Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“What the hell are you doing here?”
I looked up at Nate in surprise and saw that his eyes were focused on something farther down the hall. I followed his line of vision and spotted a woman knocking on his door. She looked about my age. Dark ponytail. Blunt bangs. Jeans, boots, a light brown sweater.
“Who is that?” I asked, although in my gut I already knew.
Nate didn’t answer, but he strode forward with huge, angry steps, carrying the car seat with one hand. I hurried to catch up.
“Now you decide to knock?” he demanded.
“Paisley!” After catching sight of the baby, the woman crouched down with her hands on her knees, smiling widely as Nate approached. “My baby girl! Mommy’s missed you so much.” She sniffed, her eyes tearing up.
“If you missed her so much, why haven’t you called for two weeks?” Nate kept the car seat handle in his grip and angled away from Rachel, who moved around him trying to see her daughter.
“Because I needed the time alone to work on myself. I was in an intensive therapy program. And I wanted you to have time to get to know her.”
By then, I’d caught up to them and probably should have gone inside my apartment to give them some privacy, but I felt rooted to the spot.
“What kind of program?” Nate demanded. “Are you an addict?”
“No!” She looked appalled, but softened her voice. “I have postpartum depression, Nate. I couldn’t sleep or eat or find the energy to do anything. All I did was cry and feel like my life was over, and all my doctor did was prescribe sleeping pills, which didn’t help. Now I’m finally getting real treatment. I have new medication that’s actually working, and I’m going to therapy.”
Hearing her story, I actually felt sorry for her, but Nate wouldn’t bend. “We said one month. It’s only been two weeks.”
“Please, Nate, can’t I just see her?” Rachel asked tearfully. She was pretty, with high cheekbones, a dimple in her chin, and straight white teeth. Self-consciously, I poked at my slightly crooked bottom teeth with the tip of my tongue. Dammit, why hadn’t I worn my retainer more often?
“That’s all you want? To see her?”
“Well, can’t I hold her a little? I’ve missed her so much. You have no idea.”
“You have no idea what it did to me learning I had a two-month-old baby. You should have told me.”
She held up both hands in surrender. “You’re right. I should have told you. Like I said in my note, I’d totally planned to give her up for adoption, but—”
“Without even asking me!” Nate yelled. “That was fucking not okay!”
“I know,” Rachel said, weeping openly. “I’m sorry, Nate. I wasn’t thinking straight. And we barely knew each other. I didn’t plan on any of this.”
“Me either.” He glared at her. “You can come in for a few minutes and hold her, but then you have to leave.”
“Um, I think I’ll head home,” I said quietly. “Nate, I’ll see you later.”
“No, Emme.” Nate made eye contact with me for what felt like the first time in hours. “You don’t have to go home. We have plans tonight, and we’re not canceling them.” He gave Rachel one last angry look before opening the door to his apartment.
I was torn between wanting to stay out of their business and fearing I’d miss something dramatic if I left. Also, and this is so stupid I’m ashamed I even thought it, I was kind of jealous. This beautiful, sad woman had a baby with Nate. He’d slept with her. He’d obviously found her attractive last year. What if she tried to seduce him or something? As soon as I had the thought, I felt guilty about it. I trusted Nate. But I still followed them into his apartment.
Nate set the car seat on the floor, and Rachel dropped her purse and hurried over to it. Kneeling down, she unstrapped her daughter and lifted her out, snuggling her close. Paisley woke up and started to fuss.
“She needs to be changed.” Nate stood aside, arms folded across his chest, feet planted wide.
“I’ll do it.” Rachel stood up and looked around his apartment. “Wow, you’ve got a lot of baby stuff. Did you buy all this in the last two weeks?”
“No, I’ve always decorated my apartment this way.” Nate rolled his eyes. “Of course I just bought it all. I had nothing here for her when you left her at my door. Not that you cared.”
“I did care, Nate. I just couldn’t think straight.” She took Paisley over to the changing table, talking softly to her, asking her questions, telling her how much she missed her. By the look on Nate’s face, I could tell he was getting angrier with every word. I went over and stood next to him.