Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
He finds his release seconds after mine, and we both slump together, panting and sweating.
That was the most incredible experience of my life.
“Well, god damn,” I whisper. “I could do that again.”
“Not for a while,” he growls, nipping my flesh. “Gotta take care of my baby.”
“What about me?” I laugh. “I have needs, too.”
He grins, pulling back so he can see me. “I have other ways of taking care of your needs.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s so.”
“Well, I think I might be excited to see what you’ve got in store.”
He winks at me. “Think you might be too, honey.”
Honey.
Ah.
Bliss.
26
Two months later
“Seriously, though. You happy?”
I cross my arms and stare at Mateo, giving him a look that tells him I’m tired of his thousand questions.
“Let’s just sign the papers,” I say, shoving the pen at him.
“Not until you tell me you’re happy,” he goes on, eyes stern, unwavering.
“We’ve been over this. I’m happy. This is what I want.”
“You sure you want a baby? You’re not the baby type.”
I roll my eyes. “Too late now.”
I stare down at my little tiny bump, which’s slowly getting bigger and bigger by the day.
Mateo shrugs. “Fuck. Fine, I’ll sign the damn papers, but I’m not fuckin’ happy about it.”
“You and I both know we were never going to work, but I do appreciate everything you did for me, Mateo.”
He signs the divorce papers and looks up at me. “Yeah, I know.”
“I’m also really grateful for the freedom you’ve given me since Rocco...I’m forever in your debt.”
He studies me. “You owe me nothin’, Poppy. We’re square.”
I smile at him, and my heart does feel a little sore. Not because I love him, or I’m sad about the divorce, but because I’m seeing something in Mateo now that I didn’t before. Kindness and understanding. Perhaps I was too hard to handle, and I never saw the potential there because of that.
I step forward and wrap my arms around him. A hug, a genuine hug. Something we’ve never shared. He hugs me back, and we stand like that for a minute before he pulls back and looks down at me. “Take care of yourself, Poppy.”
“I will.”
With that, he turns and disappears out of the clubhouse.
I watch him go, stare down at the divorce papers, and sigh.
I walk out of the room we were sitting in to find Beckett waiting for me at the bar. He glances down at the papers and then back up at me. “He give you any trouble?”
“No,” I laugh. “No, he didn’t.”
“He gave me some on the way out.”
“He did?” I ask, brows raised.
“Yep, told me if I hurt you, he’ll cut my penis off and shove it down my throat, but not before he gouges my eyes out with his bare hands.”
Sweet Jesus.
I laugh. “That’s Mateo for you.”
Beckett grunts. “I’m sure.”
“Come on. Eve is waiting for us.”
I take his hand, and we walk over to Wildflowers, where Eve is holding a ‘divorce’ party for me. I told her she’s getting a bit ahead of herself, but she wasn’t at all worried about it. She’s super thrilled to host a party, any party, and I was lucky enough to be on the receiving end.
Everyone is here when we walk in, including Doris, who is sitting in her chair, chatting to one of the bikers. She’s part of everything, that woman. She’s like everyone’s naughty nanna.
I go over and hug Eve, flashing the divorce papers. She takes them and holds them up, cheering until everyone in the room joins in.
I laugh. Sweet Jesus, she’s something else.
“How are you feeling, dear?” Doris asks me, her eyes scanning over my belly.
“I’m doing good. Everything is going well.”
“Just make sure you wait until there is no turning back before you watch those birthing videos.”
I blink.
“And why is that?”
Her eyes widen, and she leans in close. “Have you ever seen a taco with all the insides falling out?”
I gasp. “Doris!”
“Well, I’m just saying, it’s terrifying. When I had my Luke, he ripped me right in two. I was never the same after that. The second one came out without a hitch, just walked on out of there. You’re never the same after birth, dear. Tell the doctor to give you an extra stitch. We call it the husband stitch.”
I stare in horror, eyes wide.
“Okay, thank you, Doris,” Eve says, rolling in and whisking me away before I can hear any more horror stories.
“Oh, Eve dear, who is that handsome man that just walked in?”
We glance at the door to see Eddie coming in, a bottle of wine in his hand.
“That’s Beckett’s dad,” I say, grinning.
“I might just go and introduce myself,” Doris says, standing and fluffing out her skirt.
“She’s such an old hussy,” Eve laughs.
“God, is Doris going to harass Eddie?” Ramona asks, coming up beside me. “Poor guy.”
“I’m certain she’ll keep him entertained,” I grin.