Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“I don’t. Lilibeth and I both know where things stand between us…for now, anyway.”
Now he looked confused. Which matched how I felt. “Wait, so you’re saying you could maybe see yourself with Lilibeth?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know. I don’t want to be afraid of a relationship, but I also have to be honest with myself. I’m not ready to open my heart again. Maybe things will be different once the baby comes.”
Levi stood, shaking his head. “Speaking from experience…don’t wait too long, Caden. Someone like Lilibeth certainly won’t wait around forever.”
“You think Lilibeth is going to start dating while she’s pregnant?” I asked, with a forced laugh.
“I’m saying it doesn’t matter if she’s pregnant or not. If she doesn’t think she has a future with you other than co-parenting, she isn’t going to stop looking for love.”
I shook my head this time, but I wasn’t sure if I was disagreeing with my best friend or simply burying my head in the sand.
Suddenly, Emeline appeared in the doorway.
“Hey, sis,” I said, making my way over and giving her a big hug.
She looked at me, then at Levi. When she narrowed her eyes at him, he held up his hands. “I had to tell someone!”
“I knew you weren’t going to be able to keep this a secret! I knew it!”
Laughing, Levi pulled her to him. “Caden has news, too.”
She looked back at me, intrigued. “Really? What’s your news?”
I exchanged a quick look with Levi before I focused on my sister. “We were going to tell you tonight.”
“We?” she asked, one brow raised.
“Lilibeth is joining us for dinner. She’s pregnant and due the twenty-third.”
Emeline’s mouth dropped open. Then a huge smile appeared on her face. “Lilibeth is pregnant? Wow! That must have been some seriously stormy days you guys spent together!”
Levi laughed, as I attempted not to smile.
“We nearly got pregnant on the same day!” Emeline said. “Does anyone else know?”
I screwed up my face as I said, “Mom, Dad, Lilibeth’s parents…”
My voice trailed off. Emeline put her hands on her hips as Levi took a step back and muttered, “Oh no.”
“I feel like there are more people on that list.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Gatlin and Ensley know.”
Her mouth fell open again. “I’m the last one to know?”
“No!” I said quickly. “Granddad and Grandma don’t know, and neither do our uncles.”
Emeline shot me a dirty look. “Oh, that makes me feel so much better.”
“Ensley just guessed, when she and Gatlin stopped by unannounced at my house. Lilibeth got sick, and you women all have some weird sense about this kind of stuff.” I snapped my fingers. “And Mrs. Harper. She guessed, too.”
“Even Mrs. Harper knew before me? What the hell! You were the first person we told!”
“We?” I asked sarcastically.
Levi cleared his throat. “Ahhh…not really.”
Emeline turned her glare on him. “What do you mean, not really?”
He shrugged sheepishly. “I told my parents.”
“Levi! We were going to tell our parents all together.”
Tilting his head, he regarded Emeline. “You haven’t told anyone? Not a single person?”
She looked down at the floor, blushing.
“Emeline?” Levi prompted.
“Fine! I told Moreen. But she’s my best friend, and I had to tell someone.”
Pointing to me, Levi said, “And he’s my best friend.”
“Fine, I’ll let Caden go. But your parents?”
Drawing her back into his arms, he kissed her forehead. “I was just so happy, Em.”
Sighing, she smiled up at him. “It’s okay. Truth be told, I was coming here to tell Caden because he’s the only one I can trust with a secret.”
I threw my head back and laughed.
Emeline grinned. “This is going to be so much fun! Lilibeth and me pregnant at the same time!”
“I’m happy for you and Levi, Emeline. I really am.”
Tears filled her eyes as she made her way over to me. She hugged me, then drew back. “And you’re happy?”
I nodded. “I’m still in a bit of shock, but yeah. I’m happy.”
Hugging me once again, she said, “Everything happens for a reason, Caden. Everything.”
When she stepped back, I nodded.
“Do you want me and Lilibeth to wait before telling anyone else? We were only telling family because she’ll be moving in with me.”
“Moving in with you!” Emeline nearly shouted. “Wow! Oh my gosh…this keeps getting better and better!”
Holding up my hands, I said, “We’re not together. I just thought it would be easier to have her move in instead of trying to live in that small garage apartment.”
“Agreed. It’s tiny.”
Levi’s phone went off. “Time to head out and pick up Rhett.”
I walked them to the door. “I’ll see you guys tonight then.”
Emeline turned back. “I think we should just tell the whole family both of our news, if you’re okay with that.”
I nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
They’d started down the aisle of the barn when Levi said something to Emeline and jogged back to me.