Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
I sighed. “You’re right. Nina didn’t sound too concerned. I’m getting myself worked up unnecessarily.”
“We worry when we care.”
I was quiet for a beat. “Do you think I should go there? To Boston? Be there in case anything happens, or she goes into labor?”
I thought the screen had frozen, the way February went silent for so long. Eventually she smiled sadly. “I’ll be honest, as the woman you’re involved with, I hate the thought of you sitting beside your ex. But as someone who knows right from wrong, I think the right thing for your baby is to go be with them. It’s also the only way you’re going to have peace of mind.”
I sighed. “I was supposed to come see you this week. I don’t know how often I’m going to get there in the weeks after the baby is born.”
“Actually, I was going to call you when I got home to tell you I need to go to Milan, so it sort of works out anyway. The potential investor I told you about—the one who owns half the leather supply in Italy—wants to talk in person.”
“That’s good, right?”
She nodded. “I should never have gotten into bed with the venture capitalists that took over my board. They know nothing about my business. But if Giovanni is interested, I think he’d make a much better partner. I’ve known him for years. He’s smart. I could learn a thing or two from him.”
“Giovanni from Milan, huh? Sounds like a male model. I hope all he’s interested in is investing.”
February smiled. “He’s happily married and invited me to stay at his villa with him and his wife.”
I had a lot of balls making that comment, considering I was probably going to get on a plane and go visit the woman carrying my child. But hearing the guy was married made me feel better anyway. “I’m relieved that I won’t be letting you down if I decide to go to Boston. But I miss you, Red.”
Her face went soft. “I miss you, too.”
After a few more minutes, the cleaning crew knocked on February’s office door. “I should get going so they can do their thing.”
“It’s late. Take an Uber, not that awful damn subway.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Lumberjack.”
“Thank you.”
“I haven’t made my arrangements for Italy yet, but I’ll probably take a night flight tomorrow or the next evening. I like to sleep on the plane to help adjust to the time. But give me a call after you talk to the doctors in Boston.”
I still wasn’t a hundred-percent sure I was going, but February already knew. It made me smile. “I will.”
She blew me a kiss. “Talk to you soon.”
Panic washed over me. “February, wait!”
“What’s the matter?”
“I just…I want to say thank you for being here for me, even when what I need to talk about is hard to swallow.”
“Of course. I care about you. I’ve told you before, but I want you to hear it again. No matter what happens between us, I’d like you to be able to rely on me.”
The no matter what happens between us hurt like hell, but I couldn’t blame her. “Thanks, Red. Get home safe.”
She winked into the camera. “’Night, DILF.”
CHAPTER 28
* * *
February
Giovanni’s butler appeared at my side. “Another limoncello?”
I held out my hand. “Oh, no, thank you. I should probably stop at one.”
Lush greenery surrounded us as I sat with Giovanni’s wife, Francesca, in the backyard of their palatial villa in Milan. Our table was in the middle of a garden. I took a deep breath of the aromatic herbs, a mix of basil, rosemary, and thyme.
Milan was so romantic. Given the circumstances of my life, that was both ironic and sad. I found myself too distracted to truly enjoy being here, my mind constantly wandering to Brock, my chest filled with a gnawing ache. As much as I tried to distract myself, the knowledge that Brock’s life was about to change any minute now consumed me. I still had no real idea what that meant for us. It was hard to imagine how things could ever work between us once his son arrived, but I couldn’t fathom a world without Brock.
I hadn’t heard from him in two days, and my imagination was going wild. Had his son been born? Was the baby okay? Did something happen with the birth? Would Nina pull a fast one and change her mind about raising their son? Would Brock somehow develop feelings for Nina again after he witnessed her giving birth?
It was odd for him not to check in, so I assumed something had happened.
Francesca interrupted my thoughts. “Everything okay?”
She was about ten years younger than her husband—tall, with long black hair and thick, manicured brows. Giovanni hadn’t joined us, since he had a business meeting. He’d said he wanted me to spend my first full day getting to know his wife. Her question made me realize how transparent my mood was.