Read Online Right Girl by Lauren Crossley - Free Book Online Page B

won’t drag him down with me.
    Not
anymore.
    Sink
or swim, flight or fight… whatever the hell you want to call it.
    Let’s
see if I can do it on my own.
    Starting
now.

 
    Chapter Ten
    Zack
    “So
shall we meet up the same time tomorrow?” Rachel asks, turning in her seat to
face me.
    I’ve
just pulled up outside her mum’s house, dropping her off after spending time
with her as well as Amber. I switch off the car’s engine, sighing deeply.
    “Rachel,
you know how much I’ve loved spending time with Amber these past few
weeks. It’s meant the world to me and I’m so grateful you’ve allowed me to be a
part of her life.”
    There’s
a momentary pause before she speaks, curious as to where I’m going with this.
    “What
is it? I feel like you’re about to tell me something bad.”
    “No,
it’s nothing bad.” I assure her, smiling weakly. “I just think I need to spend
some more time with Sam. She’s been really patient and accepting of the fact
that I’ve wanted to get to know Amber, meeting up with you each day so I can do
that.”
    “So
now the novelty has worn off, you want to go back to your little girlfriend?”
She snaps, narrowing her eyes at me in contempt.
    “Of
course not. I want to see as much of Amber as I can but I can’t neglect the
woman I’m with. She needs to know that she’s still important to me. She’s the
centre of my world and I don’t want her to feel pushed out. I’m going to take
some time out and spend the next few days with her. I’ll be in touch soon
though, I promise.”
    “Fine.”
She retorts, folding her arms across her chest.
    “Rachel,
please don’t be like this. I thought we were getting on well, making things
work for Amber’s sake.”
    “So
did I.” She whispers, frowning bitterly.
    I
glance back at our sleeping daughter, blissfully unaware of our disagreement.
    “Let
me help you with the car seat and your bags before I go.”
    Opening
the car door, I make my way to the back and lift her out. She doesn’t even stir
as I carry her indoors, placing the baby’s car seat in the hallway.
    “Thanks.”
Rachel murmurs, somewhat begrudgingly.
    “I’ll
be in touch in a few days about Amber.” I inform her, taking one last look at
my baby. “But call me if you need anything, ok?”
    I’m
halfway to my car when she calls me back, taking a few steps towards me.
    “It’s
never going to be the same between us, is it?” She asks, realising this for the
first time. “We’re really over, aren’t we?”
    “Yes,
we’re over.” I admit, gazing down at her intently.
    She
turns away from me, discreetly composing herself before she heads back towards
the house.
    I
drive home in silence, refusing to switch on the radio so I can reflect on my
thoughts instead. I still can’t believe I’ve come to find myself in this
situation, torn between the woman I want to be with and the daughter I don’t
want to be without.
    I
know I’ve been neglectful when it comes to Sam recently but I don’t think she
understands how delicate the situation with Rachel has been. I needed to find
some sort of balance between keeping her happy and appeasing the mother of my
child.
    I’ve
been terrified that Rachel will put a stop to me seeing Amber, scared that a
single comment might upset the situation we’ve been working on and ruin
everything. However, I now feel I’ve made some headway with her, she seems to
understand that the relationship we’re going to have from now on is purely
platonic.
    My
heart is with Samantha and I think Rachel has finally come to accept that.
    This
is the reason I told her I needed some space tonight. I figured that I’ve made
such an effort to spend time with my daughter these past few weeks, she would
understand the need I have to do the same with Samantha.
    We
haven’t spent a single day together since I found out about the baby and this
is going to change.
    Tonight.
    Samantha
doesn’t know it but I’ve arranged a weekend away for us. A