Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
In the quiet that follows, with his body loose under my hand and his control stripped away, I realize this moment isn’t just about his surrender.
It’s about mine too.
When his eyes finally open, they’re darker than before, and yet, somehow softer. “Holy shit. That was intense.”
The air between us shifts. Not just from what we did but how it felt. Something deeper settles in, something I’m not sure I’m ready for.
He catches my wrist before I can pull away, his fingers wrapping gently around it. Then he slowly lifts my hand and presses a kiss to the inside, right over my pulse. It’s unbearably tender. And, somehow, it unravels me more than anything else.
“I hope you realize that wasn’t just about getting off,” he says, gaze fastened to mine. “It meant something.”
The crazy part is that I feel it too.
But the words refuse to come.
They sit in the back of my throat, too tangled in fear to push forward. I don’t know how to say them without risking everything.
Instead, I force a small smile. It’s weak and doesn’t quite reach my eyes.
“You should probably clean up.” I’m already pulling back the covers, needing to put some space between us. My feet hit the floor, and I cross the room on shaky legs, heart thudding so loud it drowns out everything but the sound of my own fear.
Because he’s right.
It did mean something.
24
River
An hour later, Callie’s halfway through zipping Nora into her jacket when her phone rings. Her expression shifts as she answers. Neutral at first before tightening with concern. Whatever is being said on the other end isn’t what she wants to hear, and her posture tenses. Her free hand rises to her temple, pressing lightly, as if it’ll be enough to hold the stress at bay.
“No, it’s totally fine,” she murmurs. “Get some rest, okay? I hope you feel better.”
With a sigh, she ends the call. It’s the kind of sigh that sounds like the weight of the world just landed on her shoulders.
“What’s going on?” I ask, already bracing for what she’s about to say.
Her brow furrows as she meets my eyes. “My mom’s sick. The flu, apparently. And my dad’s not feeling great either. So, no babysitting today.”
I nod slowly, already thinking through our options. “Sounds like what we need is a plan B.”
“Yeah.” Her hand sweeps down Nora’s arm before squeezing her smaller fingers. “I have a neighbor who’s watched her before, but she also babysits a couple of other kids. Nora always ends up sick after spending time there.”
The way her voice dips at the end tells me everything I need to know about the situation. She’s dreading the idea and already talking herself out of it.
“How about I watch her?” I offer.
Callie blinks before refocusing her attention on me. “What?”
“She can stay with me,” I repeat. “The team has the day off. The two of us can hang here while you’re at the bakery.”
She stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “For the whole day? That’s like, eight hours.”
I shrug. “Sure. We’ll build a pillow fort, watch a few shows, maybe make a mess. Right, ladybug?”
Nora perks up like she understood every word. “Rivvy!”
I grin and scoop her into my arms. “See? She’s in. Problem solved.”
Callie hesitates as an internal debate plays out in real time across her face. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“If something comes up, or she gets fussy, or it’s more than you can handle—”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Her eyes plead with mine. “Just promise you’ll call me. Please?”
I step closer, adjusting Nora in my arms until I can meet Callie’s eyes. “I promise. If anything comes up, you’ll be the first one I call.”
She wavers for another beat, brushing a kiss against Nora’s curls. “You probably don’t realize it, but she can be a handful.”
I catch her fingers before she pulls away, giving them a quick squeeze. “Nora will be fine. And so will you. Go to work. I’ve got this.”
Callie studies me like she’s trying to decide whether she can trust me. Just when I think she’ll balk, she gives a small nod before heading toward the elevator.
The moment she disappears around the corner, I turn to Nora, who’s still snuggled against my chest. “All right, ladybug. What should we do first?”
Ten minutes later, she’s settled in her highchair, and it’s a total shitshow. She’s eating strawberry yogurt like it’s a competitive sport. There’s more on her cheeks, hands, and on the tray than in her mouth. I’m pretty sure some made it into her hair, and I’m starting to rethink my breakfast choice. Unless I plan on giving her a full-on bath, I’m not sure how I’m going to clean her up.
My phone buzzes just as I’m wiping a blob of yogurt off Nora’s forehead. I glance at the screen and see that it’s my sister before swiping to answer.