Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Theo always knows what I need.
A few minutes later, he joins me, wrapping an arm over my shoulders.
“Your dad is worried about you,” Theo murmurs.
“We’ll tell them soon,” I assure him. “He’s still butt-hurt that I moved in with you after only a month dating.”
“Oh, trust me, I know. I have to work with him all day and he doesn’t hold back his feelings.”
A giggle bubbles out of me. “He’s all bark and no bite.”
“Then why aren’t you telling him you’re pregnant?”
Touché.
“I honestly don’t want to hear about how unprepared I am. Your apartment has just the one bedroom. He’ll want to know where we’re putting the baby. It’ll be a whole thing and I’m just so tired lately.”
Theo hugs me to him and kisses the top of my head. “Well, I was going to wait until after the party to show you your surprise, but I guess the time is now.”
He takes hold of my hand, and we begin walking along the trail around the pond. We pass by Riko, Rhett’s best friend, and Riko’s husband, Derek’s place. Two kids kick around a soccer ball at the next unit and they wave to us. After that one, we pass by something that smells really, really good.
“That guy owns a food truck,” Theo tells me. “Heard he’s an amazing cook.”
I’m curious how Theo knows about Rhett’s neighbors, but they do work together, so it’s possible he told him about them. When we reach the next unit, Theo guides me to the patio steps.
“What are we doing?” I ask, frowning at him.
“Our baby needs their own room,” he says with a smirk as he pulls his keys from his pocket. “My short-term lease is up at the apartment. When Rhett mentioned this unit becoming available, I jumped on it.”
My heart patters happily in my chest. “Really?”
He laughs when I throw my arms around him and kiss him until we’re both breathless. It’s been such a huge worry of mine on where we’ll put our baby.
“And look,” I say, pointing across the pond to a patio with a Dr. Pepper can wall that’s been built to provide privacy. “Savvy lives there. We can hang out all the time now!”
Theo winks at me. “Glad this was a good surprise then.”
After he unlocks the door, we walk in and it smells blissfully like nothing. I’m so grateful, too. Morning sickness is a thing for me, and it seems to last all day some days. Smells trigger me. Sometimes, at the apartment, I swear I can smell the coolant in the refrigerator. Makes me feel insane.
The townhouse is cute and looks just like Rhett’s. I’m excited to get to decorate this place with Theo and make it ours. When we head upstairs and find the second bedroom that will be the baby’s, I start to cry. My emotions are so messy.
“Come here, beautiful,” Theo rumbles, hugging me to him. “We’re going to make so many good memories here.”
“Yeah?” I ask tearfully.
He nods and then pulls away. I gasp when he falls to one knee. “You’re my whole world, Addison Monahan. And that world is getting bigger by the day. Please marry me. Show me how true love and partnership is supposed to be. I want to spend the rest of my life raising babies with you by my side.”
I sob as he slides a simple diamond ring on my finger. It’s beautiful. “Yes. Forever yes.”
He stands back up and we kiss deeply. We’re already making great memories.
“If I thought Dad was upset before,” I say, half joking.
“Already took care of it when I asked for his blessing.” He rests his forehead to mine. “He knows about both this place and my intentions to marry you. To be honest, I think he was relieved. So now you don’t have to worry about telling him about the baby.”
I love this about Theo. He’s always taking care of everything, particularly me.
“You’re so good to me,” I murmur against his lips.
“You deserve all of it and more. I love you, angel.”
“Theo is going to build me some raised planters on that corner,” I say to Mindy, pointing through the sliding glass to one corner of our patio deck. “When it gets warm out.”
Mindy nods, smiling as if she can imagine what it will look like. “Let me know if you need help filling it up.”
We may have met through Greenhouse Club that lasted exactly forty-seven seconds, but our friendship has blossomed into something beautiful. Makes me realize those people who turned on me along with Lucy were never my friends. Real friends stand the test of time.
“I’ll bring iced coffee,” Savvy says from my other side, “but I’m not helping.”
We all giggle.
Having Savvy so close has been a godsend. She entertains me when Theo is at work. Plus, between her and Abby, I get to see what mothering looks like up close and firsthand, which encourages me on my own journey.