Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“I’m going to go get cleaned up. I’ll be right back.” She turns and walks to the bathroom, and I let out a breath, looking up at the ceiling in my room.
I walk over to the bed, tossing the throw pillows onto the floor before sliding into my side of the bed as she comes out of the bathroom.
“Are you okay?” I ask as she slides into bed beside me. I reach for her, pulling her to me as she lays her head on the pillow beside me.
“I’m good,” she confirms. “What about you?”
“I’m good.” I nod at her. “More than good.”
“Oh, yeah?” She wraps her arms around my neck. “That’s good to know.”
“Do you have to do homework tomorrow?” I ask, knowing she’s almost done with school.
“Yeah.” She sighs. “I’m almost done, and I’m counting down the days.”
“So what are you doing when you are done with school?” I watch her face light up.
“Hopefully, I can work for Charlie in the field, helping people. He was thinking of opening up a new branch, and he might need extra hands.”
“The new branch is not here.” My heart speeds up. “It’s like two hours away.”
“I know, I’m hoping he’ll have a place on his roster here. But if I have to work there first and then transfer back here, I’ll do that.”
“Then what?” I don’t even know what that question means.
“Then I guess I do what the storybooks say I should do, get married and have children.” She laughs as the pit of my stomach feels like it’s burning. I knew she would want children, fuck, it’s only normal. It’s what everyone wants. Everyone but me. “I don’t want to do it right away,” she keeps talking, “but eventually, I think it’s the best gift you could give the person you love.”
“What is?”
“A child.” She smiles. “A little piece of each of you created in this little person made with love.” She smiles again. “It’s the best gift you can give, I think,” she mumbles and I’m not sure I can say anything. Thinking about her words, knowing I love her, knowing I’ve been in love with her for sure for the last two years. Knowing if there was anyone in this world I would want to share my life with, it would be her. Knowing she is the only one I would make these promises for. Knowing she is only makes it that much harder.
No matter how much I want to give her these things, I know one thing. I can’t.
“I’m beat.” I turn to the side and shut off the lights, taking her back into my arms. “Night, baby,” I say, not wanting to say another word. Not wanting to hear what else she wants out of her life because I know I’m so in love with her I’m willing to make those promises even though I know I can’t do it.
She puts her head on my chest, her arm around my waist as she snuggles up to me. She falls asleep way before me. Her breathing finally puts me to sleep.
The doorbell rings the following morning as soon as we walk out of the bedroom. My hair is wet from the shower, as Lilah heads to the kitchen to make coffee and pretend she wasn’t in the shower with me. I disarm the alarm and open the door, seeing Lucy there. “Hi,” she mumbles, and I can see it will be another long day for her.
“They slept two hours,” Brock mumbles. “I don’t know how they do it.”
I laugh. “Remember when you were younger and would fuck around all night long and then go to work the next day?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t remember that.”
“I do,” I reply, grabbing her bag from him. “Thanks for having her over. My turn next time.”
“Yeah, that’s what you said last time,” he mutters, turning and walking back to his truck.
I walk back inside and catch Lucy on the couch, with a smiling Lilah behind the counter. “How tired are you?” I ask as Lilah hands me my coffee mug. She mumbles something. “So you can’t ride Rosy?”
She springs up. “I think I need to shower, and then I’ll be okay,” she declares, getting off the couch and heading to her room, leaving Lilah and me laughing.
“Lilah has to do homework, so we are going to have to get out of the house today,” I explain to her retreating back. “That should get her moving.” I look over at Lilah.
“You don’t have to leave for that,” she says. “I could go to the office and work.”
“Nah,” I refute, grabbing things to make for breakfast. “I have work to do, and she can help.”
We eat breakfast, and when I walk out of the house, I head straight to the barn, shocked when I see Charlie.