Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
For the life of me, I couldn’t shake it.
Maybe because I was now convinced there were cameras, or maybe I just had a sixth sense for these sorts of things. Or it could have been as simple as I was starting to lose my goddamn mind. I hadn’t slept all night, thinking solely about the Pierces. The image of their father breaking down in front of my eyes was a vision I couldn’t forget.
The more I looked around his house, the more I saw her, the more I felt her, the more she presented herself to me.
His wife.
Bailey. Beauty. Mrs. Pierce.
I didn’t know a damn thing about her, but she was everywhere. From the floor to the ceilings, in every crevice of every room, in every inch of the open space, in every way, shape, or form. This was her home.
Her sanctuary.
Her place of peace.
Her safe haven.
Where I suddenly felt unwelcomed. An intruder, a woman who wasn’t supposed to be raising her kids. The more I looked around her home, the worse I felt. It was a continuous, unforgiving impression in the pit of my stomach, as if I had done something wrong and it was about to catch up with me. The confusion and unanswered questions pegged me as I moved through the house, picking up after the boys like I did every morning.
Except, this time…
When I walked into Journey’s room to make sure she was still sleeping, Jackson was holding her in his arms in the rocking chair. This was the first time I’d ever seen him hold her, let alone look down at her with so much love and adoration.
I smiled. “You’re a natural, Jackson. You’re going to make a great daddy one day.”
His eyes flew to mine, declaring, “I don’t want kids.”
“You say that now but you’re so young. You have a full life ahead of you.”
“I wouldn’t talk about things you don’t know, Camila,” he snapped in a harsh tone.
My hands surrendered in the air. I learned early on I needed to pick and choose my battles with Jackson, and this was one I’d let slide for another time. I didn’t want to ruin this moment between us. Journey looked so happy in his arms, pulling at her brother’s shirt, holding onto him tight. She didn’t want to let go.
It was a beautiful sight, one that had momentarily replaced the uncertainty in my mind.
Now that I had his attention, I addressed the elephant in the room, “Thank you for covering for me yesterday. I really appreciate it. You didn’t have to do that for me.”
“I didn’t do it for you, Mary Poppins, I did it for Journey.”
I nodded. “Well, maybe you also did it because you’re starting to accept me?” Rocking on my heels, I added, “You know, maybe even like me?” I waited on pins and needles for his response. “A little, not a lot. Definitely more than you like Harley,” I teased, hoping it would tear down some of his walls. Even if it was only for a second.
“You’re right, I hate Harley.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Do you, though?” I was treading on thin ice, at this point I didn’t have anything to lose but everything to gain when it came to him and our dynamic.
“What are you trying to say, Camila?”
“Nothing, just an observation.”
“Ah, so the same girly bs she tells me all the time.”
“Which is?”
“I’m mean to her because I like her.”
I shrugged, smirking. “Do you?”
“Fuc—”
I glared at him.
“F-u-c-k no.”
I laughed, I couldn’t help it. This little shit was such a smartass.
“You girls watch way too many Disney movies.”
“Says the guy who has a few in his room.”
It was his turn to glare at me.
I once again put my hands up in the air in a surrendering gesture. “What? I didn’t put them there.”
“Neither did I.”
I didn’t have to ask to know what he was implying. “I can move them if you want.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, searching for something in my gaze before snipping, “Yeah, whatever. Did you find my dad?” he questioned, changing the subject to another discussion I didn’t want to have.
“Kind of.”
“Was he working?”
“You could say that.”
“His precious hospital is all that matters to him anymore.”
“I don’t think that’s true at all.”
“How do you know? Did you talk to him?” There was no denying the hopefulness in his voice, breaking my heart a little more.
“I could just tell.”
“How?”
“I could see it in his eyes. He misses you as much as you miss him.”
“I don’t miss him.”
“Jackson…”
“I don’t. I don’t need him. To hell with him.” There was so much pain in his words, making my heart bleed for him.
“You don’t mean that. You’re just angry. Trust me, I know what that feels like.”
“You think you know everything, don’t you, Mary Poppins?”
“I know I’ve become your punching bag, and I don’t care what you tell yourself, I know you don’t hate me. But if it makes you feel better to take stabs at me, then so be it. Hit me again, Jackson, because maybe there’ll come a day when you can see me as your friend and not your enemy. I’m actually a pretty cool person. If you gave me half a chance, you’d see I’m not a threat to you. To anyone for that matter. I’m not here to replace anybody, I just want to help you.”