Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
She pushed a piece of my hair back. “Do you have feelings for him, Lily? Other than friendship?”
“Would it matter? He’s going to be a father, and he’s marrying Abby.”
“I think all of your feelings matter.”
Shaking my head, I quickly stopped. “Ow. My head hurts.”
My father and Maverick appeared at the door. When I looked up and met Maverick’s gaze, I swore a look of anger crossed his face. Was he mad at me for some reason?
As soon as the look appeared, it was replaced by concern. “Are you hurt anywhere?” he and my father both asked at the same time.
Letting out a small laugh, I replied, “Only my pride.”
Dad walked over and sat down on the opposite side of the bed from my mother. Taking my other hand, he asked, “What does that mean?
I closed my eyes and sighed. “I feel like an idiot, that’s all.”
Mom squeezed my hand. “Don’t say that.”
“What happened?” Dad asked.
I looked at my mother, and she nodded. “Ben told Lily he’s marrying Abby because she’s pregnant.”
I peeked back over at my father, and I saw the moment he realized. “You had feelings for him other than friendship.”
With a one-shoulder shrug, I looked over at Maverick when I answered, “I thought maybe I did…but I’ve come to realize I don’t.”
Maverick cleared his throat. “I’ll go wait for Dr. Waters.”
I called out after him, “Thank you so much, Maverick.”
“Yes,” Dad added. “And thank you for thinking so quickly and calling the doctor.”
He twisted the cowboy hat in his hands and gave a soft smile, then a nod, before he turned and walked away.
“Does Ben know how you feel about him?”
“That’s the thing I was telling Mom. I don’t have feelings for him anymore. Maybe I never did, and it was just a crush. We’ve been friends for so many years, and I was comfortable with him, and…I guess in my mind, I thought we’d just end up together. I don’t know. I’m not sad about him getting married. I do feel sad about losing his friendship, though.”
Squeezing my hand, my father placed his finger on my chin and lifted it. “It’s good that you realized you don’t have feelings for him, though, right?”
Nodding, I replied, “It is. But now I know she’ll never let me see him, probably won’t even let me talk to him. Doubt I’ll be invited to the wedding. We’ve been best friends since we were toddlers.”
She gave a soft smile. “Have you explained to him how you feel?”
I shook my head. “I’ve tried, but he’s made it clear he’ll choose Abby over our friendship. And if they’re getting married, I think he should.”
A knock sounded on the doorframe, and I glanced over to see Maverick was back.
“Sorry. Ben won’t leave because he says he really needs to see you. I think he still suspects you’re sick.”
I rolled my eyes, then laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Mom asked.
“When Ben asked me if I was sick, Maverick mumbled ‘stupid bastard’ under his breath.”
Both of my parents chuckled.
“You can have him come up. I know how he is, and he really won’t leave unless he hears from me that I’m fine.”
“Your head? Do you feel dizzy or sick?” Dad asked.
“It hurts, but I’m okay. Just a headache, I promise. No dizziness and I don’t feel sick.”
I looked at Maverick, who wore a stern expression. “You can let him up,” I repeated.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes…and Maverick? Thank you again. For calling the doc and, well…for picking me up and carrying me.”
He winked. “Of course.”
I smiled at him and something in his gaze shifted. A shiver went through my body, and I rubbed my arms to warm up.
Clearing his throat, Maverick said, “I’ll go get Ben.”
“We’ll leave you alone, but I’ll be right outside your room,” my father said. “If he upsets you, he’ll have to leave.”
“He won’t. But we do need to finish our conversation.”
Mom nodded right as Ben walked in. She and Dad left, leaving the door cracked open less than an inch as Ben walked over to the bed. I felt my cheeks heat.
“What in the hell happened? Are you okay? I nearly punched Maverick for not letting me come talk to you.”
“It wasn’t his fault. I didn’t want to talk to you.”
“Why?” he asked, clearly upset.
I closed my eyes and counted to five before I opened them and caught his gaze. “Ben, when you told me you’re marrying Abby, and she’s going to have your baby, I…well, I don’t know what happened. It was like you pushed a knife into my chest.”
He sat down on the bed. “Lily, I know I haven’t been the best friend to you lately. But I’ve already explained it’s because Abby is jealous. I’ve tried telling her over and over that there’s nothing between us, we’re just friends, but…well…I don’t know. I just know I love her, and now we’re going to be having a baby together. Don’t make me choose.”