Chapter 26: Chapter 26

I finish screwing in the final screw before sitting back and admiring my handiwork. A sense of pride washes over me as I inspect the newly built wardrobe. I hear a shuffle at my bedroom door and turn to find Dad leaning against the door frame. When he notices the furniture, his eyebrows rise in surprise.

"Wow Trish, you did that faster than I ever could." He smiles, walking in. He runs his hand over the crisp white wood, his face a look of satisfaction.

"Thanks Dad. I need some help with the mirrors but other than that, I'm almost done. Do you like it?" I ask him, standing up and turning to inspect my room. The double bed in the corner has been built and my dressing table sits beside it. I decided on a crisp white design, the wood engraved with flowers.

Completely opposite to my old bedroom.

"I love it honey. It's very grown up." Dad says, placing an arm around my shoulder. I smile and rest my head against it, both of us standing in silence. The white is pure, simple yet doesn't make me feel suffocated like the pink did. Everything is starting to come together slowly but surely. My eyes land on the shopping bags by the door and I smile, my thoughts turning back towards Tobias.

"Did you have a good time shopping?" Dad asks me, breaking the silence. I nod once, biting the inside of my cheek. I hope he doesn't notice the blush rising to my face, I simply can't help it.

"Yeah, I did. I bought some chicken and veg for dinner. I'll get started on it soon." I tell him, subtly changing the subject. Dad smiles warmly, his eyes lighting up at the mention of food.

"Thank you honey, that will be great." He smiles, leaning down to place a kiss on my forehead. Since Leroy's death, the relationship between me and Das has grown from strength to strength. I don't know how I would have gotten through the past few weeks without him.

"I love you Dad." I tell him as he leaves. He turns with surprise in his eyes which is soon replaced with a sparkle that's I've missed dearly. "I love you too Trish."

*****

Later that evening, I find myself lying in bed staring straight ahead at the window. Alone with my thoughts. A silence has fallen upon the house, the only sound a low buzz from the television downstairs. I remember how lively the house felt with Leroy's presence. He'd always be knocking on bedroom doors with a cheeky smile or laughter that you couldn't help but laugh along with.

I lean over and take hold of Alfie the Bear, cradling him close into my chest. The scent of Leroy is beginning to fade and the thought of losing it causes tears to well up inside my eyes. I'm afraid if the scent disappears, I'll forget it forever.

Two droplets fall from my eyes and land on my bed sheets, staining them with little puddles. I sniffle and reach up, hastily wiping them away. Despite being alone, I don't like to cry.

A knock on my bedroom door surprises me and I sit up a little straighter, rubbing furiously at my face to get rid of any trace of tears.

"Come in." I say out loud, my voice lined with a hoarse edge from my emotions. There's a silence and then the door opens. Emily pops her head around, giving me a small smile.

"Hey Bestie, can we come in? Wow, the bedroom is looking great."

I smile back and nod, motioning for her to come inside.

"Hey Em. Yeah of course, how did you get in?" I question her, sitting up straight and running a hand through my hair. Emily grins, her dark hair pulled back into a messy bun. She pushes open the door revealing Jake carrying baby Ruby and Tobias trailing behind them.

"Your Dad let us in, I hope you don't mind but I come with three others." Emily says sheepishly, taking a seat at the end of my bed. I shake my head, climbing out of bed to embrace her.

"I don't mind. I love you guys, you're welcome here anytime and I could do with the company." I mumble and she gives me an understanding look, sympathy flashing across her face. I turn to face Jake who's carrying Ruby over his shoulders. She's sleeping soundly, little black tufts of hair sticking out of her baby pink beanie.

"Hey Jake," I smile, giving him a side hug so I don't wake Ruby.

"You okay sweetheart? How are you holding up?" Jake says, pulling back and taking a seat beside Emily. When he does, he places a kiss on her temple and she looks up at him, eyes filled with love as she smiles.

I've always envied the love between my best friend and her boyfriend but she truly does deserve it.

"Taking each day as it comes, today has been fun." I respond, finally turning to Tobias. He smirks at my words which causes my cheeks to blush deep red. Thoughts turn towards us in the changing rooms and I have to remind myself to breathe because apparently his presence completely stops me from functioning like a human being.

"Hey," I say quietly, standing in front of him. He doesn't hide the fact that he's staring at me wearing my pyjamas, a plain vest top and shorts. I clear my throat and he snaps his eyes up to meet mine, a dark twinkle in them.

"Hey Sugar, we meet again." He grins, leaning over to wrap an arm around my shoulders. He leans down and presses a firm kiss on my temple and I feel my throat dry out completely from his actions. His scent invades all of my senses and I blink, glancing at Emily and Jake who are watching us with amusement in their eyes.

"I called it." Emily says smugly, turning to Jake. He rolls his eyes playfully, leaning over to give her a gentle nudge.

"Okay, okay. You win, I owe you extra cheesy pizza." Jake responds unhappily. Emily grins widely and I gasp, narrowing my eyes at both of them.

"Did you two bet on extra cheesy pizza that something would happen between Tobias and I?" I question them both.

"Has something happened between you and Tobias?" Emily responds, brown eyes twinkling at me. I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out and instead I begin stuttering because what in the world do I say to that?

Beside me Tobias sniggers before covering up his laugh with a fake cough. I turn around to glare at him but considering my cheeks are two flaming hot coals at the moment, I don't think he'll take me seriously.

"Don't change the subject." I respond back, grateful to have found my voice again. Emily leans over, taking Ruby from Jake as she begins to stir awake. She shrugs at me, a coy smile playing on her lips.

"I knew it would happen so why not bet on something I love? It worked out well." She giggles. I stick my tongue out at her and she laughs louder —

"How old are you again Trisha Louise Lockwood?" She teases me. Beside me Tobias leans down so his mouth is lined up with my ear and I shiver slightly from his warm breath.

"Give up Sugar, you're fighting a lose battle."

"You're all stubborn as hell." I comment, pulling away from Tobias and shooting them all a glare. Jake's mouth drops open —

"Hey! I didn't do anything." He protests, folding his arms over his chest. In that moment, Ruby begins to cry, her little voice filling the room.

"Ruby disagrees." I laugh at Jake and he grabs a pillow from my bed before throwing it at me. I dodge to the side and instead it hits Tobias.

"Nice shot." I tell Jake and Tobias shakes his head at me, his dark eyes lighting up with mischief as he picks the cushion up from the floor.

"There's a baby in the room, you can't throw that at me." I say quickly, heading towards Emily's side. She begins rocking Ruby back to sleep and her cries slowly die down.

"Don't use my child as an excuse to save yourself." Emily gasps, mocking hurt. I smirk and glance at Tobias who's shaking his head at me, a boyish grin on his face.

"You're a terrible person Sugar." Tobias says, agreeing with Emily. I roll my eyes, shooting my best flirtatious look at him.

"Sue me." I hit back and I watch as his dark eyes light up, the sight of them causing my insides to clench tightly. He continues to sway the cushion in the air back and forth, keeping me on edge —

"Maybe I will."

"Maybe you should."

"Maybe you two should get a room because the sexual tension in the air is physically making me nauseous." Jake chimes in, mimicking throwing up. Tobias breaks the stares between him and I and narrows his eyes at Jake, throwing the cushion in his direction.

"Asshole." Tobias says, smiling in satisfaction when the cushion bounces from Jake's head. Laughter breaks out in the room and I join in naturally without feeling the need to force my joy. It's the first time in what seems like forever.