Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 145676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“Oh, hell no.” Robert vehemently shook his head. “I’m just in love. You got someone bidding for part of my heart.”
Landon’s grin grew as he opened the door and reached inside for his jacket, quickly shrugging it on.
“Are you outside?” Robert looked past Landon, seeing his surroundings. “Where are you?”
“I stopped by a buddy’s house on my way home,” Landon said, trying to zip his jacket with one hand.
“Someone from the base?” Robert asked, still looking at everything but Landon, trying to see where he might be.
“Some people I went to high school with. I got your pictures earlier. She’s a beautiful baby. How’s Autumn?”
Robert’s tired face contorted, which had Landon furrowing his brow while going over the sentence he’d just asked, wondering what might be confusing about his question. Silence held between them as Robert’s face went from confused, to angry, to hurt in less than ten seconds flat.
“What?”
“You have friends from high school there and I didn’t know? Shouldn’t that be something I know?”
Shit. Landon’s heart plummeted as the hurt in Robert’s words sank in. He should have kept this to himself.
“It’s not like that, Robert. They’re just people I used to know. You and I haven’t been apart since our first date. I didn’t really want to go home alone. I miss you already.” Landon tried to explain his decision to come there tonight and hopefully pacify Robert enough to lose the hurt on his face.
“I don’t necessarily believe that answer, but I miss you like crazy too. I wish you were here with me.”
“Me too.” Landon smiled a small smile, hoping they were somehow changing the subject without further dissecting his reasoning. “How’s Autumn?”
“She’s good. She did amazing. We almost didn’t make it to the hospital.”
“You were afraid you wouldn’t make it.”
Robert had called it this way when life stopped this morning, pushing him to Minnesota based on nothing more than a hunch.
“Yeah, she kept thinking her contractions were false labor. She talked Cam into believing it too. He walked in as Autumn started to push.” Robert brought his hands to his eyes, digging in as he fought another yawn.
If Landon were a good guy, he’d offer to say goodnight, let Robert get some needed rest, but instead he asked, “Can I see the baby?”
“Yeah, we have to be quiet. Autumn and Cam are asleep in the room. I’ll take you in to see Kylie then step out into the hall again before we speak.”
Landon nodded, and Robert quietly opened the hospital room door, careful of the noise. The darkened room turned into a blur as Robert adjusted the phone. Seconds later, a tightly bundled baby appeared on the screen. He’d never been around many children, never really his thing, but he had to agree with Robert that she looked pretty damn perfect to him. This tiny baby had already done so much in helping to heal her family, so of course she’d be perfect. Robert’s hand lowered into the crib, running down the length of the sleeping baby’s back, and she moved into his touch. Landon instantly connected to her, because he did the exact same thing with Robert. When Robert touched him, he moved closer, needing more from the man.
Robert’s face reappeared on the screen, his finger going to his lips until the light of the bright hallway shown. Robert’s deep fatigue became more pronounced.
“You look exhausted,” he said, concerned.
“I am. I’ll head out now. I just wanted you to see her in real time,” Robert said, moving down the hall.
“I wanted to too. How far away is your hotel?” he asked, not remembering ever seeing Robert looking so tired before.
“I have a place downtown. It’s not far, a few miles away.” Robert kept him on the phone as he went down the hall, his voice lowering. “So, what’s up with these friends, Landon? Why do I feel like it’s a class thing that makes you not mention them to me?” Robert fucking did that shit all the damn time. Hit the nail right on the head like he lived inside Landon’s brain.
“Babe, you know I’ve settled that down.”
Robert scrubbed a hand heavily across his face. “Are you sure of that?”
Landon grinned at his mister, seeing that maybe all cylinders weren’t firing like they should in Robert’s head for how easily he seemed to be giving in again. This time Landon told the full truth. “Maybe not a hundred percent sure, but I’m trying. I love you. I’m not sure it’s wise for you to drive.”
“I love you, too. But I’m not diverting the conversation. Since we’re having an uncomfortable talk, let me just add that I want children with you. Not a lot, not like Autumn wants, but two would be nice, maybe three. Four makes an even number.” Robert narrowed his eyes for a second then shook his head. “Maybe as many as Autumn wants then.”