Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
But burying your head in the sand won’t help.
To her surprise, he led her to a small room that didn’t have any furniture in it. Was this meant to be an office? But there was a wardrobe that was far cozier than the one in her room. She sighed in satisfaction as she followed him in.
He had switched on the light and she glanced around. It was a simple wardrobe with hanging space on two walls.
Settling into a corner, she rested her back against the wall. Shoot. She hadn’t thought about how uncomfortable this was going to be on her poor body. She shifted around, letting out a noise of discomfort.
He held up a hand to her in a clear gesture to stay before putting down Treasure Island and the photo. She set the pregnancy book down as well. Then she watched him walk out as she hugged her gargoyle tight.
Where was he going?
She didn’t want to be alone.
Come back!
29
Indie should have realized he wouldn’t leave her. When he returned, he held a pile of pillows and cushions from her bed. As well as blankets and a nightlight that he plugged in.
Then he settled the pillows behind and around her until she was cocooned. Lastly, he placed blankets over her.
Immediately, she felt safer. As though she could breathe.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Rock always knew how to take care of her. She just wished that she still trusted him not to hurt her.
After turning off the main light, he sat beside her. The nightlight he’d brought with him cast a soft glow in the room.
Perfect.
She wasn’t surprised that he was staying although she did feel bad about how uncomfortable he must be.
“Do you want a pillow? Blanket?” she asked.
He shook his head.
They just sat in silence, but it wasn’t awkward or weird. As her body relaxed, she found herself sucking on her thumb again, her eyes drooping.
“Make up to you?” The words were faint, raspy.
“Hmm?” she asked, startled by his question.
He held up his phone to her. He must have had it in his pocket. He’d written a note to her which she quickly read.
How can I make it up to you? What I did?
“Oh,” she said.
I fucked up. Never forgive me.
He glanced away and she could see that his hands were clenched into fists.
“I’ve already forgiven you guys,” she told him, hating how upset he was. “I don’t . . . I’m not angry or upset at you any longer.”
“No.” He tapped her chest and she was confused.
He tapped a message, showing it to her.
I’ll never forgive myself for not standing by you. For not trusting you. You might forgive me, but I don’t. Can barely look at you without feeling sick and angry with guilt.
Oh.
“That’s why you haven’t been looking at me?”
He nodded.
From now on, taking care of you is my number one job. To protect you from the world. You and the baby.
“Button,” she told him. “I call the baby Button.”
“Button,” he repeated, placing his hand over her belly once more.
Then to her shock, she felt it. A flutter. At first it kind of felt like just bubbles. Butterflies. And she thought it was in reaction to his touch.
But then she realized it was something else entirely.
“Did you feel that?” she squealed. “I think that was the baby moving! I’ve never felt anything before. But the baby moved! Did you feel it?”
He nodded slowly.
To her horror, tears dripped down her face.
Urgh. She hated being such an emotional mess.
“Sorry, sorry,” she muttered as he wiped away her tears.
“Shh,” he murmured.
“I just . . . I was getting worried. I know I had a scan in the hospital but it’s just . . . I hadn’t felt anything. I’m sorry. I’m a bit of a mess.”
He held a finger across her lips and she glanced up to find him frowning down at her.
All right, so he didn’t like her calling herself a mess.
He typed something out.
The baby is just fine. And so are you. You’re not a mess. Remember the respect rule? That applies to respecting yourself as well.
“You know about the rules?”
Of course. I also know that you’re doing an amazing job of taking care of Button.
“I could have lost her or him. Every day for the last few months has felt like a battle, you know? To get up. To keep moving only to get nowhere. And then Billy found me and I thought he was going to hurt Button. I thought I’d failed my baby.” Somehow, it was easier to talk to him like this.
To her surprise, Rock gently picked her up and placed her on his lap, tucking the blanket around her.
Instead of protesting, she buried her face into his chest and burst into sobs, tears wetting his shirt.
He simply held her. One hand rested on the back of her neck, the other rubbed her belly with slow circles.