Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 64979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“What can I say? We’re connected.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Mmm hmm. Are you going to let me in?”
“Oh, you’ve been in.”
Changing the subject to what she was avoiding, I suggested, “Why don’t you go buy a pregnancy test while I’m on my call with Adrian, and you can take it after I get back?”
“Ummm… I guess I could do that.”
I could read her like a book.
“Relax. If you are pregnant, great. If you’re not, then we’ll just keep trying.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“Fucking you isn’t a hardship for me, and with the number of times you come, it isn’t one for you either.”
She shook her head, smirking. “The fact that you can make that sound so romantic is truly your gift, Tristian.” She kissed my chest again. “I could get used to waking up like this, Mr. Hawkins.”
I smiled. “It’s a good thing we’re married then, Mrs. Hawkins.”
“To think we could have been doing this for years.”
“Kitten, it’s in the past. We’re together now, and that’s all that matters,” I said, stroking her cheek.
She nodded.
“What do you want to say that you’re not saying?”
“You can tell, huh?” Before she could change her mind, she blurted, “I don’t know how I feel about taking the test.”
“In what sense?”
“I’m unsure of what I want it to read.”
“Hmmm.”
“I’m sorry, Tristian. I’m just trying to be honest.”
“What worries you?”
“A lot.”
“Such as?”
“For starters, we’re just now getting along and really learning about each other again. I mean, is it right to bring in a baby?”
“Why would it be wrong?”
“Don’t you want to enjoy the honeymoon phase?”
“We’ll have nine months to enjoy it before he or she is born.”
“I know that, but it doesn’t take away the concern of it being the right time.”
“It’s never going to be the right time.”
“You think?”
“Why leave something for tomorrow when it can be done today?”
“We’re talking about a baby. Not a business deal.”
“Kitten, life is a business deal. You take a gamble in every decision you make.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She bowed her head.
“Ask.”
She peered up at me through her lashes. “Are you hoping I’m pregnant?”
Hiding back the emotion she didn’t need to see from me in that moment, I sidestepped the question. “I’m hoping that whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together.”
“Okay.”
I kissed the tip of her nose. “I need to jump in the shower and take this call. I’ll be back in a couple hours. You think you can live without me until then?”
She sassed, “It’s a travesty, but I’ll try to make it without you for a couple hours.”
I climbed out of bed to get ready, and as I showered, I couldn’t stop thinking about Belle being pregnant and how much I truly hoped, she was.
Once I was sitting in the conference room in the bungalow’s registration office, I called Adrian.
He answered, “I never thought I’d see the day when Tristian Hawkins is a married man. You know women all over the world are grieving your loss?”
“They still have you.”
He chuckled. “How’s married life?”
“Better than when I was single.”
“That should be on a Hallmark card.”
“How are things with you?”
“I just fired another incompetent assistant.”
“So today is a good day?”
“I need someone who works as hard as I do, and it’s easier said than done.”
“I may have a solution for you.”
“Is that right?”
I tried to stay focused on our conversation.
However, my mind was consumed with a positive pregnancy test.
—Belle—
I’d be lying if I said buying a pregnancy test at the store down the street wasn’t the most unfamiliar thing I’d ever experienced. My life was about to change for what felt like the hundredth time in a matter of a couple months. I couldn’t believe this was happening to begin with. Tristian and I were finally on better terms, seeing eye to eye, but that didn’t take away any of the uncertainty I was feeling.
I knew how much he wanted me to be pregnant, and I didn’t want to let him down. My emotions were so hot and cold about it. A few days ago, we were talking about having children, and I’d been subconsciously rubbing my belly, excited about the possibilities. Now that it was time to confirm what we both wanted…
I was scared.
Not knowing if I wanted this or just wanted him.
As I walked around the store, I found myself buying a unisex motorcycle onesie, desperately trying to shift my emotions from what if to a beautiful baby in our arms. There was no controlling the mess that was my head right now.
The next thing I knew, I was taking the test without Tristian. I couldn’t delay it any longer. The three minutes I had to wait for the results were the longest of my life. When the timer on my phone finally dinged that the test was ready, it felt as though an explosion erupted around me. I swear it echoed through the room as I made my way over to the test I’d left on the counter in the bathroom.