Total pages in book: 7
Estimated words: 6694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 33(@200wpm)___ 27(@250wpm)___ 22(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 6694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 33(@200wpm)___ 27(@250wpm)___ 22(@300wpm)
“I’m gonna breed you again, Karlee. There’s no stopping this seed.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” I chant. At this point, he’d probably be able to get me to do anything.
“Good girl,” he groans.
He pulls out of me, and I miss him already. We move to lay on my pillows, and I pull the covers over us. I honestly never thought this would happen again. I take a deep breath and pinch my thigh just to make sure I’m not dreaming again.
“Stay with me?” I ask, fearful he’ll leave.
“I’m never leaving again. Trust me.” He kisses the side of my head, and I feel whole again.
“I’m so sorry about everything, really. I was so wrong not to tell you. I could not have survived much longer without you. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Don’t worry about it, baby. Things happen for a reason, right?”
“Right,” I reply, smiling into the darkness.
I don’t know when I fell asleep, but the sun is already up when I wake up. I can’t remember a time when Frankie let me sleep late, definitely not since she first started sleeping through the night. I climb out of bed and head into the bathroom. My hair looks like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket. I run a brush through it, but it still looks awful, so I throw it up in a bun. I pull on some pajamas and head out into the kitchen. I smell bacon, and my stomach rumbles in anticipation. I round the corner and find my dad sitting with Frankie at the tiny kitchen table while Garrett stands at the stove.
“When did you learn how to cook?” I ask, remembering that he once set the HomeEc room on fire making cookies.
“Took a class about three years ago. Pizza and Ramen got old real fast,” he says, chuckling. “Still like your eggs scrambled with cheese?”
“Yep. Can I help with anything?” I ask, pulling a mug down. I need coffee to function usually. Even though I am feeling peppy, I pour it and doctor it up.
‘Nah. Have a seat. It’s coming right up,” he says, going back to the stove.
“Morning, Pop,” I say, kissing my dad on the cheek. Then I take my Frankie in my arms and spin around with her kissing her cheeks. I’m so happy right now; I could burst.
“Morning, princess.” I like that he still calls me that. It’s been him and me for so long. I’ve tried to encourage him to date, but he says he’s content. I don’t believe him for a second. Lately, he’s been going out around midnight or so, and it screams booty call, but I haven’t said anything to him about it; I’m sure he’ll tell me in his own time.
“Pop just got home,” Frankie says.
“Oh, did he now?” I ask, raising my eyebrows at him.
“Shut it. Garrett tells me he’s opening an accounting office in town. That’s gonna be a big hit.”
“Really?” I ask, looking in Garrett’s direction.
“Yeah. In the old Ulin building on Main,” he replies without looking up from plating the food.
“Well, that’s right in the middle of everything,
“It’s the perfect spot,” Garrett says.
“That’ll be nice.”
“It’s also close to home,” he says.
“Home?”
“I bought the Denton place. It needs some TLC, but it’ll be a good place to raise our family. Speaking of,” he says as he sets plates down in front of Frankie and Dad. “I bought this ring years ago. I was going to ask you to marry me that night, but I never got the chance. You already said yes, but this makes it official.” He pulls a box out of his pocket, opens it, and presents it to me. Inside is a gorgeous diamond solitaire in a platinum setting.
“G, it’s beautiful,” I say, tears already filling my eyes. He pulls the ring from the box and slides it on my finger.
He was right. Second chances are rare, and I won’t fuck up this time.
EPILOGUE
Garrett
THREE MONTHS LATER
She’s lucky I gave her some time. I wanted to marry her the day after I proposed, but she wanted everything to be perfect. I wait at the altar for her, but she’s running late. It’s hot as hell out here. She wanted to get married in the state park at a cabin they use for this purpose. Who was I to deny her?
My mother assures me that weddings rarely start on time, but I’m getting impatient. Frankie is with my mom, sitting nicely in a pretty pale pink dress with a massive bow on the back. She and I have become inseparable; I even bring her to work with me. She plays with toys on the floor while I meet with clients. It’s adorable, and I love spending as much time with her as possible. I wasn’t kidding when I said I needed to make up for all the time we lost.