Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 40311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
But I do the best I can. And besides, day care wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t like the workers were mean or anything, but sometimes I just felt incredibly guilty leaving Ryan at that place. There were so many kids tumbling and crawling everywhere. How could my sweet boy get the attention he needed?
But unfortunately, it wasn’t a choice. I had to put food on the table. I had to put a roof over our heads. That was our fate in life. So Ryan went to day care, and I went to work at a local pet store nearby. Frankly, I was lucky to get this job because when they asked for references, I’d stumbled.
“Oh sorry,” was my mumble. “I don’t have any.”
The eagle-eyed woman looked me up and down.
“No references?” she asked sharply.
“No ma’am,” was my mumble. “Sorry about that again.”
But the woman sighed dramatically and then scribbled something.
“Well, you’re lucky we’re short on help,” she grunted. “We need someone so bad that I’m going to overlook this. Can you start tomorrow?”
Actually, I couldn’t. I was new to the town, a pregnant girl just starting to show. But I nodded, swallowing.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be here nine sharp tomorrow morning.”
And that was that. So here I am at Doggies R Us, working as a sales associate once more. But it’s a dead end job this time. There’s no way I can go to school while holding down a full time position and raising a child. So those dreams of being a veterinarian? On hold for now. Maybe even forever, frankly.
But it’s okay. Because the reason I’m doing this is for my baby. Ryan’s the light of my life, a little boy with dark hair and a cherubic expression. He looks just like a miniature version of his father, down to the dimple in his right cheek.
Oh god.
Evan.
I haven’t seen the billionaire in two years. What is he up to? What is he doing? Probably CEO of Lincoln Conglomerate by now, ruling it with an iron fist. I wouldn’t be surprised if Evan ousted his dad, taking one hundred percent control as soon as possible.
He’s an asshole, full stop.
Once I was no longer needed, the diamond was off the table. I got glass, not the real thing.
So why do I miss him?
Why do I miss someone who’s ruthless and cold, using me like a puppet?
But it didn’t matter. That was old history now. It was time to move on. So here I was with my son, playing with the bunnies and trying hard not to think about the past. I’m definitely not thinking about the man who spurted heavenly jizz between my thighs, making me scream with ecstasy.
I’m not thinking about the man who could make me laugh at the drop of a hat.
The man with a devilish sense of humor, amusement gleaming in those eyes.
I sniffled and ruffled the bunny’s fur, the pink nose twitching inquisitively.
“Goo-ga!” Ryan gurgled happily, small hands flailing this way and that. One of the rabbits hopped onto Ryan’s leg, making my baby squeal again with glee. His big blue eyes sparkled, just like his dad’s.
But that was wishful thinking.
No, worse than that.
It was stupid thinking.
Because my love hadn’t been enough for Evan and me. Passion has to go two ways, and mine wasn’t enough to sustain the relationship. It takes two, that was the long and the short of it.
But at least now I had this amazing baby, this little boy who was my life. And for Ryan, I’d do it all over again.
“Yes, I would, my sweet boy,” came my soft murmur.
Tears plopped from my eyes and dropped onto the fur of one of rabbits hopping around.
Oh god! No matter how much I wanted to be a stronger person, sometimes I’d start bawling for no reason. The tears would begin to fall at the most inopportune times, in front of customers or even worse, in front of my boss.
At least I’d been able to excuse myself each time, blaming allergies.
But now in the darkened pet store, the tears fell unchecked. A pair of bunnies hopped over and stared up at me with innocent faces and unknowing eyes, whiskers trembling.
“Mama?” Ryan patted clumsily at my wet cheek. “Mama?” His eyes were bright blue and full of love and caring, reminding me of his father all over again.
It just made me cry harder, my heart shattering.
God, when would this end?
It’d been two years and I was still a mess.
I had to get myself together.
Suddenly, there was a banging at the door.
What in the world? Looking around, I wiped furiously at my cheeks. It was dark outside. Any sane person could see the store was closed and locked up. Who could be out there so late?
Ryan cooed again and then rolled to his knees, heading for one of the bunnies. I scooped the baby up, wriggling and chubby in my arms.