Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Probably because he had you locked in that wing.” She slumps down into a chair across from me and steals a piece of toast. “You okay? After everything last night?”
“Fine. What about you?”
“Got a lecture to end all lectures a couple hours ago.” She glowers at the windows. “Ever been woken up by a grumpy, pissed-off mafia boss? Not pleasant.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“I deserved it, though. I knew better than to help. But it’s just—“ She chews and swallows. “It’s you.”
“I should apologize. I never should have put you in that position, and I’m sorry.”
“Nah, don’t worry. I get it, and we did have some fun.”
“I’m not sure I’d call that fun, exactly…”
“It was a blast. I’d do it again if given the chance.” She finishes eating and helps herself to my coffee. “It’s pretty crazy though, isn’t it? This whole thing?” She gestures between us.
“Crazy is one word for it.” I adjust myself, crossing my legs and sitting on them. “I’ve thought a lot about you over the years. Always wondered if you were okay.”
“Oh, great. Look at me.” She waves at her scarred face. “I’m a beauty.”
“You really are pretty, Rowan. The scars are interesting.”
“Tell that to the boys at school.”
I snort and look away. “Trust me, in my experience, the boys at school aren’t worth impressing. The ones that are won’t be scared off.”
“Connor means well, you know.”
I carefully refuse to look in her direction. I study the leaves in the trees. “You think?”
“Come on, don’t pretend like him stalking you isn’t heinous and weird, but his heart’s always in the right place. I hear he spared those two idiots last night. That’s got to say a lot, right?”
“He didn’t let them off with nothing.”
“No, but if I know my brother, whatever he did was a tenth of what he really wanted to do, if you know what I mean. That’s how much he cares about you.”
My fingers brush over my belly. “Did he tell you? About the baby?”
“Yeah, we all know.” Her eyes are fixed on me now, openly. “Can you feel it?”
“Not really. I mean, not yet. It’s still pretty early. All I do is puke.”
“Sounds awful.”
“Yep, and apparently it doesn’t get much better.”
“Are you scared?”
I lean forward to take my coffee from her. I drink some, careful to go easy, since I can’t have too much caffeine on account of the baby. I mull her question over, let it rattle in my head.
“For childbirth, not really. But for everything after? Yeah, terrified.”
“Why? You’re going to be a great mother.”
“I don’t exactly have the best model for it in the world.”
“Who cares? You saved my life when you didn’t have to. You put your neck out for that scummy idiot fuck-face Brad. Imagine what you’ll do for your own kid?”
I blink rapidly, swallowing against the lump in my throat. What the hell is happening right now? Why am I getting all emotional?
Maybe because this is the first time I’ve thought about myself like that. Until now, all I’ve done is worry I’ll end up being a shitty parent like my mom was and ruin this baby. It’s not like I’ll be raising them in the safest environment possible.
But Rowan’s right. I’ll do anything for this child. I’ll kick, fight, scream, break, love, cuddle, fix, hold, and whatever for my kid, no matter what, and that’s got to be enough. Or at least close to it.
“Ah, crap, look what I did.” She leaps up and comes around the table to hug me. “I didn’t mean to make you cry! I’m so sorry!”
“It’s okay, honestly, it’s super okay. I’m just an emotional pregnant lady. Be happy I’m not ralphing all over the place.”
We laugh together and Rowan wipes my tears. She spends a few more minutes with me, but heads back up to check in with her mom and her dad. I’m alone for only long enough to finish my coffee when Connor strides into the room, a fat book under one arm, and comes to a stomping halt beside my chair.
I look up at his stormy eyes. There’s no smile on his stoic face. I caught a glimpse of a happy Connor last night in the car, but he’s gone now.
I wish he’d come back.
“Did you get my present?” he asks.
“Yes, and thank you. I won’t make you regret this.”
His jaw tightens. “Most people don’t get rewarded after making a stupid decision like you did.”
“Most people aren’t your wife.”
“Very true.” He drops the book into the chair where Rowan had been sitting. “I have a job for you.”
“Sorry? A job?”
“You still work for me.”
I snort and lean back, unfolding my legs and stretching. “Technically? I guess so?”
“Then as an employee of WashCo, you are obligated to follow my orders.”
“That… doesn’t sound right.”
He points at the book. “Those are WashCo’s ledgers. The real ledgers.”