Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Do you want me to call Nate?” Ana asks.
“No.” I shake my head, feeling like the worst mom-to-be in the world.
I should’ve been more careful. Nate warned me wearing heels was dangerous, and what did I tell him? That I was a pro. Now, look where I am. Lying on the floor of my office, waiting for an ambulance and praying that my baby is okay.
When Ana gives me a look, I add, “I don’t want to worry him. I’ll call him once I know…” I choke out the last word, unable to finish my sentence. Not wanting to put my fear out into the world.
Thankfully, the paramedics arrive quickly, and after Ana relays what happened and I tell them my symptoms, they help me onto a stretcher and then take me to the ambulance, where I’m brought to the closest hospital with Ana and Julian following.
Once we arrive, they wheel me into a room and then carefully transfer me onto a bed. Ana texts that they’re waiting in the waiting room and to let her know if I need anything. I’m surprised she didn’t offer to come to my room, but I’m too worried to give it much thought.
A sweet young nurse greets me, and after I go through what happened, she says, “Well, Ms. Abrams, how about we take a look at your little one, so we can see what we’re working with?”
As I nod, my first thought is that I wish Nate were here by my side. And it’s with that admission that I know, despite how much I want to do the right thing and push Nate away, I’m going to be selfish and pull him in closer. Because I love him and I want him by my side, no matter what the future holds.
I’m about to text him to let him know what’s going on when there’s a knock on my door. Assuming it’s Ana, I tell her to come in. Only when the door opens, it’s not Ana.
It’s Nate.
chapter twenty-five
NATE
“They’ve confirmed the bones are not from an Indian tribe,” Nolan says over my Bluetooth.
“Thanks.” I sigh in relief. “Let’s—”
The screen on the dash lights up with an incoming call—Julian Parker. He never calls me. The only reason I have his number saved is because of our companies working together, but our teams are handling the details, so this can’t be about the partnership, which means there’s only one reason he’s calling me.
“I’ll call you back.”
Without waiting for Nolan’s response, I switch the call over.
“Hey, Julian. Is—”
“Please tell me you’re on your way here.” Ana.
The desperation in her tone causes goose bumps to prickle my skin.
“I’m on my way to Paige’s house as we speak.”
Her doctor’s appointment isn’t until tomorrow, but I couldn’t stay away from Paige another day. The phone calls weren’t enough. And the stress of being away from her was eating away at me. She’s the calm to my storm, and I told my dad that I’ll be working remotely from Rosemary since there’s nothing else for me to do in Vegas.
Thanks to Nolan’s update, all we’re waiting on now is for the county to give us the green light for construction to continue, and they don’t need me there for that.
My plan is to get to Paige’s place before she gets off work and surprise her with dinner since I know the code to get inside her house. And now, with the county approving us to continue construction, we have something to celebrate.
“Okay, good,” Ana says, bringing me back to the now. “There’s something you need to know…Paige fell.”
“What? Where is she? Is she okay?”
“We’re on our way to the hospital now. We don’t know anything, but she’s in the ambulance. We didn’t want to risk moving her. They’re taking her to Rosemary General.”
“I’m on my way.”
I hang up with her and input the hospital into the GPS. Fifteen minutes. Thank God this town is fucking small.
When I arrive, Ana and Julian are already in the waiting room. I shake Julian’s hand, and Ana gives me a quick hug. Then, I go to the nurse at the front desk, needing to get to Paige.
After explaining that she’s my wife and she’s pregnant, the nurse scans my license and then guides me back to Paige’s room. The door is closed, so I knock, and once I hear her soft voice say to come in, I step inside, noting how fragile and scared she looks, sitting in the large hospital bed.
“Nate,” she gasps, her eyes widening in surprise. “You’re here.”
“Fuck, Princess.”
I make a beeline straight for her, ignoring the woman who’s standing next to her. I give her a kiss on her forehead, inhaling her sweet scent. And when I tilt her chin up, my heart breaks at the raw emotion swimming in her eyes.