” She utters with a shrug of her shoulders.I exhale and frown thoughtfully. “Okay,” I bite my lip and look at her again. “I’m thinking, yellow?” I suggest, and she tilts her head to the side and looks around the nursery, and nods.“Yellow might work. It will definitely brighten up the room.” She sighs, glancing down at the baby monitor to check on Alaia before she looks at the wall again. “Maybe we can do a feature wall with her name in the middle.”I nod again and look at Shayla. It’s been two days since she and Alaia have moved back into our home. Shay’s been pissed about having to come back, but day by day, I’m hoping her anger will simmer,

“Nothing really, just trying to process everything she said.” She replies with a little shrug as she looks ahead, avoiding my gaze. I smile and take her hand in mine as we reach the car and spin her around so she could face me. Shayla gasps when her body is pressed to mine, her fingers splayed out on my chest as I back her up against the passenger side door.“Cole, what are you doing?” She questions breathily as she glances around warily before she cranes her neck to look up at me. I brush my thumb along her jaw gently while I look into her eyes.“Reminiscing.” I drawl hoarsely as I press myself against her more intimately. “That little flashback I had of us in Nice has got me feeling some type of way.” I moan, looking at her lips hungrily when she licks them. “Stop torturing me, baby.”Shayla’s eyes light up, and she bites her bottom lip, “You heard the therapist, sexual contact is forbidden. You’re breaking the rules, and it’s not even been five minutes.”