Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
The second I saw those two pink lines, a fundamental part of me shifted.
It became protective and stubborn. More than that, this baby became mine.
Rina tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “The doctor’s office called. They had a cancellation, so I booked the appointment.”
My stomach flips, although it has nothing to do with nausea and everything to do with nerves. “Thank you.”
“If you want, we can go together. There’s no reason for you to do this alone.”
“I appreciate that,” I say, forcing out the response. “But I can take care of it myself.”
Rina studies me for a beat, as if she can hear everything I’m not saying.
“We’ll talk about it later. Just know I’m here for you. And when you’re ready to tell your family, they’ll be there too. You’ll see.”
The thought of my mom and brothers finding out sends icy-cold tendrils of fear straight down my spine. “Thanks, but…” My voice dips. “I need to figure out a few things first.”
Like my entire life.
Instead of arguing, Rina rises to her feet and offers me her hand. I take it because my legs are a little unsteady and I’m lightheaded.
“Come on,” she says. “You should lie down for a little bit.”
Once in the bedroom, I lower myself to the edge of the mattress. My stomach is still churning.
Rina lingers near the doorway. “Oh, before I forget.” She reaches into a fancy black shopping bag next to the dresser. “I picked something up for you.”
My brows lift in surprise. “Really?”
I can’t remember the last time someone bought me a gift just because.
“If you like it, you can wear it for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Oh, right… Thanksgiving.
With everything going on, I forgot all about the holiday.
Inside the tissue paper I find a creamy cable-knit sweater dress that’s loose and forgiving. It’s exactly the kind of silhouette that won’t draw attention to what’s hiding beneath it.
“Wow,” I whisper.
“I might’ve grabbed boots too,” she adds, like it’s no big deal.
A surprised laugh escapes from me. “Seriously?”
She shrugs. “I’m an only child and didn’t have a little sister to spoil while growing up. But I do now.”
Emotion surges unexpectedly, and I have to blink away the tears that gather in my eyes.
Pregnancy hormones are the worst.
“Thank you,” I murmur. “This is amazing.”
“Oh, and one more thing—”
When my phone buzzes on the nightstand, dread curls through me before I even glance at the screen. I steal myself, trying to keep any expression off my face.
Unknown number:
Did you take care of it yet?
Cold prickles race across my arms. I left school and came to Chicago to get away from Collin and his constant hounding.
“Kia?”
I don’t bother with a response to the text. My finger shakes as I block the number.
Again.
Even as I do it, I know it won’t stop him. He’ll just text from another burner number. That’s been his MO since he found out I was keeping the baby.
Before the silence can press in enough to suffocate me, my phone chimes with a second message, and I brace for another ugly text.
Instead, I find that I’ve been included in a group chat.
Lilah:
Welcome to the inner circle, Kia. You’re officially in!
Callie:
Just so our roles are clear… I provide the baked goods and they dole out the unsolicited advice.
Sloane:
Unsolicited? Please. Does this mean we need to keep everything PG now?
A startled laugh bursts free, loosening the tight knot of tension in my chest just enough for me to breathe.
Rina squeezes my arm. “I need to leave for work, but try the dress on and let me know if it fits. If you like it, you can wear it Thursday.”
“Oh, um… I was thinking about skipping dinner,” I admit. “I don’t really know anyone.”
A man’s face flashes in my head before I can stop it.
“That’s not true,” she says. “And Evelyn and Hugh are cohosting, so, at the very least, it’ll be entertaining.”
That pulls a reluctant smile from me. “Fine,” I concede. “If the dress fits, I’ll go.”
“Perfect.” With a smile, she slips from the room.
I sit on the edge of the bed with the sweater dress pooled in my lap as my phone buzzes beside me. My stomach flutters with something that isn’t quite nausea.
I tell myself it’s just dinner. A distraction. A chance to get out of my head for a couple of hours and pretend my life isn’t unraveling at the seams.
Deep down, I know that isn’t the real reason my pulse continues to skip.
Beneath the fear and exhaustion, one thought won’t stop circling like a storm cloud I can’t outrun…
Will Laiken Lennox, the man I haven’t been able to stop thinking about, be there?
2
Laiken
I swear under my breath as the alarm chirps and a cloud of gray smoke billows from the toaster.
“Daddy!” Elody yells, bouncing on the tips of her toes as she points at the counter. “The toast is on fire!”