Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“I’ll give you two some privacy.”
“Wow. Thanks, Mr. Blake.”
“Lettie,” I scold as he walks out, ignoring her snarky comment. “That wasn’t necessary.”
“Neither was hiding that you’re sleeping with your boyfriend’s dad from me—”
“Shh! Can you keep it down? Mom can come back any time.”
“Georgie, what the hell are you doing? I mean… really?”
I sigh, trying to get comfortable. “It’s not what you think.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure it is. I know you and Noah had problems, but how can you do that to him?”
“We broke up at the beginning of summer. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.”
She throws her hands up. “Well, too late for that! Instead, we get a call that you’ve been run over and to get here now to most likely say my goodbyes. Not how I expected to take my first flight, by the way!” She raises her voice, shocking me. “And when you finally wake up, I find you playing kissy face with a man—an attractive, hot, super built man—but what the fuck!”
“Lettie!”
“WHAT!”
“I’m in love with him.” She stares at me, then bursts into laughter. “What’s so funny?” I ask, frustrated.
“What you said. Oh… wait. You’re serious? Shit… wow… shit.” She scratches the top of her head, bewildered. “And how exactly is that gonna work?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I don’t know how it can—”
“And the whole age gap thing. I mean, it’s hot. I read this book once—super hot trope. But yeah, Mom’s going to have a heart attack. You might want to wait to confess this one—”
“Confess what?”
“I’m pregnant!” Lettie shouts.
“Hush it. You’ve never even had a boyfriend,” Mom says, reentering the room.
“Gee, thanks, Mom. You have heard the story of Mary and—”
“You’ve never had a boyfriend?” I straighten at Noah’s return.
“None of your business. I’ve had plenty.” My mom rolls her eyes while Lettie puffs out her chest. I shake my head. “Everyone. Can I have a moment with Noah?”
“Sure thing, sis.” She winks at me, sending Noah a cold glare, and leads my mom out the door.
The silence is suddenly deafening, and I don’t know where to start or what to say. “Noah—”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“But I have to say it. What I did. It wasn’t fair to you.”
“Fair? How about it was fucked up? He’s my dad. Twice your age. What, did you think you would sleep with him and the two of you would run off together? You don’t know him. He’s a cheating piece of shit. He takes what he wants without caring who he hurts in the process—”
“That’s not true—”
“Jesus, Georgia, open your eyes. You’re just another toy to him. Where do you think I got all my issues from? He’s why I am who I am.”
“I’ve always tried with you.” Noah’s head snaps to his father in the doorway, and I wonder how long he’s been there and how much he heard.
“Please, you can feed her your bullshit, but it’s not gonna work on me.”
“Noah, I love you.”
“Yeah, so you sleep with my girlfriend. Great show of affection.”
“You two were broken up. I would have never crossed the line if—”
“But you did! You always fucking do! Why her, Dad? Why did you have to take the one good thing I had in my life?”
Tears stream down my face.
“I never meant to hurt you, son.”
Jackson steps toward him, his hand outstretched, but Noah slaps it away. “Stay away from me,” Noah snaps. “You’ve done nothing but hurt me—hurt Mom.” His furious gaze shifts to me. “I wish I never brought you home,” he spits, and my heart shatters. “Our fate was already sealed, but at least I could have kept you safe from him.”
“Noah,” I call as he runs out. Jackson moves to go after him but finds my mom, who witnessed the whole thing.
She walks in, taking the empty chair next to my bed. She’s quiet for a moment, then says, “So… you think your sister’s really pregnant?”
“You don’t have to do that. I know you heard everything.”
Her shoulders rise and fall. “Do what? Just making small talk. I don’t get to do that much anymore. I miss it.” I adjust myself as best I can and take a good look at her. She’s too skinny. And her skin is ashen. It doesn’t take a genius to put the pieces together.
“Are you—is something wrong? I feel like there is, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t tell me.”
She pats my hand, wearing her mom smile as if she’s about to tell me the world’s gonna end but in a sweet mom way that makes it all okay. “Just spit it out, Mom. I know you.”
“Baby, I have cancer.”
Chapter thirty-two
Georgia
Three weeks later…
“I’d think you’d be happier today since you’re finally getting released. Are you going to miss the hospital food?” Doctor Phillips steps up to my bedside, and I force a smile. Jackson is on a call by the window but rushes off as soon as he sees the doctor.