Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Pregnant.
I grip the counter and bow my head. It could be a false positive. I could take another one, but that would just be wasteful of Corie’s generosity. I know the test is right. I’ve been feeling off and overly emotional for a couple of weeks now. The signs were all there. I just ignored them.
I can’t ignore them anymore.
My hands rest on my belly, and I pull in a deep breath. Single and pregnant is not the plan I had for my life, but it’s the one I’ve been given. Grabbing the test, I wrap it up in toilet paper and step out of the room. Corie sees my face and smiles widely.
“Congratulations,” she says, hugging me tightly. “He’s going to be thrilled, Bellamy.”
“He’s going to think I did this on purpose.”
Corie tosses her head back in laughter. “That’s going to be the furthest thing from his mind. I know there’s something in your past with your dad that has you keeping him at arm’s length, but Reid is his own man. He’s not going to blame you, and he’s not going to walk away. If you thought he was persistent before, watch out.” She grins.
“He is persistent,” I agree. He’s never wavered, not since the first minute I met him. He’s not my father. He’s this baby’s father, and I need to find a way to give him the chance he’s been asking for. I owe it to our baby.
“So, how are we doing this? Keeping the news to ourselves? Telling the others? Tell me what you need.”
“I don’t want to lie to them. Can they keep quiet until I can tell Reid?”
“You can trust us,” she says, linking her arm through mine and leading me back out to the living room.
“Well?” Amanda, Rowan, and Sloane ask as soon as they see us.
“I’m pregnant,” I say, choking on the words, as I hold up the wad of tissue paper and plop down on the couch. I don’t bother to check the tears as they race down my cheeks. I’m lost in my head, in my feelings, and they give me the time and the space I need to work through both.
Chapter Twelve
Reid
“We should probably tell them we’re coming,” Foster says.
“Why would we do that?” Landry glances at him in the rearview mirror. Foster, Baker, and I are in the back seat of his truck, while Landry and Knox are up front.
“You’re crashing girls’ night,” Foster explains. “We’re men.”
“Camden’s there,” Landry argues.
“My son is not even a year old yet.” Baker laughs.
“Still, they’re doing women shit, and we’re just going to barge in on them.”
Knox turns to face us from his spot in the passenger seat. “I haven’t seen my wife in five days. Five long fucking days. We’re going.”
“I’m not saying we should turn around, just that we should warn them. Besides, it was your choice to stay at camp and not come home every night.”
“It’s what we do,” Landry speaks up. “We build camaraderie, but what he said.” He tilts his head toward Knox, keeping his eyes on the road. “Five long fucking days.”
“I miss my kid,” Baker says. “I don’t care if we call or don’t, but I’m hoping my boy is awake.”
“Of course, he’s going to be awake. He’s going to be surrounded by five beautiful women,” Landry says. “He’s my nephew. He’s not going to want to miss a single second of their cuddling him.”
Baker laughs. “True enough. He does love to soak up attention.”
“I’m just saying,” Foster continues. “When we walk into that house and find your wives half-dressed with shit all over their faces, don’t gouge my eyes out when I look.”
“Don’t look,” Knox says, his voice gruff.
“I mean, five beautiful ladies,” Foster says, and I can hear the humor in his voice. He’s teasing them, which is not something Foster does often. He’s the serious one in our group. He leans over Baker to look at me. “What about you? Excited to see your girl?”
“Five long fucking days,” I say, and we all laugh. I’m excited as hell to lay eyes on her. I’ve called her every single night, but we haven’t seen each other since I left her place last weekend. I didn’t know it was possible to miss someone like I miss her. She’s not my wife. But fuck, she’s my everything. One day, if I’m lucky, we’ll be there. I understand Knox’s and Landry’s obsession to come home, even though our asses have to be up and watching film at six tomorrow. The visit will be worth it.
Landry parks his truck, and we scramble out and to the front door. Knox pushes the door open, and we follow along behind him. The house is too quiet, which is surprising for five ladies who are supposed to be having a fun night, and a baby.