Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
There’s no time to question him. Having overslept, I’m running late for an appointment with Nicole. While I dress, Livy plays with Claire in the upstairs television room that I’m turning into a playroom. After making a quick smoothie, I drink my liquid breakfast while breastfeeding Claire. Then I leave her with Livy and make it to Manhattan in record time.
“Sorry I’m late,” I say when I’m getting comfortable on the examination chair in Nicole’s consultation room.
“It’s five minutes.” She fits surgical gloves. “Don’t sweat about it. I’m going to do a pelvic exam to check the health of your uterus and cervix, exactly like last time. Take a deep breath and relax your muscles.”
I do as she’s instructed, doing my best to relax even though it’s not easy when I’m still raw from wild sex and every touch is uncomfortable.
“How are things at home?” she asks, her face scrunched up in concentration as she pushes a flat hand on my abdomen.
“Fine.”
“Are you still working crazy hours?”
I smile. “Same as you.”
She scoffs. “We should do a ladies’ night sometime soon again. It was fun, minus the hangover the next day.”
That makes me laugh.
She straightens and discards the gloves. “Everything looks fine. I’m going to do an ultrasound to get an exact read on the measurements, and then we’re done.”
“Do you want to come over for a barbecue this weekend?” I ask while she washes her hands at the basin before fitting a new pair of gloves.
She returns to squeeze a dollop of gel on my stomach. “Would love to.” Her smile is teasing. “Does Sav know he’s invited?”
“Saverio is slowly but surely coming around. He’s back at After Dark.”
“I heard.” She drags a transducer over my abdomen while studying the monitor. “You’re good for him. He’s different around you. You definitely have a positive influence.”
I chew my lip, considering that.
She stills. “You know that, right? The two of you were made for each other.”
“Yet he keeps on telling me he doesn’t love me.”
She puts away the probe and hands me a few paper towels. “Then why are you still with him?”
Accepting the stash, I wipe my stomach clean. “Because his actions say otherwise.”
“That’s good then. Actions are what matter. If he doesn’t treat you right, I’ll be the first to tell you to dump his grumpy, sexy ass. But I’ve known him for five years now, and I’ve seen how he was before.”
She takes a deep breath. “When I first met you, I questioned his motives for being with you. I knew how badly he wanted a child, and let’s just say I thought his agenda for dating you weren’t all that clearcut.”
“You’re right.” Admitting it hurts, but I try not to show it. “Saverio has always been with me for the wrong reasons.”
“Look, Anya, I’m going to say this straight out because I don’t like to mince my words. He’s never obsessed about anything like he’s obsessing over you. The way he behaves with you is about more than simply getting Claire in the package deal. He’s sweet with you, and that man doesn’t do sweet. He’s much more agreeable in general. He actually makes an effort to get along with people, and that says a lot because Sav never makes an effort for anyone unless it serves his own agenda.”
“That’s exactly what he told me. He said he only takes care of me and Claire for selfish reasons.”
“The way he takes care of you goes beyond selfish. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sacrificed his life to save you.”
“Yeah.” I pull down the hospital gown, discard the sheet covering my legs, and sit up. “That was my argument too.”
She pats my shoulder. “Give it time. Both of you have just been through a rough patch, and that’s putting it lightly.”
My smile is half-hearted. “Thanks.”
She turns serious. “Don’t give up on him. Sav is loyal to the people he cares about, and there aren’t many. I thought he’d lose his mind when Rachele left him, but I’m afraid it’ll truly be the end of him if you walk away.”
My shoulders heave with the sigh I blow out. “I’m not going anywhere. No matter what he says, I’m staying.”
“You won’t be sorry. Sav will do his best to make you happy. That’s just who he is.”
I nod even though a bruise settles in my chest. He may never tell me the words I want to hear, but he doesn’t need to say that he loves me to make me happy. A part of him still belongs to Rachele. I understand that. I can live with that. I can love enough for both of us. I have to. We’re in this now, and the only way I’ll survive—both physically and emotionally—is if we stick together.
Nicole puts up a bright smile. “As far as your exam goes, you’re as good as new. Your period is right on time too, twelve weeks after the birth to be exact, which is around the earlier date for moms who breastfeed exclusively. It may be a bit irregular at first, but your cycle should settle into your normal pattern soon. Are you considering a contraceptive yet?”