Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
The plane jolted again as Shawn held me there against the wall, his face buried in the crook of my neck, his breath fanning over me. Not until the plane rattled again did he pull out and set me on my feet. The unsettling part was he didn’t look at me. He busied himself, gathering his discarded clothes, so I did the same. Though I noticed his bandage looked wet with blood.
“We should redo your bandage,” I said. It was a peace offering, as much as I still cared for him.
Not until he was done did he glance at me while he probed that area. “It’s fine. We should go strap in,” he said as the plane rolled slightly from turbulence.
At a loss for words, I nodded and followed him out of the bedroom, past the sofa into the main area with three rows of seats. Considering his mood, I sat in my original seat on the second row of single seats on the left side. He sat across from me, and I dared a glance and watched him put on his seat belt. Before he finished, I put on my own. When I chanced another look, hoping for an opening to discuss what was going on between us, his eyes were closed.
He hadn’t been sleeping enough. I decided to let it go for now. Shortly after, Grant spoke on comms and said that we’d passed the bad patch of air. I got up and Shawn didn’t stir. I sighed and went to do what I originally set out to do. However, before I showered, I peed on the stick. In fifteen minutes or less, I would have answers.
Time slowed as my tears mingled with the stream of water. Like it or not, I was falling for a guy who’d told me he wanted to walk away from me. I gave myself the time to mourn the loss of a potential relationship. Though I vowed to be over it before I got answers to my current problem.
When I had them, freshly dressed in clean clothes, I sat in my seat, eyes closed, wondering how I should feel. I had no idea I’d fallen asleep until Shawn gently roused me awake with a nudge. Startled, I automatically wiped my mouth, grateful to find no drool.
There was no humor on his face, and I jerked my gaze away from his. I unbuckled. By the time I stood up, Shawn was in conversation with Grant. I gathered my bag and walked toward the open door. Their conversation finished when I neared. Shawn exited, and I gave Grant a polite “thanks.” Though he smiled, it felt sympathetic, as if he could feel the tension between Shawn and me.
As I descended, I realized I had no idea where I was. It was the first question I asked when I got into the awaiting car after following Shawn through a maze of turns until we exited to a parking lot. The car was once again fancy but not showy. It was a black Nissan Maxima with high-end features.
“We’re in New York,” he answered.
I wasn’t sure what to think about that, as I had more pressing issues. “Are you not going to ask?” He glanced from the rearview mirror, which he didn’t need since the display monitor gave him a view of the back. “About me?” I added.
His eye flicked back to the road. “I figured you would tell me when you were ready.”
So he’d known I’d gotten up from my seat but had said nothing. Annoyed, I said, “We are going to be parents—”
Anything else I might have said was cut off by a call he received. “Yeah,” he said into the phone.
Jealousy rose like a specter when I heard a female voice on the other end. I glanced out the window, not wanting to embarrass myself. I had no claim on this man. Hadn’t I learned my lesson on the plane? I guessed not because I was lost in a sea of misery as I wondered who the woman was to him.
“Yeah. I’ll be there,” he said ominously before ending the call. He ran a hand over his head and looked visibly upset.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
He appeared to take a breath before answering. “My mom was in the hospital. They believe she had a stroke. I have to go and see her if you don’t mind.”
I couldn’t imagine getting that news. “Of course.”
Everything I put off talking to him about until now was pushed back further. I didn’t think talking about life when his mother had a brush with death was appropriate. That conversation could wait a little longer. Instead, when he placed his right hand down, I covered it with mine, curling my thumb around to his palm. I gave his hand a little squeeze, and he squeezed back.