Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Okay,” I agree. I’ll do whatever I need to do to make sure he knows how much everything he does means to me.
When we get home, I try not to cry as I let myself in with the key he gave me two days ago. I go directly to the kitchen. When the front door opens, I bite my lower lip and listen to his approaching footsteps.
“Hi.” His eyes meet mine. “I got you something.”
I can’t help but put my hands on my mouth and try to hide the smile. “Theo.” His arms are full of different bouquets of flowers. “What did you do?”
“Well, I didn’t know if there was a certain flower that was your favorite.” He grabs one of the bouquets wrapped in brown paper. “These ones are wildflowers.” They’re white and pink blooms with a couple of purple ones in between. I don’t think I’ve ever seen more beautiful flowers in my life. “This is the one she said smells the best.” He hands me a bouquet with light-pink and white roses, and little light-blue flowers peeking in between. I bring them to my nose and smell. I can’t help the tear that escapes me. “This one is called the Sunshine Delight.” It’s sunflowers with little white daisies and yellow roses. “It’s not my favorite,” he mumbles. “Then there are these. I think they’re my favorite.” He looks at my face as he hands me the last one, which is filled with pink lilies with soft pink flowers around them.
“I wish I could hug you right now.” I’m crying, and he cups my face in his big hand. “I really do, but I don’t want to ruin the flowers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many flowers in my life and . . .” I try to calm myself down, but I can’t help the emotion coming off of me. “I had a pretty shitty day and, just like that, you’ve made it so much better. Sometimes I have to wonder if you are too good to be true.”
“If I’m too good to be true”—he kisses my lips—“how do you think I feel?” He kisses my cheek. “You have come into my life and made it better. It’s like I didn’t even know I wasn’t breathing, that I wasn’t truly living. Now, I can take on anything.” I look down. “You have to be the kindest soul I’ve ever met in my life. I’m happy our baby is going to have a part of you in them because I know it’s going to be the best part of them.”
“I’m going to need you to stop it,” I tell him through tears, and he chuckles. “And I’m going to need you to find me vases for all these flowers.”
“None of them make you feel sick?” he asks, his face worried.
“No.” I sniff, and he grabs them from me and places them on the island.
“Why don’t you go and take a shower, and I’ll get these sorted. Then you can crawl into bed and have a little nap.”
“I don’t think I can nap now.” It’s almost six. “I’m just going to go to bed at seven.”
“Okay, then I’ll cook,” he kisses me, “and then you’ll go to bed.”
“What about you?”
“Are you trying to get me into the shower with you, baby?” He grins. I can’t help but snort.
“Obviously. I don’t think I’ve taken a shower in a while without being felt up.”
“Don’t even pretend you don’t like it.” He grabs my ass in his hands.
“I think you like it more than I like it,” I sass him, and he lets me go.
“Go shower.”
“Okay,” I give in.
I spot my bag in the corner of his closet, where he had put it, and reach in to grab a pair of panties and the long, gray pants with a matching T-shirt. Once I start the shower, I peel out of my clothes and toss them into the hamper. The first couple of times, I put my clothes in a pile on the counter to repack, but Theo picked them up and tossed them in with his. It made me a bit anxious, but after the second time, it felt good. Like I belonged here. Like it was us.
Stepping into the big shower, I let the water course over me. I can’t wash the smile off my face when I think about the flowers he bought me. But then I remember where I had just been when he went into the flower shop. And soon, my mind is focused on the money I’m going to need for new tires. My heart pounds and my stomach dips.
I wash my hair and wrap it in a towel before getting dressed. My stomach grumbles as I comb out my hair. I can hear voices coming from the living room, and I wonder if Caleb has come by to visit.