Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“No,” she cries, wiping her face. “Alex, it’s not that.”
“Do you truly think that little of me?”
“No,” she whispers, shaking her head.
“Then what, Elliot? If you know, then why didn’t you tell me?”
She presses her lips tightly together, wiping away her tears. “I don’t know.”
“That’s a lie,” I accuse, my eyes burning into hers. “Tell me the truth.”
“I can’t.”
“Tell me.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t, Alex. I can’t.”
“So, what? You’ll make me wait another six months for the answer? Maybe around their first birthday?”
She shakes her head again, her tears falling anew. “I don’t know,” she says, her voice almost hysterical. “You don’t understand.”
“Try me, and if I don’t understand, make me. I need answers here, Elliot.”
She continues to shake her head, her lips swollen, her eyes the same as her tears fall quicker.
“I know you’ve been hurt, mi sol, but I would never do so. I won’t.”
She chokes on a sob and then quickly mutters, “I gotta go.”
“Ellio—” Before I can even finish her name, she’s up and out of her seat. She opens her purse, and I set her with a glare. “You put money on this table, Elliot Bea, I’ll bend you over it and spank that ass.”
She gawks at me. “You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
Her eyes widen. “Alex, I just told you I’m pregnant, and you still want to smack my ass?”
I scoff. “You could tell me the world is ending and we’re dying in three seconds, and I’d use those three seconds to spank your ass and then kiss the fuck out of you.”
“Alex—”
I stand, blocking her escape and cutting off her words. I reach out and capture her hips in my hands. She looks everywhere but at me as I lean in. “I’ll let you run right now, but we are nowhere near being done with this conversation.”
My fingers bite into her hips, wanting to move to where my child grows inside her. I want to feel the contours of her stomach, hope to feel them kick, and get lost in my feelings for the woman who is carrying my child.
She slowly nods, and I angle my head to meet her gaze. Her hazel eyes are watery and full of such shame, it kills me. I don’t want her to feel that way. Unable to resist, I lean in and press my lips to hers. A small meep leaves her lips before I engulf them with mine. Her lips are warm, and I relish the feel of them. I pull her in closer, and thankfully, her body presses into mine. Her hands come to my chest, squeezing my shirt as I run my tongue along the seam of her lips. I want to deepen the kiss, I want to lose myself in everything Elliot, but then I feel the curve of her stomach against mine, and tears burn in my eyes.
I’m going to be a dad.
She pulls away, her eyes wide as she removes herself from my grip. I try to hold on to her hips, but she pushes my hands away and swallows. “I’m sorry.”
“Make it up to me by seeing me tomorrow.”
“Alex—”
I tuck my hands into my pockets. “I know you’re freaking out. I know you’re overwhelmed, and I’ll give you some space. Hell, I need a bit myself. But I want to see you tomorrow.”
Beautiful relief fills her gaze as she nods. “I am sorry, Alex.”
“I know. So, make it up to me.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” I agree. “And Elliot.” She blinks, and I catch a tear that escapes. “Nothing has changed.”
CHAPTER 13
Elliot
Nothing has changed.
Nothing has changed? Is he crazy? Everything has changed!
My goodness, the way he looked at me… A mix of betrayal and excitement that had me tossing and turning all night. His voice was so gravelly, so full of shock and need for the truth. I couldn’t give it to him. The guilt I felt hearing his words cut me to shreds. I felt as if I was going to break in mere seconds. I don’t usually run away from a fight or the truth, but I couldn’t do it.
I had to run, and he let me.
Which I know won’t be good for me later. He’ll want answers, and I’ll have to give him something. I don’t know how to express what I feel because I don’t want to be placid. I don’t want him to just reassure me that everything will be okay, because how could it? Why would he love someone who has such a nasty, disgusting past?
My gaze falls on Eliza, where she is folding up Coleson’s walker and then sitting in his lap. I cock my head to the side, watching them as Eliza wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him softly on the lips. He looks at my sister as if she is all the stars in his galaxy. A small smile pulls at the side of my lips when I remember what an awful manwhore he was. He slept with countless numbers of women before her, and Eliza didn’t bat an eye at it. She didn’t care as long as he was true to her.