Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“Where does Mommy put her letters from the postman?” I ask.
Owen frowns as he thinks for a moment. “On the side table in the drawer.”
“Why don’t you head out the back yard and I will meet you there?” I ask.
“Okay.” He runs out the back door and I go to the side table and pull out the drawer to flick through the mail. Fuck, I need a rental receipt. I keep flicking… Nothing.
I go over to the counter where there’s a basket of letters and things. I flick through those, but still there’s nothing. Shit. I glance around and see a folder on top of the kitchen top cupboards. I pull it down and bingo. Bills all put into a paid and non-paid sections. I flick through until I find a rental one. I take it out and stuff it my pocket.
“Dad?” A little husky voice calls from outside.
I stop and frown as a myriad of emotions run over me.
One word has never sounded more frightening; yet more wonderful at the same time.
Shit just got real.
Ashley
I sit and read to Gloria in my lunchbreak.
It’s Monday and the weekend went surprisingly well.
Owen was happy when I returned home on Saturday and Cameron seemed to survive it.
They made an arrangement to see each other again on Wednesday. Apparently Cameron is taking the afternoon off work.
Wonders never cease.
Today, at work, we have been amicable, too. Maybe we can do this co-parenting thing. He’s gone to his office now and then he’s in office all day Tuesday, so I won’t see him again until then.
A little voice inside of me wishes he was coming to see me, but I know that’s not going to happen now. It is what it is.
Dr. Anderson pops his head around the corner. “Ashley, if you have a minute, could I see you when you’re finished, please?”
I smile and nod, shit. Dr. Anderson is Cameron’s cute doctor friend. They constantly talk and laugh together, and I know they have a friendship outside of work.
He must have told him.
“Gloria, we might need to leave it there today, honey.” I smile.
“Okay, dear. Thank you. That was wonderful. Will you be back tomorrow?”
I smile. Give her an inch and she will take a mile. I take her hand in mine. “Of course.” I walk out into the corridor to where Dr. Anderson is waiting in the hallway. With his handsome good looks, I can imagine he’s also dating half the nurses in this place. “Just come in here, Ashley,” he says as he ushers me into an office.
I frown. “What’s this about?” I turn to face him.
He smiles sexily. “Now forgive me for being blunt, and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way...”
My face falls. He’s going to give me a lecture about Cameron.
“I’m Seb.” He holds out his hand to shake mine and I smile and shake his hand.
“Seb?” I ask.
“Sebastian.”
I smile. “Nice to formally meet you, Sebastian.” I widen my eyes in jest. “I’m Ashley.”
“I know who you are.” He smiles sexily.
I frown. Okay, this is weird. “How can I help you, Seb?”
“Would you like to go out Saturday night?”
What? God, that was the most unexpected thing I have heard in forever.
“Go out?” I frown.
“Yes. On a date… with me?”
I scratch my head awkwardly. “I’m away this weekend. I’m sorry. I can’t,” I lie.
Jesus… just say no.
He smiles and nods. “Okay.”
He holds my eyes with his. He is very cute. “Some other time?” I smile.
“Sure,” he replies. “I hope I haven’t overstepped the mark by asking?”
“Not at all.” I smile. Quite the opposite. He’s just given me a much needed confidence boost.
“So…” He hesitates. “I guess I’ll wait for you to ask me out next time.” He smiles.
I chuckle. “Okay. You do that.”
“Because I wouldn’t want to seem pushy and all.” He smirks.
“Good.” I nod.
“But, just so you know, I am an excellent dancer,” he adds.
His cheeky smile rubs off on me and I find myself beaming like an idiot. “That’s good to know.”
“And I know the all best restaurants.”
I smirk.
“And I’m free every night,” he adds cheekily.
I shake my head. “Goodbye, Seb.” I grin as I leave the office.
“Call me,” he shouts in a fake girl’s voice as I leave the office and laugh out loud.
That just made my day.
I pull into the parking lot just before 5pm on Wednesday night. I’m here to pay our rent and pick up a few groceries for lunches tomorrow. My phone rings. It’s Jenna.
“Hi, babe.” I smile as I answer.
“Oh… My… Fucking… God,” She stammers in a whisper.
“What?” I frown.
“Cameron turned up this afternoon with a brand new black SUV Audi, fitted with a car seat in the back seat.”
“What?” I shake my head. “You’re joking?”
“Nope. He told Owen he bought it so they could go to his house sometimes.”
“Shit,” I whisper as I try to cross the road in the busy traffic.