Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“I will always be here for you. And,” he gulps, his voice wobbling slightly, “I’m proud to have a baby with you. But I can’t do this to you, force you to live this life I chose. You and our child deserve way better than this fucked up life.”
Despite the tenor of our conversation, even with the splintering of my heart, I’ve never felt more safe in my life. I’ve never felt more considered. More loved.
Callum would’ve never walked away from me for my own good. Everything in his world centers around him, even if it means trying to ruin my life for fun.
“I’m sorry they’re making you out to look like an idiot,” I whisper, feeling the warmth of his skin under my palms.
“I don’t give a fuck.”
“But they’re saying—”
“I don’t care.” He pulls away and looks me in the eye. “I know you. I know this baby is mine. I just can’t do this to you, Sunshine.”
“You aren’t. He is,” I assert.
“This time. Next time, God knows what it will be. But I guarantee you there will be a next time in the tabloids, of nasty things said because I’m Branch Best.”
He says it like it’s a bad thing, almost spitting the words out like they’re poison.
Brushing a strand of hair out of my face, he places a kiss to the center of my lips. “I’m a call away. Always.”
His hand drops to my stomach and it sits there for a long moment. As his eyes blur again, he looks down and walks out.
“Where the hell are youuu . . .” Poppy’s voice falls as she finds me on my bed. “Layla! What’s wrong?”
Bags drop to the floor, the plastic rustling as it lands just before my mattress sinks as she lands near me. She shoves me over and hovers over my face. “Are you okay?”
The light is too bright. Her voice too loud. The smell of the garlic she had for lunch too strong.
“I’m gonna puke,” I groan, trying to sit up.
Everything hurts, from my heart to my head, as I work my way against the pillows. The sky is almost dark outside the windows and I wonder how long I’ve been lying here.
As I try to do the math, all I can see is Branch’s sweet face and the tears come again. This round, they feel like little knives in the side of my temple, stabbing me over and over again.
“Layla. Talk to me.” Poppy takes my hands and holds them on my lap. “What happened? You wouldn’t answer the phone so I came by to check . . .”
“Have you seen Exposé?” I croak, my throat so damn dry due to all the moisture in my body leaving via tears.
She flashes me a look. Swiping my phone off the nightstand, she types in the passcode and brings up the website. I give her a few seconds to make it all the way through. I know when she’s done because the phone drops to the bed.
“Oh my God,” she says, her mouth wide. “Layla.”
“I know.” Grabbing a pillow, I smudge it around my face in hopes that some of the wetness will stop. “It’s a mess.”
“Branch doesn’t believe this, right?”
“No.”
“Thank God,” she says, falling back on the bed. “I knew he was smart.”
“So smart he left me.”
The words are hiccupped, tears filling each opening, and my heart starts the process of breaking again.
“I don’t know why I’m so upset. I knew this would happen eventually. But,” I shrug, “it’s what I get for going against my gut.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he won’t put the baby and I through this shit. He was so sweet . . .” Pressing my face against the pillow, I cry until I can’t cry anymore. My chest burns, my face twinges with the strains from crying all evening. “Why? Why couldn’t he be a dick?”
My phone glows, the ringer turned off, and Poppy picks it up. The fire in her eyes when she looks at me has me plucking it from her hand before she can do any damage.
I see the name on the screen. “You have the audacity to call me?” I almost shout into the phone. “How dare you, you sick fuck?”
Callum’s laugh belts through the line. “I’m good, thank you. How are you?”
“I’m much better than you because I’m not a miserable, disgusting human being.”
“So you aren’t that upset? I mean, thank fuck it’s not my kid, but I thought Best deserved it after that little stunt he pulled, answering your fucking phone.”
“How did you even know I was pregnant?” I seethe, my hands shaking with the anger rolling through me.
“Someone snapped your picture coming out of the doctor’s office. It’s online, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me that,” I snap. “I hate you.”
“I bet you do. I bet your boy does too.” He laughs again, an unaffected, carefree laugh. “I’ll remember that when you come back to me with his bastard child, wanting me to take you back.”