Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
I can feel tears stinging my eyes and I blink them away quickly. Stupid hormones. “He’s made it pretty clear it’s not what he wants,” I say with a nonchalant shrug of my shoulders.
“What do you want?” Hartford asks.
“I want love, passion, excitement. I want what you guys have.”
It’s the first time I’ve said anything like that out loud and I’m surprised I revealed it to his family. I just feel like they truly care and it makes talking to them easy.
“Have you told him you want those things?” Anya asks.
“Maybe the next time you guys have sex you should mention it,” Emmie says, absentmindedly, biting into a chocolate Anya made.
“Emmie,” I shout.
“What?” Anya and Hartford yell in unison, their eyes widening.
“You and Shepherd are having sex?” Anya nearly shouts in my ear.
Emmie is looking at me with wide eyes, mouthing ‘sorry’ like that helps. I’m so embarrassed, I don’t even know what to say.
I clear my throat and keep my focus on the table in front of me. “It’s just him helping with all the hormones taking over my body. It’s nothing really. Just one person helping another,” I whisper.
I rest my hand on my bump and sigh.
“Have you guys talked about a relationship?” Anya asks.
“He’s made it clear where he stands.” I’m suddenly exhausted and ready to get out of here. “Today has been amazing, I can’t thank you all enough, but I’m exhausted.”
No one pushes me to say more. They understand my escape is needed and after a lot of hugs and exchanging numbers, I leave.
Once I’m home, I take a quick shower and lie down on the couch. Just as sleep is about to pull me under I jump up and hold my stomach.
“Ouch,” I cry out as a fierce stab of pain causes me to keel over.
Something is wrong.
Chapter 22
Shepherd
“We’ve got your baby shower all planned out,” Anya says as I make my way back to the brewery.
“Oh yeah?” I ask, rubbing the back of my neck. Part of me wanted to be here when Felicity and the girls discussed the baby shower, but I honestly think the only reason I really wanted to be present was because of Felicity.
I miss her when she’s not around. Does that make me a pussy?
I don’t even care at this point. I really fucking miss her, and I know she wants no part of a relationship with me, but I can’t help how I feel about her.
Every day the feeling intensifies. And the more sex we have, the more I find myself caring about her. About the baby she’s carrying.
About everything.
“Am I allowed to be there?” I ask, not really sure about the etiquette of baby showers.
Anya smiles wide. “Of course. Also, can you please explain to me why you two are not a couple yet?”
I shrug, scrubbing a hand down my face. “She doesn’t want it.”
“Really?” Anya asks, parking a hand on her hip. “Because she says the same thing about you. That you don’t want it.”
I think about what Anya’s telling me, wondering if there’s just some big miscommunication thing happening between Felicity and me. “What do I do?” I ask my younger sister.
She smiles wide. “You tell her how you feel, silly.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“That’s because it is. She obviously has feelings for you. So, there’s got to be something standing in her way.”
I nod. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I have to check on the floor,” I say, leaving Anya’s office to check on the main restaurant, otherwise known as the floor.
I head to the front host stand, looking at how many reservations we have for the upcoming evening, and make sure everyone’s shown up to work.
Before I’ve even had time to assess anything, Callum walks up to me.
“Everything’s looking good.”
I nod. “Yeah, not much on the books tonight. Should be a nice and easy night.”
Callum smiles. “Are you going to kick off early? Maybe go spend time with Felicity?”
I think about what Anya said. About having a serious talk with Felicity about my feelings. “I might…” my words are cut off by the ping of an incoming message on my phone. I pull it out of my pocket and glance at the message from Felicity.
Felicity: I’m at the hospital. Something felt off, and I had some cramps.
On my way.
“I gotta go. Felicity’s in the ER, something’s up with the baby.”
Callum’s eyes widen, the urgency in his words are frantic. “Go. Keep us updated,” he says in a rush.
I don’t give the brewery another thought as I rush through the place like it’s on fire, my heart pounding in my chest. I head out back, making my way to my truck in the lot. I hightail it out of the parking lot, heading toward Magnolia Ridge General, my mind a complete mess of worry and fear for Felicity and the baby.