Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
He wraps his hand around my chin and lifts it so I’m looking into his eyes. “I would never judge you, Ellie.”
He’s searching my face, and the tone of his voice tells me what he’s saying is sincere. I nod and walk into the apartment. I don’t have to look around to try and see it through his eyes. I know exactly what he’s seeing, and it’s bare walls and old, broken-down furniture. I’m hoping he misses what I suspect are bullet holes in the wall that were left from the previous tenants.
He grabs on to my hand and pulls me to the couch. “Sit down and tell me what the hell’s going on, Ellie.”
I sit on the edge of the couch and rub my hands down my thighs to rest on my knees. “Well, where do I start? Uh, my parents kicked me out. They didn’t want to support me and a child, even if it was their grandchild. I uh, had to drop out of school.”
He flinches. “You dropped out of school?”
I shake my head. I know it’s crazy considering I had less than a year left. “Uh, yeah, see, I’ve been really sick, and I have to work. I couldn’t do both.”
Gray slides his hand onto mine and squeezes it. “What’s wrong? Have you been to the doctor?”
I nod. “Yes, and he says this is normal. Some women have extreme nausea and are sick when they’re pregnant. It sometimes lets up after a few months... or it could last the whole time.”
“Did he give you anything for it? Tell you anything that would help?”
I lean back on the couch and rest my head. “Yeah, he gave me some medicine, but I hate taking anything. I don’t want to harm the baby. He told me I need to rest. No sudden movements; that seems to really bother me. Oh and no stress.” I laugh out loud after that. I mean, come on, I’m stressed.
He scoots closer to me. “Why didn’t you call me?”
I pull my hand from his. His comfort would be too easy to lean into right now, and I know I shouldn’t. He’s leaving, probably soon, and I don’t need to get attached to him any more than I already have. “Because I’m not your responsibility, Gray.”
He starts to speak, and I know exactly what he’s going to say. I hold my hand up. “I know... I know we got married, and let me tell you, I’m glad that I had the healthcare because it’s really come in handy, but that was crazy, Gray. I wasn’t thinking clearly, and we shouldn’t have...” I let my voice drop off because I can’t bring myself to say the words.
“What? You regret marrying me?”
I close my eyes and exhale, long and slow. “I’m just saying it was right after Dawson passed, and we weren’t thinking clearly. Now you feel like you’re saddled with my mess, and I shouldn’t have done that to you.”
He’s staring at me. I can feel his gaze burning into me, but I don’t dare lift my eyes to look at him. I’ve thought a lot about Gray in these last two months. Just the fact he did what he did for me tells me the kind of man he is but also, I know he only did it to be nice. I have to keep reminding myself of that or else I’m going to feel things for him that I know I shouldn’t.
“Ellie.”
He says my name, but I still don’t lift my head. I’m trying to get my thoughts in check before I do.
He puts his hand under my chin and lifts so I have no choice but to look at him, and of course, my traitorous hormones are in full effect. A tear falls from my eye and rolls down my cheek.
He shakes his head. “Aw, honey, please don’t cry. I can’t handle it when you cry.”
I sniff loudly and wipe at my face. “Sorry.”
He smiles at me softly. “You don’t have to apologize, but I do wish you had called me.”
I lift my shoulders in a shrug.
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him. I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder. I shouldn’t be doing this, but the feeling of being held is not something I’m used to, and being in Gray’s arms is way too addictive.
His voice is soft as he rests his chin on the top of my head. “How long will it take you to pack?”
I feel so safe in his arms, I barely register his words. “Pack for what?”
His arms tighten around me. “You’re going back to Whiskey Run with me.”
I try to pull away, but he doesn’t loosen his hold. “What do you mean, I’m going to Whiskey Run with you?”
He leans back, but his hands go to my shoulders, and he squeezes me there. “I mean, I can’t just leave you here. I want you to come to Whiskey Run with me.”