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)
He picks them up off the floor but doesn’t hand them to me. He leans down and puts my feet into the legs of my underwear. As he helps me get my shorts to my ankles, he answers me. “Yes, we are friends.”
“I’m pregnant.”
He leans forward and kisses my belly. My heart does a somersault in my chest at the same time he says, “I know you’re pregnant.”
Holding my breath, I tell him, “With another man’s baby.”
He helps me stand up and then pulls my underwear and shorts up my hips. “SHE is our baby, Ally. Nothing you can say is going to convince me otherwise.”
I shake my head, feeling overwhelmed. “Austin…”
He takes a step toward me, and our faces are mere inches apart. I suck in a breath, wondering if he’s going to kiss me. All I’d have to do is lean in just a little, and our lips could touch. He’s staring at my mouth. “You said it yourself, baby. You said the donor doesn’t want a relationship with the baby.”
I nod because I’ve already come to terms with all this. I want to laugh because that’s what Austin has called the father since I’ve told him about the baby. He’s called him the donor. “I know, but that doesn’t mean—”
He cuts me off, “You and our baby are mine. The sooner you get on board with this, the sooner we can get on with our lives.”
He doesn’t realize how long I’ve waited to hear this from him. For years, I’ve wished there was something more than friendship between us, but I wasn’t holding out hope. He never gave me any indication that he felt anything more for me. No one can blame me for wondering if this is just a pity thing on his part. “Austin,” I start, but I stop when a high-pitched car alarm goes off outside. I’m about to step around Austin when he stops me with his hands to my shoulders. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I try to move around him, but he stops me. “Austin, I’m sure that’s probably your car alarm. I’m going to go—”
He blocks my path. “You’re going to sit right here. Listen to me, I can’t be worrying about you and the baby. Stay here. Call Huddy; he lives the closest. I’ll be right back.”
He turns to go, and I know he must doubt that I’ll listen because he turns back to me. “Stay here. Think about the baby.”
I put a protective hand over my belly and nod my head, even though letting him go out into the dark is the last thing I want to do. He locks the door before he shuts it behind him. As soon as he’s gone, I jump into action.
I grab my phone and dial Huddy. “Someone’s breaking into Austin’s car, and he went out into the dark by himself. He told me to call you.”
“Where? Where are you?”
Shit. Right, that information would be helpful. “My house.”
“I’m on my way. Stay inside, Ally.”
As soon as he gives me the order, I hear the phone click. I put down the phone and am staring outside. Even with the floodlights, it’s hard to see what’s happening. Until I see them at the corner of the driveway. I count the number of people, and when I get to three and know Austin is outnumbered, I know I can’t just stay in here and watch.
Opening my closet by the front door, I grab the baseball bat and then tiptoe out the back door. I get around the corner, and sure enough, there are two of them against Austin. One is holding him as the other one is punching him. I don’t think twice. I pull the bat back and then swing it as hard as I can at the guy hitting Austin. I hit him in the back, and he goes sprawling across the gravel with a groan.
The guy holding Austin lets go of him and comes for me. I run around to the other side of Austin’s car. The man is following me, but right when he reaches for me, he’s pulled backward as Austin bellows, “Don’t fuckin’ touch her.”
They fight, and the sound of fists pounding into flesh has me feeling queasy. I can’t see anything from where I’m standing, but I’m too scared to move. When the hitting stops, I can’t stand it any longer. “Austin. Austin, please tell me you’re okay.”
He comes around the car, bent over, holding his ribs. I rush over to him. “Austin, oh my God, are you okay?”
His voice is strangled. “I told you to stay inside.”
Filled with worry and indignation, I tell him, “I wasn’t going to stay inside and let them kill you.”
He pulls me against his chest. “If anything happened to you, I might as well be dead.”