Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
My heart is shattering, and everything inside me says this isn’t what we need, but I know that’s the desire talking. No matter how badly I want her, this is the right choice. “I want you to know, this isn’t what I want.”
She nods, a single tear flowing down her cheek, and she quickly swipes it away before I can. “I know, but it’s what’s right.”
I nod, even though my heart tells me it’s a lie. “Be safe, Mandy.” I lean in and kiss her one more time before standing and nodding for her to go. She slowly backs out of the garage, and I walk outside, following her taillights until I can no longer see them. Forcing myself to go back into the house, the one that feels even more empty than before they arrived, I pace until her message telling me she made it home safely comes through. Only then do I retreat to my room, where sleep never comes.
Fourteen
Amanda
* * *
There’s a pep in my step as I unload my suitcase and everything else that I’m taking on vacation for Mia, so that we can reload it into Reid and Bellamy’s Suburban. I made a list, checked it what feels like a million times, and then added more than I needed. It’s my first time being away from home with Mia, and I want to make sure I’m prepared. Sure, I could buy what I need or borrow from one of the others, but I like to be prepared for any scenario.
“I’ll get that,” Reid says, grabbing my large suitcase and the Pack ’N Play and moving toward the back of the Suburban.
“Should I move my car?” I ask, handing him the suitcase I packed for Mia, along with another duffel bag containing toys, blankets, extra diapers, wipes, and formula. I still need to get my purse and the diaper bag from the back seat. Traveling with an eleven-month-old is no small feat. Not that a two-year-old is any better. From the looks of the back of the Suburban, Bellamy packed more than I did.
“Nah, it’ll be fine,” Reid says, putting the last of the bags in the SUV. “Car seat?”
“Oh, right, let me get that.” After rushing toward the car, I unfasten her car seat and tug it out. Reid is standing there to intercept it and handles placing it in the car. “Thank you.” I smile at him.
“Any time. Why don’t you go tell my wife and daughter to get moving?” He laughs.
“Hey, my daughter’s in there, too.” I pretend to be offended, but he knows better. Bellamy insisted she watch Mia while I got everything loaded, which I’m thankful for. Reid chuckles as I head into the house to tell Bellamy we’re ready to hit the road.
As soon as I step inside, I hear laughter and see Mia crawling on the floor, chasing after Coral. Bellamy is sitting on the couch, watching them with a smile on her face. “Hey,” I greet her. “We’re all loaded up and ready to go.”
“Perfect. Girls, are you ready for vacation?” she asks.
Coral stops, cheers, and claps. Mia immediately plops onto her diaper-covered bottom and claps, too, smiling widely. I wish I had my phone, but it’s in my car with the diaper bag.
“Is there anything I can help with?” I ask Bellamy.
“Nope, I just need to grab Coral. Everything is already in the SUV, ready to go. Reid even took my purse out with him earlier. I know we planned this, but the guys are just as pumped as we are.”
“That’s good. At least they’re not complaining.”
“I knew they wouldn’t.” She smiles.
I scoop Mia up into my arms and follow Bellamy and Coral out onto the porch. I wait for her to set the alarm before turning, and when I do, I freeze. Because standing next to Reid is Will—as in the man I can’t stop thinking about. The one who kisses like it’s his job, and those calloused hands… Shaking out of my thoughts, I turn to look at Bellamy over my shoulder. “Your dad is here,” I say, my voice cracking, so I cough to try and cover it up, like there was a tickle in my throat instead of a full-blown spiral happening inside my chest.
“I know.” She bites down on her bottom lip. “I felt guilty.”
Guilty. Yeah. I know a thing or two about that particular flavor of self-inflicted torture. “About?”
“That we were all leaving. He called and wanted to do a cookout this weekend, and I felt bad telling him we were going out of town. I kind of blurted out the invitation. Luckily, when I called everyone later, they were cool with him tagging along.” She winces. “I should’ve asked you, too, but he’s their coach, so I figured you wouldn’t mind.”