Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
“What?” I say, shocked. “How in the hell did he hear?” My eyes go to my mother, who has the most confused look on her face, so I know it definitely wasn’t her.
“Manning told Nico. Nico told Matthew, and Matthew is Matthew,” Evan relays. “He’s like a billboard in the middle of Times Square.” I chuckle, because he’s not wrong. “Do you know how that conversation went?” I don’t answer him. “He gloated. I hate when he gloats.”
“He didn’t gloat,” Zara quickly defends him. “He called to say congratulations to him on becoming a great-uncle.”
“Same thing,” he grumbles. “Anyway, is it true?”
“You still haven’t told me what he told you.” I fuck with him and even Zara knows what I’m doing.
“Are you and Jaxon Stevenson having a baby together?” he questions between clenched teeth.
“Oh, that?” I sing out. “That’s true.”
Zara laughs now. “We are so excited for you, it’s a blessing.”
“When are you guys getting married?” he asks me and my mouth hangs open when I look at my mother.
“Oh God,” my mother gasps, “hang up on him.”
“We are moving in together,” I fill him in. “Then we are going to have a baby together and see maybe. I don’t know. We haven’t gotten that far just yet.”
“You haven’t gotten that far yet,” he mocks me. “You’re having his baby, I think that is as far as one can get, don’t you think?”
“Did Zoey get married to Nash without even kissing him?” I turn the tables back on him.
“She was saving herself for him.” He quickly laughs, making us all laugh. “Anyway, I’ll be in LA in two weeks and I want to see you. Both of you.”
“I shall mark you on the calendar,” I say happily.
“She fucks up by not calling her uncle and she’s still a smart-ass,” he grumbles to Zara.
“I’m sorry. I should have called you, but between telling my parents and then coming back to New York to pack up things, I’ve been a bit busy.”
“Don’t mind him,” my aunt says, “he’s a sourpuss. We can’t wait to see you.”
“Thank you. Let me know when you’ll be in town.”
“We will,” my aunt replies before they disconnect.
I pull up my text thread to Jaxon.
Me: My uncle just called to congratulate us. I guess the word is out.
I see the three dot bubbles come up and then see his answer.
Himeros: Thanks for the heads-up.
I look down at the text thread and something feels totally off. Especially after reading that reply.
Me: Are you okay?
Himeros: Yeah, I’m fine, just got off the ice. Talk to you later.
He didn’t even ask if I’m done packing or when I’m coming back home, like he has been for the last two days.
Me: Okay.
That’s all I answer him before I put the phone down and look over at my mother, who is watching me.
“Everything okay?” she asks me and I smile because the last thing I want is for her to worry.
“Yeah, just tired.” I swallow down the lump in my throat and then look over at the boxes against the wall. “It’s one thing to pack up all your shit”—I take a deep breath in—“and then another when I have to unpack it when it gets there.”
“But that’s more fun,” my mother says. “You get to decorate and make things yours.”
“I guess,” I agree, getting up. “They are picking everything up Monday morning.” I look around. “I’ll get everything by Friday at the latest.”
“Do you want to pack up your clothes now or tomorrow?” she asks and I look around.
“My body says no, but then I’m thinking if we get this all done now, we can do nothing but rest tomorrow.”
“Okay.” She gets up. “How about you sit on the bed and tell me what you want to pack in the boxes and what you want to put in the luggage.”
We work side by side most of the night, and I collapse in bed. When I wake up, I see Jaxon texted me when he got home.
Himeros: I’m off to bed but have to be at the airport by eight to fly to Pittsburg. I’ll call you from there.
I don’t bother answering him, because I don’t know what to say. It’s been four days since I’ve seen him and he’s being so distant. The only thing I can think of is that he’s having second thoughts. I don’t know what else could have come up from the time we left my parents’ house to the time he went home. Maybe being there without me was an eye-opener that he didn't want to live with me . The thought makes me feel like I’m going to throw up, and I wish I could talk to him about it. But then what if it’s just all in my head?
The movers come and collect the things Monday morning and leave me alone in my apartment with the five suitcases I packed with my clothes. My mother went back home yesterday evening, leaving me all by myself.