Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Dear Sassy,
I’m hoping you know this by now, but I’m going to say it anyway.
I love you. I love you so much that it hurts.
I know you asked me for no expectations or promises, and I respect that. There’s no pressure here, that’s the last thing I want to do, but I want you to hear my heart.
I want a future with you. I want the ring, the wedding, the marriage. I want you to know that your son that you’re carrying under your heart, I already consider him mine, and no matter what, I will always be here for him. I want more babies with you, as many as you’re willing to give me.
But more than anything, I just want you by my side. I want my ring on your finger and for everyone to know you’re mine. I want us to grow old together because I can’t imagine a future without you in it.
I love you, Sassy. I know this is scary, but I hope you will give us a chance.
Let me love you.
Yours,
Elijah
I put a hand to my heart and read it again. He loves me. Elijah Wolfe says he loves me.
My heart starts to race, panic sets in, and I have to force myself to breathe. My first instinct is to run. I need to get out of here, but I only get two steps and I know that I’m not going anywhere. Yeah, this is scary. But a future without Eli is even scarier. I love him. God, I love him more than anything, and I have to tell him.
I look at the clock on the wall, and I know he’ll be back soon.
I try to pull myself together. I shower, get dressed in the jogging set Eli bought me, and then do a few things around the house. Eli keeps it pretty clean, but I still go around, straightening things, wanting to stay busy, waiting for Eli to return.
CHAPTER 19
ELIJAH
“What the hell is up with you, man?” Kane asks when the inspector walks away to look at something.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Nothing. I’m just ready to get home.”
He kicks his foot in the gravel. “I guess things are going well with my sister?”
I shake my head and purse my lips. “No, I wouldn’t quite say that.”
He tenses, and protective brother mode kicks in. “What do you mean?”
I blow out a breath and shake my head. “She’s holding back, and I don’t know what that means. Maybe she really does just want a fling. Maybe I’m the only one all in.”
His forehead creases. “That doesn’t sound like my sister.”
I nod. “I know, but she’s scared, and she has the baby to think about. I think I fucked up.”
Kane stares at me. “What did you do?”
I shove my hands into my pockets. “I left her a bouquet of roses with a letter…”
“A letter?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah.”
“What did it say?”
I stretch my arms out to the side. The safety vest feels binding. “I told her I love her.”
Kane’s mouth drops. “You left her a note telling her you love her for the first time?”
Now hearing him say it like that, I know I probably fucked up. “She’s been so guarded this week, and I wasn’t sure if she was ready or if I’m what she wants at this point. I needed her to know how I felt. I needed her to know that I want a future with her.”
Kane gives a low whistle and then shoves me. “Shut the fuck up. Are you talking about marriage and shit?”
I pull my hands from my pockets and yank the safety helmet from my head. “What the fuck, Kane? Have you even been listening to me? Yes, I love Sassy. Yes, I want to marry her. Yes—”
A loud snap cuts me off.
It’s sharp and loud, and it changes the whole environment.
I turn just in time to see it. Two huge steel pipes start to roll off the trailer.
Someone yells. Kane’s eyes widen. There’s hardly any time to react. I wrap my arms around Kane and use every ounce of my strength to push him to the side. The sound of the pipes falling and rolling is loud, and they barely miss us.
Pain explodes in my head.
Everything is a blur for me.
I can hear Kane screaming at the inspector, calling him names.
Then Kane is standing over me. I know he’s talking to me, but it sounds like he’s saying it in a whisper. His face is blurry, but I see the fear in his eyes.
I try to get up, but I instantly get nauseous and lean back.
“Stay right here. Don’t move.”
I lean my head back and close my eyes. I hear him talking frantically into the phone.
“I need an ambulance at the new hospital site. 2245 Caring Way. Please hurry.”