Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Me:
There are perks?
Laiken:
A few. Trying not to raise expectations.
Me:
Color me intrigued.
A second message comes through.
Laiken:
See you around four.
I pocket the phone as warmth spreads through me in a way I’m not ready to unpack.
The drive to the bakery doesn’t take long. The moment I step inside Lakeshore Sweets, I’m met with laughter layered over the clink of dishes. It feels alive in a way that has nothing to do with noise and everything to do with belonging.
For one dangerous second, I let myself believe that maybe things really will be okay. That my decision to leave school and keep this baby was the right one to make.
Lilah is the first to spot me, and she waves from the back table. Sloane is already halfway through a cookie when I slide into the chair beside her.
“Sorry,” she says around a mouthful. “We had to start without you.”
Callie grins. “Congratulations on your new job! We heard you’re officially working for Laiken.”
“Thanks, I started yesterday.”
“Elody’s adorable,” Rina says. “There’s nothing like seeing a big, intimidating man turn into a total softie for his kid. It’ll melt your heart every time.”
“She’s a real sweetheart,” I say honestly.
Lilah shakes her head. “I still don’t understand how any mother could walk away from her child.” Her hand drifts to her stomach. “Now that I’m pregnant, it’s totally unfathomable. This baby isn’t even born yet and already, I feel so connected.”
It’s tempting to pepper them with questions. Instead, I keep quiet and just listen.
Rina exhales. “From what I understand, his ex was more interested in pursuing her art and didn’t want to be a mom. Or a wife. She left a little more than a year ago.”
The table falls quiet as everyone digests that bit of information.
Or maybe it’s just me.
After a few beats, Callie breaks the silence. “One thing is for sure, that man is an amazing father.”
Everyone nods in agreement as my thoughts drift to this morning and the way Laiken moved through the kitchen with calm, practiced patience. There was an effortless rhythm that spoke to countless mornings just like it.
Rina tilts her head. “I thought the nanny position at Laiken’s was a nine to five kind of thing. When did it turn into an around the clock gig?”
I stare at her for a moment before blurting, “Um… after I came back to Oliver’s last night.”
She pauses mid-sip, brows knitting together. “You came back?”
Heat creeps up my neck. “Yeah. You two were… kind of busy.”
Lilah leans forward, eyes lighting up with interest. “Oh? Busy how?”
Sloane smirks. “More importantly—where were they getting busy?”
Rina groans, color flooding her cheeks as realization dawns. “The living room. Oh my God.” She stares at me in horror. “You walked in on that?”
Sloane snorts, slapping her palm against the table. “The Big O strikes again.”
Despite myself, a laugh slips free.
“I am so sorry,” Rina mutters, dropping her face into her hands. “It won’t happen again. I’ll make sure of it. Please don’t move to Laiken’s just to get away from us.”
“I’m not. Honestly, I think it’ll be good.” I hesitate before adding, “Plus, you two probably need some space.”
Sloane’s grin turns wicked. “Understatement of the year.”
The conversation drifts after that. There’s lots of teasing and laughter. I cradle my mug between my palms, letting the heat seep into my fingers, simply content to enjoy the moment.
When my phone buzzes, I pull it from my pocket, hoping there’s not a problem with Elody. My mood crashes as soon as the unknown number flashes across the screen.
Unknown number:
I know what your end game is. You’re insane if you think I’m going to let some baby mama bleed me dry after I hit the NHL next year. Show me proof it’s gone, or I’ll make sure you regret this decision.
The world narrows to the message until it blurs on the screen. My fingers tighten around the mug as fear creeps in. The fact he assumes I’m scheming hurts. That my worth begins and ends with what I can take from him.
How was I so wrong about this guy?
Without replying, I delete the text and slide my phone back into my pocket.
Around me, the bakery is alive with laughter, easy chatter, and the steady flow of customers. Only now do I realize that whatever peace I thought running away would bring me, it was never going to be that easy.
16
Laiken
By the time I make it up from the parking garage, my shoulders feel like they’re carrying an extra twenty pounds. Practice was good; hard in a way that usually clears my head. But that never quite happened today. Knox nearly killed us both on the way home, and Oliver’s comments have been looping through my brain the entire day.
As soon as the elevator doors slide open, the first thing that hits me is the aroma.