Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
My mouth drops. “You don’t even want the baby.”
He shrugs. “I do now.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “And what changed your mind? How much have you had to drink anyway?”
He’s not offended. He takes a big gulp, finishing off the beer that Megan had just set down. “The baby is going to be mine, Alison. Maybe I should bring you some papers to sign.”
I fix him with a lethal look. Taking a deep breath, I struggle to get out of my seat. Once I’m standing, I don’t worry about how loud my voice is. “You are not getting my baby.”
He just laughs, and the sound goes all through me.
I turn on my heel and walk out of the Whistler. I get in my car and drive around the block, pulling into a back alley. I wish I was home. Hell, I wish I’d stayed at home. I bang my fists on the steering wheel, and when that doesn’t make me feel any better, I lay my head on it and let the tears fall. I can’t lose my baby. I already love her so much, I can’t imagine letting anyone have her. Heck, I can’t even imagine sharing custody of her with someone and having to give up some of my time with her.
I try to stop the tears, but no matter what I try to tell myself, they don’t stop. I reach for my purse, and after minutes of trying to find my phone, I grab it up and toss the contents on the passenger seat.
I open the phone and do the one thing I should have done when Gregory called me earlier. Taking a deep breath, I dial Austin’s number, and when he answers, just hearing his voice causes the tears to flow harder. “Austin… I need you.”
Chapter 22
Austin
“I’m on my way home.”
I’m already running from the plant. Any and every bad thing that could have possibly happened goes through my head, but the only thing that matters is that I get to Ally. “Ally, honey, please calm down,” I plead with her even though I'm anything but calm.
When she takes a deep breath, I continue to try and soothe her. “Ally, baby, take a breath and try to calm down. I’m coming home. You just need to—”
“I’m not at home.”
I was about to pull out of the parking lot toward our home, but instead, I slam on the brakes and hold in a curse because I have no idea where she is. “Ally, baby, where are you?”
She sobs. “I’m in the alley… behind the Whistler.”
I don’t ask any questions even though I want to. “Okay, baby. Good, good, you’re close. I’ll be there in five minutes, but I need you to calm down and take a few deep breaths, okay?”
“Okay,” she says with a sigh.
“Should I have Brandon meet us at the hospital?”
“No!” she says. “No, I’m fine. I’m okay… I just need you.”
I run through a red light, and when I’m only two blocks away, I tell her, “Okay, baby. I’m almost there, okay?”
“Okay.”
Fuck, I slam my hand onto the steering wheel, wanting to hear something from her besides okay.
I turn the corner and hit the brakes. She’s parked in the middle of the alley. I slam my SUV into park and bolt out the door, sprinting to her car. As I’m approaching, I see her head is lying on the steering wheel. “I’m opening the door, baby. I’m here,” I tell her, because I don’t want to startle her.
I pocket my phone, and she lifts her head as I open her door. When I see her, two things happen. I feel sick and utterly relieved in the same breath. I squat down until I’m beside her and cup her face in my hands. “Ally, baby, talk to me.”
She nods. “I will, but can you take me home, please? I just want to go home.”
I reach into her car and put one hand at her back and one under her legs. She doesn’t resist me when I lift her out. Kicking her door shut, I carry her back to my SUV. When I get her in, I lean in and pull the seatbelt across her lower belly. “Ally, let me call Dr. Reynolds. Let’s make sure you and the baby are okay.”
She leans her head back on the chair. “I’m fine, please, Austin. I’ll tell you everything, I just want to go home.”
I kiss her forehead and then shut her door. My thoughts are everywhere, but I rush around to the driver’s side and get in. Neither one of us talks the whole way home. I pull into the garage and help her inside.
She sits on the couch, and I help her by sitting on the coffee table and bringing her foot up in my lap. I remove one shoe and then the other.