Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Oh my God, I need to get it together.
He tells her he’ll be back in a few, and she nods in acknowledgment before he stands. His eyes hold mine hostage as he turns his cap around and gives me one last lingering look that has me wanting to roll onto all fours in front of everyone.
Wait, what?
I’m thinking that, and he’s staying here? In the same house we are?
I know it’s his family home, but he has a place.
This isn’t a hotel. There aren’t industrial locks on the doors to keep me from tripping and falling on his cock.
“So, you’re not together?” Mom asks, and Maeve snorts. “Because that exchange looked very sexually charged.”
“And I don’t need to remind you, but sex leads to gorgeous little girls. Not that I’m complaining because she’s my new favorite.”
“Wow. Thanks, Mom,” Ingrid signs and says, while I drop my head down, my shoulders crowding my ears.
What the hell is happening?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
My baby and my girl are staying at my mom’s.
With me.
I wasn’t expecting that turn of events, but thank God Anya likes to redo her house all the time. I could kiss her if I didn’t think she’d hold me down and bitch at me for chasing off her daughter after knocking her up. I smile to myself as I head toward my apartment. That went as well as I thought it would. I was fully ready to be questioned, to be blamed, but what I wasn’t ready for was how strong Audrina would be as she stood her ground. She made it seem like she couldn’t handle them, but she did. She didn’t need to wait three years; she could have done that before, but…maybe she couldn’t have.
Maybe she needed to have Arwen and be a mom first before she faced her own mom.
No matter what, I’m stoked they’re staying here.
Audrina and Arwen, my girls.
I use my key to enter my apartment just as Telly yells out in pure frustration. “Dude, cover my fucking ass!”
I chuckle to myself as I shut the door. He whips his head toward me and throws off his headset. He stands, in some Pokémon pink sleep pants and an old hockey juniors shirt full of holes, as he holds out his hands to me. “Hey fucker, I’ve been calling you for four days!”
I exhale, nodding as I bring him in for a tight bro-hug. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s been nuts.”
“Who you telling? Not every day you go out for a pancake and find out your bestie has a kid.”
“Try being the guy it happened to,” I say on a sigh. “But it’s all good.”
His brows shoot up in confusion. “It’s…all…good?” he asks slowly and incredulously. “How is any of that fine? You have a fucking kid, bro!”
My lips lift at the side. “I do, and she’s incredible, Telly. You’re going to love her.”
Telly just blinks. “I’m sure she is. She seemed super cute.”
“She is,” I agree happily, heading to my room. He’s hot on my heels as I pull a bag from my closet. I throw it on the bed and then grab all my game-day suits. “I’m going to go stay with my mom for a bit, to be close to them. I don’t want to miss out on time with Arwen.”
“Oh, okay. That’s understandable, I guess.”
“I’ll still pay my part of the apartment.”
“No worries, dude,” he says, and I feel his gaze on me.
I look over at him. “What?”
“Dude, you don’t look like you just found out you have a kid.”
I chuckle at that. “How do I look?”
“Happy. It’s weird. Why aren’t you raging? Like, tearing the world apart and taking that bitch for all she’s worth.”
I pause mid-stride before I get to my dresser. All I see is red. I close the distance between us, grabbing him by his shirt, the fabric tearing as I yank him inches from my face. “Don’t call her that.”
Telly’s hands come up, his eyes widening before he pushes me off. I stumble back; he’s a big dude. His voice is sharp as he snaps, “Whoa, my bad. Don’t need to put your hands on me.”
He’s right. I take a deep breath. My whole body is shaking, and I can’t believe I did that. Or maybe I can. I don’t want anyone speaking badly of her. I already made her feel like the shit on my shoes, as she said. I won’t let anyone else do that. My chest is rising and falling quickly as I mutter, “My bad, but don’t talk about her like that.”
“I won’t. Fuck,” he mutters, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen you get this worked up over a girl.”
“Because the only girl I get worked up over is her.”
“So, I guess you’re not over her?”
“No,” I say, running my hands down my face. “I never thought or admitted I was.”