Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
“I’m not lying.”
“What did they say?”
“Dad laughed and Mom cried.”
Her eyes bulge. “She cried? Oh shit, that’s bad, horribly bad. What did I expect? I mean…”
It takes everything in me not to interrupt her rambling. Willow’s been a wreck since I told her we were calling my parents this morning. She convinced me to do it alone so they wouldn’t feel obligated to act happy. They were overjoyed with our engagement, but she had it in her head that announcing a surprise pregnancy would warrant a different reaction.
I went straight to Major for guidance on how to shut down her anxiety.
He advised to ‘Let it ride out. In a few days she’ll forget this and move on to the wedding to stress her out. Whatever you do, don’t let her think you’re condescending.’’
I step outside the bullpen and to a private area.
“She may like me, but you are her son. Somewhere inside her head is a mountain of disappointment she’s disguising. She’s been around me a grand total of five minutes and I’m now the mother of her grandchild. I mean, who wouldn’t be upset? And Mark must be wondering how years of safe sex suddenly went awry? Their son’s girlfriend of a few months pops up pregnant—of course she cried. I’ve trapped you into a lifetime of…”
Her face is a new shade of red and she hasn’t taken one breath. “I mean, I’m on the pill. It’s not like I wasn’t taking precautions.”
“Look at your hand,” I demand a little too harshly.
“Why?”
“Do it.”
Her gaze drops.
“The diamond belonged to Dad’s grandmother. My mom helped me design that ring. I told her what I wanted and she went to our family jeweler. Took four times to satisfy me. Jeweler knew better than to complain to April Simms. I offered more than once to have it designed here, but she wouldn’t have it.”
“Your mom helped?”
“She not only helped, she was as much of a pain in the ass as me.”
“She may like me—”
“She doesn’t like you, she loves you. And that shit about you referring to yourself as my girlfriend ends now. I don’t want to hear it again. Not my style to gossip like a fucking woman, but you wanna know a play by play of the call? They weren’t surprised at all. Mom cried because she is so goddamned excited that it was leaking through the phone. I’m not an expert, but nothing about that reads disappointed. Get ready, Princess. Our world is about to be invaded by April Simms. Dad can only hold her back so much.”
Her face softens. “They were happy?”
“Yeah, babe, think I told you that before your tirade.”
“Talon! This is serious business. We are throwing a double whammy at our family and friends.”
“Speaking of family and friends.”
The longer it hangs, the more I know she’s not made her calls. This is not a surprise, which is why I took matters into my own hands this morning.
“Princess, call Chase first.”
“Why him? I’m thinking my grandparents will be the easiest.”
“Your brother is happy. He’s also on a tight wire waiting for you to call.”
It takes a second for understanding to dawn on her. “You already told him!”
“Yeah.”
“Why? I was going to tell him… eventually.”
“Because you are close, and in the off chance he had a problem, I wanted him to hear it from me.”
“Again, you were shielding me.”
“Always. Do I need to call Lynden and Rosie?
“No, I can handle it. Grandma is already on cloud nine about the wedding.”
“Good, now are we done with the bullshit of everyone being disappointed?”
“Ugh! I guess we have to be.”
“I’ll be home in a few hours. We have a meeting this afternoon.”
“With who?”
“The contractor, he’s agreed to speed up the timeline on the house.”
“He agreed or you demanded?”
“Same thing.” Ace motions to me through the other side of the glass door. “Gotta go.”
Her face softens, all worry gone in her eyes. “Good luck.”
“Just formalities, babe.” I disconnect, and a second later, a heart emoji pops up on my text.
Fuck if it doesn’t make me smile.
I walk back in and directly to Boyd’s office. The other guys are already waiting.
“You get your emails?” Boyd gets straight to the point.
We nod.
“You’re interviews scheduled?”
“Friday,” Ace confirms.
Boyd jerks his chin. “I got a shitload of pissed-off cops out there who have been on the list for years. Whispers on the lane say I’m facing an HR nightmare.”
I gawk at the man a beat before openly laughing. “Whispers on the lane? What the fuck kind of statement is that? “
He scowls. “Always a fucking horse’s ass.”
“Seriously, since when the hell do you care about that shit? SWAT sets their standards. Anyone who feels slighted needs to step up their game or move on,” Major announces loud enough for anyone within hearing distance of the office.
Boyd casts his gaze to the open door, his lips twitching. “Jesus help your next supervisor.”