Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Addie nodded in agreement. “Same here. Being pregnant really zaps the energy out of you, doesn’t it?”
“It really does.”
I froze when Addie gasped. Then I quickly turned and faced her.
“I knew it! I knew you were pregnant!” she said.
I rushed over and put my hand on her mouth. “Shut up! We don’t want to tell anyone yet. And how did you know?”
“Please, everything is heightened. My sense of taste, smell—even lies!”
“Wait, why…” My eyes went wide. Then I grabbed her hands, and we both started to jump up and down.
“Addie!”
“Sutton!”
“How far along are you?” I asked as I pulled her back down on the love seat.
“Six weeks. You?”
“Shut up!” I nearly screamed. “I’m seven weeks.”
“When’s your due date?” Addie asked.
“July eleventh. Yours?”
Tears filled Addie’s eyes. “July twenty-second!”
We hugged one another and started to cry harder.
“Sutton, we’re going to have babies at the same time! And they’re going to be so close!”
I drew back and wiped away my tears. “I can’t believe we’re both pregnant. When did you find out?”
Addie grinned. “Just today! We went to the doctor to confirm it. I haven’t been feeling well and missed my last period. You?”
“When I was in the hospital. They found out during some tests they ran.”
“Oh wow, you found out pretty early then.”
I nodded. “I was only a couple of days late for my period, which isn’t unusual, so I didn’t even think to take a test.”
“Morning sickness?” she asked.
“Ugh, yes. You?”
She shook her head. “Nothing too bad. Just feeling some nausea, but that’s about it.”
“When are you going to tell Mom and Dad?”
“Not until I’m past the first trimester.”
I laughed and dabbed at the corners of my eyes. “Us too.”
“What are you two doing out here?” our mother asked as she stepped down into the sunroom.
Addie and I both tried to act normal as we wiped away any last tears.
“Oh, we’re just comparing notes as married sisters,” Addie mumbled.
Mom smiled, glancing between us both. “That’s so wonderful. To think that two of my girls are both married women and soon-to-be mommas.”
My smile fell, and Addie sucked in a breath. I tilted my head forward and tried to pretend that I was confused. “I’m sorry…what…what did you say?”
Addie just let out a nervous laugh.
Mom crossed her arms over her chest and raised one brow. “I knew the moment I saw you both. Don’t worry, your secrets are safe with me.” She walked up and pulled me into her arms, hugging me tightly. Then she did the same to Addie. After wiping away a few tears, she drew in a deep breath and clapped her hands. “I better go make sure your father didn’t fall asleep in his chair. You know how that hurts his neck.”
And just like that, she swept out of the room, leaving Addie and me standing there with our mouths open.
“It has to be some kind of weird mom power because I’m pretty sure Janet knows too,” Addie stated.
I nodded, letting what just happened sink in. “Do you think we’ll get special powers like that some day?”
We turned and looked at each other. A slow smile spread across Addie’s face. “I sure as heck hope so!”
Palmer
The warmth of the sunlight hitting my face caused me to stretch and open my eyes—and then I quickly sat up and looked around the room.
Everything from the night before came rushing back.
“Oh no,” I whispered as I closed my eyes tightly and prayed it was all a dream.
I opened one eye and saw that I was still in a room that wasn’t my bedroom. My other eye opened—and I had to fight the urge to flee as fast as I could. One look at myself and I felt my heart drop to my stomach. I was naked. I never slept naked. A light blue sheet was pooled at my waist, and the cool air made my nipples tighten.
Or maybe it was the memory of last night. Or the man sleeping in the bed next to me.
The bed moved, and I held my breath. I heard soft breathing coming from my left.
Slowly turning my head, I saw him lying there. A deep pool of want and need hit me so hard, I nearly gasped. Then reality reared her ugly head.
“What did you do, Palmer?” I whispered to myself, right before I realized I needed to get the hell out of there.