Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
I wait a minute before I join him in the kitchen and notice they are in the living room. “Okay,” my father states, standing next to the chair he usually sits in, with his hand on top of it, “what is going on?”
“We know,” my mother says and I feel the back of my neck start to burn as if I’m being branded by a poker. “We figured it out when Jaxon got here.”
“What did you guys figure out?” I walk into the room, standing under the arched entryway, right next to Jaxon.
“I don’t think you did,” I mumble and look up at Jaxon. “Jaxon and I—”
My mother squeals, “Are dating!” She claps her hands as if she just solved the puzzle.
“Sort of, yeah,” I say, thinking that is one way to ease into this.
“Sort of, yeah?” my father and Jaxon say at the same time. I look over at Manning, who has his hands in his pockets and looks down at the floor, trying not to laugh.
“Well, okay,” I concede. “Yes, we’re dating.”
“Oh my,” Evelyn says, sitting down on the chair beside my mother, “for real?”
“For real,” Jaxon confirms, finally putting his arm around my shoulders.
“Well, that and…” I look up at him and inhale deeply. “We’re…” I look at my father who has no expression on his face. None. Not a smile. Not a frown. Nothing. I can’t read his face and it’s killing me. “Having a baby.” I wait a beat. “Together.”
“I’m sorry?” My father turns his head to the side as my mother and Evelyn both gasp. “I’m not sure I heard you.” He blinks his eyes tight and then opens them again. “Did you say you’re having a baby, or you want to have a baby?”
I put my hand to my stomach. “We’re having a baby.” I stare at him. “Like it’s in me right now.”
“What the fuck?” my father roars and Manning just looks over at him, his hands out of his pockets, ready to step in if something happens. “What the actual fuck?”
“Ralph.” My mother moves to him and puts her hand on his forearm.
“I know this is a shock,” Jaxon starts and my father just glares at him. I turn to him and put my hand on his chest, telling him to let me talk.
“This is a shock to everyone,” I say calmly. “It was a shock to us as well. But it’s done, it’s here and we’re going to—”
“You’re going to what, Ariella,” my father barks, “have his baby? You don’t even know him.”
“Ralph,” Manning says, his voice tight, “let’s give them a chance to talk.” My father looks over at him and the stare is one I’ve never seen before. I’m about to step forward when my mother gasps.
“Oh my God, you’re the one.” She puts her hand to her mouth and then looks over at Evelyn who opens her mouth also. “You’re the puck bunny his girlfriend caught you with.”
“Don’t call her that,” Jaxon snaps, his tone tight and my mother’s eyes go big.
Evelyn puts her hands on her head. “This is unbelievable.”
“And she’s my ex-girlfriend,” Jaxon snaps, “long before Ariella and I even started anything.”
“You got her pregnant when you were with someone else?” my father sneers at him. In that moment my heart breaks as he looks at me, disappointment all over his face. “Incredible.”
twenty-six
Jaxon
I feel her tremble beside me and I hold up my hand. “Okay, enough,” I snap, not caring anymore about how my tone sounds. “I know this isn’t how you thought this conversation would go.” I look at Ralph, then look over at my father, who is ready to jump in if need be. “But we are going to do this calmly.” I look at Ralph. “It's a surprise to you, I’m sure.”
“You can say that again,” he scoffs at me.
“But this is where we are and we’re dealing with it together.” I slide my hand in hers to stop her from shaking. When I look down at her, I see her head is down, looking at her shoes and I turn to her. I put my finger under her chin to lift it so I can see her eyes, a lone tear escapes from the corner of her eye and is slowly rolling down the side of her beautiful face. “It’s going to be okay,” I whisper to her, not caring that our parents are watching us. My only concern right now is making sure she is okay. They can unleash whatever they want on me, but they will not be doing it to her. I will not let that happen.
“Promise?” she asks me and I move my hands to hold her face, her eyes searching mine.
“Absolutely,” I assure her and she smiles and I don’t give a shit what they say, this is right, “not.” Before I kiss her softly, whispering in her ear, I declare, “We’ve got this.”