Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I glance at her. She knows about that stuff with Demir. I told her the full story, which was surprisingly hard. I got some trauma flashbacks toward the end. But Kennedy’s strong and comforting, and she took it all in stride.
“You think he’s right. You think I should go.” I narrow my eyes. “You’re a traitor.”
She laughs and nudges me with her toe. “That is not what I said. But come on. He’s not trying to send you to a nunnery or something because he’s ashamed of you. He watched you nearly get your brains blown out, and he’s scared, right? He wants to protect you.”
“Then he should protect me while I’m here, with him, by his side, where I belong.”
“Do you, though?” She says it very quietly. I sit up, not pleased with where this is going. “I mean, that man is clearly in love with you, right?”
I hold up my hands. “We haven’t said that yet. Don’t get too excited.”
She bursts out laughing. “Are you serious right now? Lucy, he’s so in love with you even I can see it. Come on!”
“I mean, maybe—”
“And you’re a freak for him too. Just admit it.”
“I’m not a freak!” I sit very straight and prim. “I’m a pregnant woman with a healthy sense of what she likes and doesn’t like in the bedroom.”
“Not what I meant, but okay.”
I hesitate, shifting side to side. “I’m not going to admit anything, okay? The first time I say it should be to him.”
“That’s what I thought.” She beams at me. “You two are so into each other it’s sickening. But I’m happy for you.”
“So what should I do? Stay here and keep this whole thing up?” I gesture all around me. “Go back to his room and listen to him trying to send me away again? Or just go to the beach?”
“Could be worse. He could be sending you to Nebraska.”
“Don’t hate on the Cornhuskers.”
“Do what feels right. Sorry, I don’t have better advice here. You have a baby to worry about now, though.”
I groan and fall onto my back again. Kennedy’s right; I should be prioritizing the baby over everything. Doesn’t that mean doing the hard thing and leaving my husband?
We talk for a little while longer before she leaves. I hug her hard at the door. “Thanks for still being my friend.”
“You’re still worried about that? Babe, I’m not going anywhere. You’re my bestie for life.”
“You’re mine too.”
I squeeze her tight then let her go. I wave as she drives off.
Back inside, I head upstairs. My head’s a mess, thinking about what’s best for the baby. I hate the idea of letting myself get sent away, but maybe he’s right. Now that I’m thinking with a night of sleep and a clear head, I can almost see his point.
I find him in his office. He doesn’t notice me right away, and I get to observe him for a second. He’s tense, as if the world is hanging off his shoulders, and I can almost smell the anxiety from here.
His father fell sick with a terrible disease, forgot all about him, and died recently. Then he went to war and was betrayed by a close friend. Then he nearly lost me moments before learning that I’m pregnant with his baby. This marriage has been hard on him, but Adriano’s strong. He can handle it. I know he can handle it all.
His eyes meet mine, and the tension disappears.
It’s night and day. When he didn’t know I was here, the clouds were covering the sun. And now that he’s looking at me, the smile on his face is like a perfect afternoon.
That decides it for me.
“I’m not leaving.”
His smile falters. “Is that what you came to say?”
“You need me.” I walk into his office and march over to his desk. I stand in front of him, my hands on my hips. “Don’t pretend like you don’t.”
He leans back, looking amused. “And why do you think I need you so badly?”
“Because you’re drowning.” I move closer. “Stop it, don’t look at me like that. You looked like hell a second ago, but when you realized I was in the doorway, suddenly all that stress faded away. You need me here.”
His expression softens, and he reaches out a hand. I let him tug me closer. He sits up straight, hugging me, pressing his ear flat to my belly. His hands grip my ass.
“You’re right,” he says.
I stiffen in surprise. “I am?”
“You’re my everything. I could barely sleep last night, and you were only on the other side of the house. But this isn’t about me.”
“I know we have to think about the baby over everything else now. But you’re my priority too, and I’m not going to leave you at your darkest. You lost your father. You lost Frank. You’re not going to lose me too.” I force him to look up into my eyes. “I swear, Adriano. I’m not going anywhere.”