Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 36002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
My mind keeps drifting to Abby. Always her and the baby. The nursery is about done and it’s looking great. I find her sometimes just sitting in the rocker, smiling as she admires the space. It’s a punch to the gut every time.
A few minutes later, we’re parking in front of Riko’s place. It’s strange to park just one space over when I’m used to doing it in front of Abby’s townhouse. As we exit the vehicle, I can’t help but discreetly peek over in case I see her looking out the window. The curtains are drawn, though, and I see nothing. Disappointment floods through me.
Derek answers the door and introductions are quickly made. There’s a tension in the air I can’t explain. I catch Angela eyeing the home critically a few times. Her family’s home has to be worth millions, so there’s no doubt she’s judging this one with its cozy, but obviously dated feel to it. This irks me.
How did Abby and Angela come from the same parents? They’re so different.
I’m in a daze as we eat. Angela and Riko do most of the talking. I get the sense that they’re interrogating each other, but I don’t intervene.
When my phone buzzes in my pocket, I don’t even think about ignoring it. If Abby needs something, I want to make sure I’m there for her. And, as expected, I note that it’s her calling. It eventually stops and the call is sent to voicemail.
I’ll call her after I drop Angela off.
The phone starts buzzing again. With her immediately calling right after the first one, anxiety skitters through me. We just got her the new phone number this morning when I added her to my plan, so I’m grateful she has the ability to communicate with me, but she normally texts, so this feels outside the norm. It eventually goes to voicemail when I don’t answer.
“Everything okay?” Angela asks, irritation in her voice.
A text comes through.
Abby: Come now! Hurry!
I push back from the table and am on my feet the next instant.
“Reid needs my help with something,” I blurt out, the lie quick and easy on my tongue. “I’ll be right back.”
Angela asks who Reid is, but I’m already out of Riko’s place. I bolt for Abby’s door and fling it open.
“Abs!”
She’s lying on the sofa, phone in one hand and her other on her belly. It’s too early to have the baby. I rush over to her and kneel. Her features are soft and sweet, not at all what I was expecting if she were in pain.
“Are you okay? What’s happening?”
A cute giggle escapes her as she grabs my hand, bringing it to her belly. My palm caresses over her bare flesh and I shoot her a confused look.
Then I feel it.
A nudge.
The slightest of a brush.
A thrill of equal parts joy and slight terror shoots through me. The sensation against my hand feels so foreign. Alien.
“You look like you might be sick,” she says, laughing again. Her whole belly bounces with the movement. “He’s active today.”
Thinking about our little baby boy inside kicking and moving makes my heart hammer wildly in my chest. This is surreal. Unbelievably cool.
“I can’t believe I can feel him,” I murmur. “This is insane, honey.”
She watches me as I rub other areas and jiggle her stomach trying to get Buck to move again. When I bring my mouth to her belly and speak to him, he starts wriggling again.
“You like Daddy’s voice?” I say, grinning like an idiot. “I love you, little man. Daddy loves you.”
Every worry, every stressor, every confusing emotion is gone in this moment. All that matters is the sweet little thing growing in Abby’s body. The little boy we made.
My eyes burn like I might tear up and my throat feels tight. Abby, who’s been watching my every move, smiles tearfully at me. I kiss her stomach and inhale her familiar scent.
I love…this.
I’m not sure how long I remain here, playing with my unborn baby and relishing every precious second, but it’s eventually interrupted by the knocking on her front door. We both freeze.
When it opens, I expect to see Angela but am relieved when it’s only Riko. His gaze sweeps over us, and he gives me a small frown.
“She’s getting antsy over there,” Riko says. “I’ve stalled long enough.”
Abby stiffens. “Angela’s next door?”
I cringe and give the barest of nods. A small whining sound escapes Abby as she scrambles away from me and off the couch. Jumping to my feet, I panic and shake my head in warning.
“Don’t go over there,” I bark out, sharper than I intend. “Don’t do this to me, Abs. Please.”
Her bottom lip trembles and a tear races down her cheek. “Trust me. I have zero desire to go over there and ruin your perfect little life. Just go, Rhett. You know you want to.”