Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
I followed him inside and was surprised to find how homey it felt. The front door opened into a widely spread area, and from my place, I saw the clean kitchen and dining area as well as a small sofa and big screen television. My nosey ass peered down the hall toward the bedrooms, but I quickly inhaled, then turned away.
Twitch, never one to miss a thing, uttered, “Want the tour?” I went to shake my head, but he added, “It ain’t much. I mean, it’s not the mansion at Darling Point, but—” His lip twitched. “—it’s a place to rest my weary head. Besides...” He absently scratched at the scuff at his throat. “I’m tryin’ to lay low.”
The mansion at Darling Point. Oh, the memories. I spent most of my nights there. It was the place I got pregnant. The same place I almost died after a drug-fueled night. That mansion was my home as much as it was his. I missed it sometimes. I would occasionally drive down there just to get lost in my head a while.
Keeping my distance, I nodded slowly, then lightly sighed. “Sure.”
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.
As he walked me through the house, I kept two steps behind, needing that space between us. He threw open the door to the bathroom, switching on the light. “Bathroom.” Then the door next to it. “Laundry.” Down the hall, he opened a room with a double bed. “Guest room.” The room beside it was open. It had a single bed with Paw Patrol sheets, a bookcase with children’s books, and a toy box. Before he said it, I knew what this was. “A.J.’s room.”
My concern reached a fever pitch and I spun on him, asking, “What are you doing, Twitch? Why are you here?” And finally, “What do you want from us?”
But the beautiful brooding man threw his thumb back behind him, and when he spoke, he did it low, full of insinuation. “Wanna see my room?”
Swallowing hard, I shook my head and hated the way I flushed. “I want you to answer my questions.”
He took in a deep breath before releasing it though his nose. “Not big on demands, baby. You know that.”
My stomach flip-flopped. “Stop calling me baby.”
Leaning against the doorframe, those full lips pursed and his eyes crinkled in the corners. He took his time roaming my body, and when he said the single word, I knew I’d made a huge mistake in coming here. “Never.”
Say what you came to say and leave, Alexa.
“A.J.’s miserable,” I told him and was fascinated over the way he straightened and gave me his undivided attention. “So I need to know what your plans are.”
Twitch’s concern stayed at the forefront, but he licked his lips and murmured, “My plan is to be a father to my son.” He added carefully, “If his mom will let me.”
Okay. “He’s not a toy, Twitch.” His eyes narrowed, but I went on. “He’s not something you can play with and put back when you get sick of him. He’s a little boy, an impressionable little boy who, for whatever reason, loves you.” At that statement, Twitch’s body relaxed a little. “So, what’s happening? Are you staying or leaving?” It took everything I had to be brave enough to say what I did. “Because even though it makes me unhappy to see you, I’ll deal with it if that’s what he needs.” My voice quieted. “But you can’t leave. Not like you left me.” Because I didn’t think A.J. would survive it.
No hesitation. “I’m not leavin’.”
A light scoff left me. “Forgive me for having zero confidence in you.” My mouth pulled down in a grim line. “There was once a time when you told me you’d do anything for me, and look how that turned out.”
His eyes bore into me, laser beams, discomfiting. “How do you know I didn’t?” Before I had a chance to think on that, he said, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m back for good. And—” He hesitated. “—I want to be a good dad.” He dodged my hard gaze, appearing slightly awkward when he added, “So maybe you can help me out there.”
He seemed sincere. Why did that bother me so much?
My heart beat increased in pace. This was it. No going back now. “You can start by picking him up from school today.”
Twitch’s head snapped up, his eyes questioning as if he thought this was a joke.
It was a fucking joke. I was a joke. As if I was allowing this.
It wasn’t a decision made lightly. Unfortunately, I knew this man, so I would give him an inch before he ripped a mile from me, leaving a path of destruction around everyone I loved.
When I managed to find the courage to peer up into his eyes, his brows lowered, but he uttered, “Yeah, sure.” When he went on, he did it guardedly. “Am I bringing him here, or...?”