Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
God, I hope it does. I want our story to be a reminder to the world that, no matter how awful people sometimes make you feel, everyone deserves to feel worthy. Everyone deserves love. And no one should ever have to ask for it. The right person won't expect them to.
"I lub her too," Alice whispers and then yawns.
"It's time to sleep now, baby girl," Sidney whispers to her.
Surprisingly, she doesn't argue or come up with another question. She just yawns again. "Kay, Daddy. Lub you."
"I love you too, baby girl."
I wait for him to finish tucking her in. When he emerges into the hall, his eyes immediately find mine, his expression soft.
"Hey, Cranky Bear," I whisper.
"You hear all of that, butterfly?" He strides across the hall, tugging me into his arms.
"Yeah," I murmur, melting into his embrace as he dries my eyes. "I heard."
He tips my head back, scrutinizing my expression the same way he always does when anyone brings up my mother. It's like he's looking for any hint that I'm still not healed or that she's still hurting me. But there is none to find. I let go of her the day she showed up on my doorstep.
I'm not crying because I'm sad. I'm crying because I'm loved.
Maybe, someday, she'll decide she's ready to be the mother I always deserved. But if that day never comes, that's okay. I'm surrounded by people who love me. They never try to shrink me. They never try to hurt me. They simply…love me.
That's all I need.
"Come on," Sidney murmurs, swinging me up into his strong arms.
"Where are we going?"
"To bed, Hattie baby," he breathes, his lips brushing mine. "I need to remind you that you're perfect."
"You already do, Sidney. Every single day." It's nothing but the truth. Every single day, in a million different ways, this perfect, beautiful, fierce grump makes me feel perfect.
"Good, because it's true. I love you."
"I love you, too."
His green eyes burn with intent as he carries me into our bedroom before pressing me up against the wall. Within seconds, my shirt is on the floor, and his hand is in my panties. "I still think you need me all over you again, reminding you just how worthy you and this gorgeous body truly are."
"Don't let me stop you," I moan, my hand sinking into his hair. "Please, don't let me stop you."
"Didn't plan on it," he breathes, sinking to his knees in front of me. His wild eyes meet mine. "Don't let them hear you."
I clamp my hand over my mouth, trying like hell to obey.
All night long, I try to obey.
I'm not sure I succeed, but when Sidney hauls me across his chest, our skin damp from sweat, our bodies exhausted, I fall asleep with a smile on my face. The same way I always do in his arms.