Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
His words confuse me, but I don’t take the time to analyze them. I’m moments away from falling apart. I wrap an arm around my middle.
“You don’t love me,” I say hoping the lie glues me together.
I know it’s a lie. I’ve read the truth in his eyes. It’s in his voice now.
“Bullshit and you know it.”
I sag my shoulders and drop my head. I’m not going into that restaurant. I’m not walking away from my man. I know it even before I start to slowly walk to him.
I stop before him and lift the umbrella over his head even though he’s soaked through at this point. He reaches for my waist and tugs me forward.
“I love you, Reminisce. I’ve always been in love with you. You were the first thing I thought of when I woke in that hospital bed. I needed to get to you.
“Knowing you were out there living a life without me didn’t feel right. I love you, baby. I can’t lose you.”
“You were on a blind date.” I pout.
He gives a small chuckle. “While texting my brother to find out if you were still single. Jamel asked me to do him the favor. It was a last minute thing. It’s always been you, Rem.”
He lifts a hand to rub his thumb across my bottom lip. I reach for his hand and pull it down to my belly. I release a heavy breath.
“Knight … I … We …”
“Just say you love me, Rem. We can fix everything else. Just say the words.”
“I’m pregnant, and I’m so in love with the father of this child, it’s going to kill me if I can’t get over my fears to be with him.”
There, I said it.
Knight
I stand still as a statue. That’s not the way I imagined her saying it. I think I’m in a dream for a moment.
I kneel to one knee and place my face in her belly. I cling to her back as reality rocks me. I came so close to losing them both. She was pregnant when her life was in danger.
“Fuck,” I roar.
It all makes sense. This time she has a reason to want to run. Had I known then … my throat is raw with emotion.
She combs her hand through my hair. “Come on, you’re soaked, and I’m starting to get wet.”
My bike forgotten, I lead her around the car and open the passenger side for her to get in. Once the woman I love and our baby are secure inside the car, I get in and drive toward my place.
Reaching for her hand, I link our fingers together and bring them to my lips. She’s pregnant. Suddenly, my decision to walk away from the force isn’t as heavy. It’s like a boy becoming a man and putting up his toys. It was time.
“I put my resignation in. I’m done with the force,” I say as I pull up to a stoplight.
I turn to see her reaction. Her eyes are wide as she searches my face. I lean in and kiss her lips.
“What? But you love your work.”
“No, no, I don’t anymore. Not the way I used too. Something changed while undercover. I started to see what I’ve been missing.
“Being an undercover detective is a lonely life. I’m missing my nephews grow up and my brothers are building lives I know little about … I have someone I love so much I can’t stand to be away from her a second more—”
I’m cut off by horns honking behind me. I frown but turn back to the road and start to drive. I can feel her eyes on me.
“You were saying.”
“Those guys, the Lost Souls became my brothers. I watched them with their families—their wives and girlfriends, their kids. The love and devotion. It made me miss you every day I had to be there pretending.
“I wanted what they had. I wanted you. Now, I have that and having a badge seems like a silly dream I had to play cops and robbers. Now, I’ll find another way to spend my time. It’s not like I’m hurting for the money,” I say.
I turn to glance at her. Her lips are trembling, and tears have spilled over. Turning back toward the road, I release her hand to reach for her face and wipe her tears with my thumb.
“Are you sure? This is what you want? I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
“Rem, I will always choose you.”
And I mean it. I’ve got the girl. The rest is just a matter of figuring out. I have plenty of time to do all of that. This is where I belong.
CHAPTER 44
Love You More
Knight
She’s pregnant. That’s all I can think as we enter my apartment. I move behind her and splay my hands on her belly. Burying my face in her neck, I inhale.