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)
My eyes tear up. “He’s four.”
Fury fills his face. “You had a fucking child after we were together?”
I nod.
He throws his wineglass at the wall and it smashes everywhere.
“Cameron, calm down,” I whisper through tears. I’ve never seen anyone so furious.
He storms toward the door.
“Cameron, wait!” I cry.
“I don’t do kids, Ashley. How could you not tell me this?”
“This doesn’t change anything between us...”
He stops on the spot and screws his face up, as if I’m an idiot. “This changes every fucking thing.” He grabs his coat and rushes out the front door, slamming it behind him.
The tears run down my face in shock.
“Cameron,” I whisper in the silence. “Come back.”
18
Purpose is a funny thing. Last week I spent my time with a man and it felt like it was exactly what I was supposed to be doing—as if fate had stepped in and taken care of everything for me.
Yet this week, I will be spending my time with a little man who is the reason I am here.
He’s my purpose.
He’s my world. The make believe world I had up until yesterday was just a smoke screen, an optical illusion of happiness.
Cameron doesn’t even know who I really am.
Last week I arranged to take the day off work today. Now I sit in the crowded arrival lounge at LAX airport, deep in thought. I’m an hour early. I couldn’t sit still at home. Cameron didn’t come back last night and he didn’t answer his phone when I called him after a few hours, either.
The more I think about it, the angrier I become. He has no right to judge me the way he did.
He had no fucking right to smash a wine glass in anger because he wasn’t getting his way.
Distraught, disappointed, and unable to go to sleep in the coldest bed of all, I stayed up and cleaned my house from top to bottom in celebration for my two favorite people arriving home today.
My people.
My real people.
“Coffee for Ashley,” the girl calls.
I smile and step forward as I take my coffee, and then I go and sit near the window and stare out over the runway.
I need to talk to him. There’s so much to say. I take out my phone and stare at it for a moment. I’m not playing games. I was in the wrong and I know it. I should have told him, but I didn’t expect to fall in love, or that he would return my feelings. I didn’t know
the connection we had would escalate at the rate it did. We were together for a total of ten days, for Heaven’s sake. Every day I knew I had to tell him and every day I chickened out.
I deserve this.
I click on his name and hit call. It rings and then goes to voicemail. I close my eyes, knowing he rejected the call.
I leave a message anyway. “Cameron, it’s me.” I pause for a moment as I look around. “I need to talk to you, Cam. I need to explain a few things.” My eyes tear up. “Call me back… please,” I push out over the lump in my throat. “Can you come over tonight after work?” I glance around and then realize where I am and swipe my tears away angrily. “See you later, I hope.” I hang up. I blow out a deflated breath.
I did it. I just hope he comes over tonight before I have to see him at work tomorrow.
“Mommy!” Owen calls as he runs and jumps into my arms. I laugh as he nearly knocks me off my feet, and I squeeze him tight.
“Oh, baby. I missed you so much,” I whisper as I start to kiss him all over his face and hold him close.
I feel myself instantly relax and I know I’m going to be alright… because the only man that matters in my life is Owen.
I stand and grab Jenna in an embrace. “Oh, I’ve missed you, Jen.” I smile through tears.
She stands back and cups my face as she studies me. “Are you okay?” she asks.
I smile through my tears. “I will be.”
She frowns.
I take Owen’s bag from him and sling it over my shoulder. “We got a lot to talk about, kiddo.” I smile as I take his hand. “Let’s go get your suitcase.”
It’s 3pm and I lick my ice cream as I walk down the street holding hands with Owen. I’ve just dropped off Natasha’s dress at the drycleaners she told me she uses. I may as well get that out of the way.
Owen and I are eating our way through the city this afternoon, and I can’t stop smiling.
He’s home. My little man is home.
“Ashley?” I hear a woman’s voice call.
I turn and see Margaret, Cameron’s mother standing behind me.
Fuck.
My face drops. “Oh, hello, Margaret.”