Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“Why today? Why is it so important for you to do this now?”
“’Cuz everyone is together, and they’re happy.” She shrugged, shaking her head. “It’s my daddy’s favorite day of the week. His Sunday MC barbeque with his entire family. I’m home, remember? It will be easier to break his heart by tellin’ him, not only I’m not a virgin, but I’m also havin’ a baby out of wedlock. He’s gonna kill me, Jackson. At least this way there’s family around to protect me from his wrath.”
“Exactly, Gremlin. The fuck you think he’s gonna do to me?”
“Jackson, you—”
I grit my teeth. “Don’t fuckin’ try me, Harley.”
“Listen, you stubborn asshole. In a few days I go back to startin’ my junior year in Tennessee. It gives him some time to cool off. Gives me the relief I need to figure things out. How I’m gonna be a single mom.”
“Again, Harley, I’m standing right fuckin’ here.”
“You say that now, but you have your whole future ahead of you. What about the NFL? Huh? What about your career? Your dreams? Everythin’ you worked so hard for? You’re gonna give it all up for me?”
I should have said yes. I should have told her everything I felt in my heart and soul.
How much I loved her.
How much I always loved her.
Except I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
I just wasn’t made that way.
Instead, I simply stated, “No. It’s for the baby. Our baby.”
She winced. It was quick, but I saw it. My reply hurt her...
Yeah, it fuckin’ hurt me too.
“I can’t let you do that.”
“You have no say in the matter. The Panthers want me, Harley. I can sign with them. It will keep me home here in North Carolina for the both of you.”
“Holy shit! You already thought this through? Jackson, you ain’t playin’ fair.”
“I’m not playing at all.”
“So what? We’re just going to pretend we’re one big happy family?”
“I could think of worse things than being married to me.”
“Married to you?!” she blurted, shocked as shit I just said that.
I wasn’t.
I knew what I wanted, and nothing was going to stop me. Not even her.
“Now we’re gettin’ married?”
“It will be easier for the baby that way. Medical insurance, my salary, a stable home life with two parents who love him or her.”
“Whoa, Rudolph, I don’t wanna marry you. I don’t even really like you right now.”
“You say we’re family all the time. Here’s our chance to make it official.”
“Do you hear yourself? You sound insane.”
“Harley, I’ve seen what you call fashion. Your online store isn’t going to provide for you, let alone a baby. My starting salary is five million dollars. If we are married, you’re entitled to it all if something happens to me.”
She frowned, conscious of what I was referring to. However, in Harley Jameson style she came back with a vengeance. Stating, “I only get half after I divorce you for the quarterback on your rival team.”
I chuckled, fuckin’ brat.
“I can do this on my own.”
“I don’t want you to. For fuck sake, what more do you want me to say?” I asked, feeling frustrated beyond belief which was never a good thing. “What do you need to hear, huh? You want me to tell you I love you? Is that what you’re waiting for?”
She scoffed out a breath, “Why would I want you to lie to me?”
I held my chin higher, resisting the urge to tell her exactly what I just snapped.
I’m a fuckin’ idiot.
“Baby girl, we’ve been through a lot together. I don’t have to tell you what you mean to me. You know.”
“What I do know is I don’t want you involved. Back the fuck off, Jackson. Walk away. Do you understand me?”
“I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can. It’s easy, just watch me.”
I jerked back, feeling her response in the depths of my core.
With that I let her go, wanting to fuckin’ kill someone.
Myself.
This was all my fault.
I watched her walk out the door into the living room, far away from me for what felt like the hundredth time. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but each occurrence felt as though it was the first time all over again.
My eyes couldn’t move fast enough, intently surveying the room full of our loved ones. Waiting on daggers for what would happen next...
What would she say?
How would she say it?
Where would we go from here?
Question after question echoed through my mind, one right after the other. There was no way around this, it was happening with or without my consent.
“Hey! Can I have everyone’s attention?!” Harley shouted, tugging me away from my rapid thoughts.
Everyone crowded around her, anxious to hear what she had to say. Once all eyes were on her, the little shit didn’t waver.
As if it were nothing, she revealed, “I’m pregnant.”
No one made a sound.
You could hear a pin drop, it was that quiet.