Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
A weight slams down over my shoulders, crippling me. A nursery. Spare room. Custody arrangements. Holy fuck. This shit is getting real. Not only am I this child’s father, but I’m going to have to care for him, be responsible for his health and wellbeing, and make sure he grows into a respectable, strong young man.
Fear pounds through my chest, but the moment Bri reaches across and takes my hand, it seems to settle. “You’ve got this, Tanner,” she tells me. “I’ll be right there the whole time. I lean, you lean.”
They’re the magic fucking words, and just like that, I feel as though I could face down the whole damn world. “Okay,” I tell them both. “First thing in the morning, we make this happen.”
Chapter 27
BRIELLE
Sitting in the waiting room and waiting for Jax to wake from his surgery is going to be what kills me. We’ve been here for five hours already, and I’ve never been so hungry. The only issue is the thought of actually eating right now makes me want to throw up.
Jax came out of surgery an hour ago, and it was a major success. The second he could, Logan took off to go and sit by his side. But since the moment the doctor came out and told us he was in recovery, it’s been crickets. Logan’s phone died hours ago, so we haven’t even been able to get a text from him, just letting us know the idiot is still breathing.
The waiting room has transformed into our living room. Hudson sits across the room with Addison laying across three chairs, her head on Hudson’s lap and her body curled into a ball, trying to fit. I’ve never seen anybody look so uncomfortable in my life, yet somehow she’s fast asleep. I could never. If there’s no bed beneath me, there’s no chance in hell I’ll be able to sleep. Well, I suppose that’s not entirely true because I have no issue sleeping with Tanner beneath me.
Riley and Arizona sit on the floor, slumped against the wall, and it’s moments like this I’m really proud of the giant asshole. Arizona hasn’t spoken a word all night apart from telling us to leave her alone, but Riley wouldn’t take no for an answer. He just sat down beside her and played a movie on his phone, holding it at an angle she could watch without having to admit defeat. That movie ended hours ago and now they’re just sitting there in silence, but at least she has company.
That just leaves Ilaria and Chanel who’ve all but emptied out the vending machine. They sit opposite Hudson and Addie, both looking sick from how much junk food they’ve consumed, but I can’t blame them. We all handle stress in different ways, and for those two, the deliciousness of a chocolate bar and soda is what does the trick. I just wish I could do the same. I’ve sat in the same seat for so long my ass hurts.
I’m just about to get up and go interrogate the nurses for information when Arizona hastily gets to her feet, gaping at her phone. “Shit, I have to go,” she mutters to no one in particular.
Tanner straightens beside me. “Everything alright?”
She shrugs her shoulders, her attention focused on her phone. “Yeah,” she finally says with a breath of relief. “My dog just set off the security alarm at home, but Mom and Dad are out of town for some big work event, so I have to disable it before the neighbors assume there’s an escaped prisoner making his way through our street.”
Tanner laughs and stands. “Do you want me to give you a ride?” he questions, always the gentleman of the group, concerned about her being out in the middle of the night alone.
“Is that okay?” she questions. “I don’t want to keep you from being with Jax.”
“It’s fine,” Tanner says standing before glancing back at me. “I’ll be back in ten.” And not a moment later, they’re out the door.
Without Tanner right beside me acting as a distraction, my numb ass becomes too much to bear. As I get up to stretch, Riley’s phone chimes with an incoming message. His brows furrow as he checks it out, but when the words, “Aww, fuck no,” fly from his lips, he has my full attention.
Hudson chokes back a laugh before Riley can even get his next words out. “Who the fuck messaged Zoe?” he demands, glaring daggers at Hudson.
His hands fly up in a show of innocence. “Don’t look at me, bro. I had nothing to do with it,” he says, though the grin on his face would suggest otherwise. “It was Jax’s idea. Just be happy Tanner stole your phone before he could send some bullshit line about wanting to fuck her on the floor.”