Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
I nod silently.
"An unplanned pregnancy wouldn't ruin her life. She's too goddamn smart for that. But it could kill her," he says, her voice soft. "She'll be on immunosuppressants for life to ensure her heart keeps beating. If she ever decides to have kids, it's going to take an army to ensure she survives the pregnancy, and she isn't ready for that right now. So I need you to promise me—fucking promise me—that you'll remember that, and you'll do everything in your power to ensure that you don't put her life at risk."
My heart thuds like a jackhammer against my ribcage. "I swear to you," I whisper, my throat raw, "I'll never do anything to put her at risk."
He jerks his head in a nod, his jaw clenched. "Good. That's all I'm going to ask of you. Just…take care of her. Remember what's at stake. We almost lost her once. I'm not sure we'll survive a second time."
"I'm not sure I will either," I admit, swallowing hard.
Mr. Alessi claps me on the shoulder, squeezing gently. "You're good for her, Gage. Keep being good for her." He narrows his eyes at me. "And don't make her cry again or you'll be removing my boot from your ass, understood?"
"Yes, sir," I promise, smiling because I know he means it.
He cracks a smile, nodding toward the house. "You want to go say bye?"
I nod, and we walk toward the house together.
We're not even to the porch before she flings the door open, stepping out to meet us. Her eyes immediately come to me, her expression worried.
"Were you listening at the door?" her dad teases her.
"Maybe."
"Why am I not surprised?" He laughs softly, stroking her head as he passes by into the house. A second later, the door clicks closed behind him, leaving the two of us alone.
"Are you okay?" she asks, chewing on her bottom lip.
"Perfect," I promise, gently removing it from between her teeth.
"What did he say?"
"Just the usual."
"Gage."
I sigh. "He reminded me that getting you pregnant could be life-threatening, butterfly, that's all."
"Oh." She fidgets from foot to foot. "I guess I didn't think about that."
"Well, I have." I tip her face up, brushing my lips across hers. "I'll buy stock in condoms if that's what I have to do to keep you safe."
"Do you…want kids? Someday, I mean?"
"Look at me, Troian."
She hesitates for a moment before meeting my gaze.
"One day, you'll be the most incredible mom to our babies. Just because you can't carry them yourself won't make them any less ours." I brush my thumb along her bottom lip. "But that day isn't for a long time."
"You said our babies," she whispers.
"Well, yeah. Obviously, they're going to be my kids, too. There's no way I'm letting anyone else put a ring on your finger or have a baby with you. I don't even want anyone else taking you to Prom." I grin, brushing my lips against hers. "I love you, beautiful girl."
She gasps softly, her wide eyes meeting mine. "Gage."
"I love you," I say again, just because I can, just because I want her to hear it.
"I love you, too." She throws her arms around me, and it's the best goddamn feeling in the world. Actually, it's better than that.
This is heaven.
Chapter Twelve
Troian
"Hey." Corey grabs my hand as I pass by his table at lunch on Friday, pulling me to a halt.
I look up from my stack of books to find him smiling at me.
"Sit with me today," he says, sliding over to make room for me at the end of the table.
I glance at the empty seat and then at the other football players sitting at his table. They're all looking between the two of us like they think this is some sort of joke. But no one laughs. No one says anything. Not even when I reluctantly slide into the empty spot beside Corey.
It's been a weird day. Actually, the last two days have been weird. Gage is acting strange. Stranger than normal, anyway. He's driven me to school and home every day. Last night, he stayed for dinner. I expected it to be awkward after his conversation with my dad the day before, but it was…nice.
This morning, I woke up to find him in my kitchen, making pancakes for me. They weren't great, but he was so proud of himself. I ate every bite.
During first period, a bouquet of roses arrived for me, complete with another Yeats poem attached. I found a rose in my locker after third period. There was no note, but I know Gage put it there because it was an Osiria rose, and he's the only one who knows how much I love them. My dad buys them for my mom every single year to commemorate the day she told him that she loves him.