Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
When she turned around to face me, I rubbed my thumb along her cheek. “It is now.” I’d give up all of it if it meant erasing the pain of the past and having her full trust back.
“Today was your last day of recording, right?”
“Yep.”
Her expression turned melancholy. “And you leave for the tour in a few days…”
I hung my head. “Unfortunately.”
I hated this. There was barely any time for us to enjoy each other’s company before I had to take off. But why the sadness in her eyes? Was she upset that I was leaving, or was there something more?
“Baby, talk to me. What’s going on? It’s the tour, right? You’re afraid of things going back to the way they were? I knew this was gonna happen. That’s why I’ve tried to assure you that—”
“No. That’s not it, Atticus. This is not about a lack of trust. That’s not why I’m here.”
My stomach sank. Something had compelled her to come all the way out here, and I was starting to freak out. Maybe I’d misinterpreted the reason for her trip, especially given the continued serious look on her face. A flash of panic hit. Back in New York, she’d said she needed time to work through things. Maybe she’d decided she could never accept my life. Maybe she’d come to break the news to me in person.
Moving in to cradle her face again, I looked deeply into her eyes. “I need you to tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m not sure how to tell you…”
Dread filled me. “You need to just say it, Nicole…”
“I think I had too much seafood,” she blurted.
My eyes narrowed. “That’s code for you love me…”
“Not this time.” She stuttered, “I mean, I do love you. But that’s not what I meant.”
I drew in my brows. “I’m not following…”
Nicole unzipped her coat. Then she took my hands in hers and slipped them under her shirt and over her stomach. “The seafood part was a lie. But my stomach is upset.”
Running my hand along her stomach, I noticed it was…protruding a little. My mouth slowly opened. “What’s happening?”
“I’m pregnant, Atticus.”
Pregnant? My first instinct was to panic. “With my baby?”
“Of course it’s yours.”
“How?”
“You got me pregnant the night of Tristan’s wedding. I didn’t know until this past week. My periods have been wonky for a while, so I hadn’t questioned missing them. I’m almost four months along.”
My mouth dropped. “Four months? Is this for real?”
“It is.”
“We made a baby? Together?”
“That’s how it works.” She laughed.
“This isn’t a dream…”
She shook her head. “No.”
My hands trembled as I lifted them to her face. “Holy shit.”
“I know.”
I kissed her forehead. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’ve been in shock since I took the test. Well, tests. All twelve of them.”
“This is really happening?”
“I think so. I haven’t seen a doctor yet. And I know that’s bad considering I’m already showing.”
I lowered my hands to her belly again, placing my palms against it. “My God. Look at you with my baby inside of you.”
“It’s bad timing. You’re about to go on tour and—”
“Fuck the tour! This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“I don’t feel ready. I don’t know anything about babies. You saw what a fish out of water I was around Christian. I don’t know what I’m doing. I might’ve killed him if you weren’t—”
“Don’t worry. You’re gonna do amazing. And I have a little experience I can share when it comes to kids. How long are you here with me?”
She shrugged. “I have no plan. I just booked a flight here as soon as I found out. I wanted to tell you in person.”
“How can I leave you like this?” I shook my head. “I can’t go. I can’t go on tour.”
“What choice do you have?”
“Come with me. Come with me on tour,” I begged. “Please.”
“I can’t do that, Atticus.”
“I don’t want you to be pregnant and alone. I want you with me, where I can take care of you when we’re not performing.”
“You think being pregnant on a rock tour is going to be a positive experience?”
That made me realize how ridiculous it was to expect that. “Okay, maybe that doesn’t make much sense. But selfishly…I want to see your belly grow. I want to experience every moment of this.” Closing my eyes, I pressed my forehead to hers. “But shit, I know it’s not ideal. I can’t force you. You have to do what feels right for you.” My skin tingled with excitement. “We should go see a doctor while you’re here.”
“I don’t think I’d be able to get an appointment that fast.”
“Doug’s wife just had a baby. I can find out who she sees. Maybe they can get us in.”
“Okay. I mean, if you think that’s doable.”
“You should have a doctor out here anyway.” Not wanting to sound presumptuous, I added, “It’ll be good for you to have a doctor on both coasts for when you’re…visiting.” I knelt and placed my cheek against her stomach. “I didn’t want to go on tour before this. But now? The last thing I want to do is leave you.” I looked up at her. “Tell me I’m not dreaming. It still feels like I’m about to wake up any second.”