Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“Sometimes, rubbing it in your face is what you need.”
“Is that what they taught you in school?”
“No, I learned that from knowing you for years. Now, get your shit together and let Aspen meet her mother.”
A part of me knows there is no way around this. I can’t keep them apart, and the longer I take, the worse it will be. “Can you be there, maybe mediate a little?”
“Sure. I have time now.” Lauren puts her notebook on the side table and runs her palms down the skirt like she is ready to go.
“Of course you do.” I guess the sooner we get this over with, the better.
Lauren locks up her office, and we make our way to my place. I text Aspen and Charlotte quickly, asking them to come to my room. When Lauren and I walk around the corner of the hall, Charlotte is already waiting in front of my door.
“You must be Charlotte,” Lauren greets her with her sing-song voice. “I’m Lauren. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Hi.” Charlotte gives her a nervous glance before giving me her full attention. “I thought Aspen was going to come.”
“She is. Lauren is here to support. Why don’t we go inside.”
Charlotte nods and forces a smile, but I don’t miss her fidgeting next to me while I unlock the door to my apartment. We all pile in, and I motion for them to sit on the couch.
To make matters even more awkward, I realize I’m in a room with two women I’ve slept with. At least Charlotte doesn’t know that, though I highly doubt she would care. I think all she cares about is meeting our daughter.
Our daughter. I still can’t wrap my mind around that.
“I can’t imagine what you are feeling right now, but it’s okay to be nervous and even scared,” Lauren soothes, taking a seat next to Charlotte. “You being alive is going to be a shock to Aspen, but she is a very smart and loving person. So even if today doesn’t go as you hope, I don’t want you to be disappointed. This is only the first step.”
“Thank you for saying that. How long have you known Aspen?”
“Since she got to Corium. I’m the head of the medical department. I take care of all the students. Both their physical and mental health.”
“Oh, that makes sense… I mean, why Lucas asked you to come. He isn’t great at this stuff.”
“You don’t say.” Lauren frowns while giving me a dirty look.
“Listen, Charlotte. I think it might be better if you let me explain everything first. Let me talk to Aspen before I introduce you.”
Before Charlotte can answer, a knock echoes through the room. “Coming,” I yell on my way to the door.
My hand wraps around the doorknob, making me realize how sweaty my palms are. I turn it and pull the door open, finding Aspen and Quinton on the other side.
“Isn’t it past your bedtime, old man?”
I ignore Quinton’s joke. My eyes find Aspen’s baby blues. This is it. My chest tightens, and for a moment, I think I might be having a fucking heart attack.
“What’s wrong?” Aspen’s concerned tone doesn’t make it better. If anything, hearing how similar her voice is to Charlotte’s only makes it worse.
“I asked you here to tell you…” The rest of the sentence gets stuck in my throat. Fuck me. When have I ever been at a loss for words? Never, that’s the answer. I clear my throat and try again. “So… erm, there is someone here to see you.”
“Lucas, please tell me what’s going on. You are really freaking me out.”
“Seriously, spill,” Quinton interjects.
“It’s me. I’m here to see you,” Charlotte pipes up behind me.
Aspen pushes past me to walk into my apartment. Quinton follows closely behind. All I can do is close the door and helplessly watch the trainwreck that’s about to happen in my living room.
“Who the hell are you?” Quinton questions Charlotte.
“I—I’m Aspen’s mom. I mean… birth mom… mother. Birth mother,” Charlotte stumbles over the words. She gets up from her seat and faces Aspen. “I’m sorry. I’m so nervous. I’ve been waiting, dreaming of this for so many years. I’m sorry, I just came here. I realize this must be a huge shock to you, but I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Aspen remains stoic, her eyes wide, her mouth hanging open in shock. Quinton grabs her hand, covering it with both of his. “Babe, you okay?”
It takes her another few moments before finding her voice. “Did you know?” She asks Q first. He immediately shakes his head.
“I had no idea.”
Then Aspen’s gaze is on me. “Did you?”
“Just for a few weeks—”
“Weeks?! You’ve known for weeks!” She is angry, but it’s not the anger in her voice that’s the worst. It’s the hidden disappointment in her words that slices through me like a dull knife. “You had all this time to tell me. We spent all afternoon together yesterday…”