Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
I take a deep breath, then open the door, plastering on a fake smile. “Hey, sorry. Girl talk.”
Declan rakes his gaze down my body. “That dress looks beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
“Breakfast is ready,” he says to the four of us.
“Great,” Mom says. “I’m starved.”
The rest of the morning goes by without a hitch. Breakfast is delicious, and I make several TikToks with Felix. We watch the music video—since it’s done and will be released, along with the song, on Friday at midnight—and my dad suggests Declan and I make our relationship public because, according to him, that video is way too hot. No way anyone in their right mind will believe nothing is going on between us.
After we give Mom our gifts, Declan and I say our goodbyes so we can head to his parents’ place for an early dinner. Unlike the warm vibe at my home, Declan’s parents are ice cold.
We spend the entire meal with them judging us while acting like they aren’t. I try not to let it get to me—I’m used to public scrutiny—but it’s hard when it’s clear they don’t approve of what either of us does for a living. I come from a home where the music industry is in all of our blood, and every dig they make feels like it’s aimed at not just Declan and me but also my entire family.
Finally, Declan must have enough because he tells his mom we need to leave, using the excuse that I haven’t been feeling well. She gets upset, saying we haven’t even had dessert yet, but he insists we go, promising to see them soon.
The ride home is filled with silence, and I expect him to push me away, obviously upset over the way the dinner went, so I’m surprised when the moment we step through the door, he attacks me.
“Thank you,” he murmurs against my lips as he reaches around and unzips my dress.
“For what?”
“For putting up with my parents’ shit. I love them, but sometimes, I hate them so damn much. Thank you for being there today. It’s the first time I’ve ever had someone in my corner, and it made it that much easier. It sounds crazy, but it would’ve been twice as bad had you not been there.”
God, I can’t even imagine. Your parents, your family, should be your safe place. You shouldn’t dread going there. It’s the one place where you can be yourself and feel accepted. Despite all my insecurities and hang-ups, I know without a shadow of a doubt my family loves me and supports me. Knowing Declan doesn’t have that at home makes me so sad.
“I’ll always be there.” I cup the sides of his face and look up into his blue eyes filled with love and awe. “Always.”
“Promise?” he says, placing a soft kiss on my lips before backing away slightly.
“I promise. You and me… always.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
KENDALL
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” I smile nervously at Dr. Weisberg, the OB/GYN Layla recommended I use since my gyno is back in California. She mentioned she’s the OB to many celebrities who require NDAs to be signed, so her office would handle it without any hiccups, and she was right. Not even twenty-four hours after calling the office, NDAs have been signed and sent to my assistant. I’m sitting on the medical bed in the small yet inviting room in only a cotton gown, my entire body buzzing with anxiety.
“You’re very welcome,” Dr. Weisberg says, sitting on the rolling stool in front of me. “You mentioned you were in an accident that—”
Her words are cut off by the sound of the door opening as my mom walks in. “Kendall Naomi Blackwood.” My eyes widen at her using my three names, wondering what she’s doing here and why I’m in trouble. Even though I’m thirty-two years old, it scares the shit out of me when my mom uses my three names.
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
She closes the door behind her and walks around the side to stand next to me. “Marcia told me you were coming here alone. Why wouldn’t you tell me so I could come with you?” she chides in her motherly tone that has tears pricking my eyes.
“I don’t know,” I mutter. “I guess I’m scared and…” I shrug, unable to verbalize how I’m feeling. Ever since Bailey mentioned Kyle could be the dad, I’ve been freaking out on the inside. I wanted so badly to tell Declan I might be pregnant and that I’m scared it might not be his, but I couldn’t do that to him. He might’ve become one of the closest people to me—the person I share my thoughts and dreams with—but I couldn’t be so selfish to tell him there’s a chance the baby I may or may not be carrying is his. So instead of saying a word, after Declan and I made love Sunday night and then again last night, I lay awake, watching him sleep, wondering what our future holds.