Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79509 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79509 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“My clothes are starting to get tight, and I’m starting to feel sick in the morning. That was when I was forced to confront this, because I can’t keep pretending it’s not real. I don’t drink wine and I tell myself I’m just not in the mood, but I know the real reason why. I just…don’t know how to tell him. I can’t think of a way to tell him without making him assume I did it on purpose. I know that will be his reaction.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, there’s only so many ways to say it. But he does love you, really love you. So, maybe he’ll be angry, maybe he’ll need space for a while, and then maybe he’ll come back around.”
“I can’t do another two months, Tucker, especially when I’m pregnant.” I needed Deacon. I needed him beside me every night. I needed him to place his hand on my stomach and look at me with love in his eyes. I needed him to take care of us, to give us a home, to make us a family. I could do this on my own, but I really, really didn’t want to. I wanted Deacon beside me…every single day.
Tucker dropped his gaze. “I don’t know what to say, Cleo. This is Deacon we’re talking about. His reactions are just different from other people’s. For certain, he will be a part of this baby’s life. He’s not gonna leave you high and dry and just move on. He will take care of both of you.”
“But I want him…”
“That…I don’t know. I think it will happen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a lot of bumps on the way. That’s just how he is.”
I knew Tucker was right. It was unlikely that I would tell Deacon and he would just be calm about the whole thing. He would take it as a betrayal, especially since I’d talked about us having kids so many times…like a damn idiot.
“But I’ll always be here for you, Cleo. If he does go off the deep end, you still have me.”
I smiled, but it hurt to do it.
“I’m the uncle, right? That means we’re family. So, I’ll step up if he steps down.”
“Thank you, Tucker. But I don’t need help with the baby. I’m not worried about that. I’m just worried…about losing the love of my life.”
Seventeen
Deacon
I was one of the few people who went back to work quickly.
Others decided to take off a few extra days, to have time to adjust to the drastic time difference. But I had more responsibilities than my research, so I was in my office, wishing I were home with Cleo and Derek.
Theresa’s message popped up on my monitor. Dr. Hawthorne is here to see you.
We’d seen each other on the flight back but didn’t speak. She didn’t make eye contact with me. I’d hoped she would clear out her desk and leave her resignation letter with Theresa, but I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. I hadn’t wanted to tell Cleo what happened because it would only validate her insecurity, but when I looked her in the eye and withheld the information, it made me feel disloyal. So, I got it off my chest and came clean, confessed my sins even though I didn’t do anything wrong. But I did leave out some of the things Kathleen had said, because that would just be hurtful. I wrote back. Send her in.
The door opened, and she stepped inside, in skintight jeans and a long-sleeved blouse. Her blond hair was curled in the front. She came empty-handed, without a resignation letter in sight. Her heels clapped lightly against the floor as she approached my desk. Then she took a seat.
I just stared.
She cleared her throat. “Now that we’ve had some time to cool off, I thought we could talk.”
“About?”
“I was hoping you would give me another chance—”
“No.” I wasn’t firing her just because I was angry. I was firing her because she’d made an advance that made me uncomfortable, and according to workplace policies, that was sexual harassment. I shouldn’t have to work with someone who made me uncomfortable, especially when I owned the damn place.
“I really love working here, Deacon. I promise nothing like that will ever happen again—”
“My decision is final. Give Theresa your resignation by the end of the day.”
Her eyes fell in disappointment. “Deacon, that night, it seemed like—”
“I was hard because Cleo sent me a dirty video, alright?” I snapped. “Not that it’s any of your fucking business. She sent it to me at the conference, I got a glimpse of the thumbnail, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. On the way to the room, I was excited because I was finally about to watch it. And that’s another reason I want you to leave, because I shouldn’t have to have a conversation this personal with a colleague.”