Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“So you weren’t on birth control?”
“I never said I was.” My voice is tight. He holds up a hand.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. We used protection. I just was wondering if you were also on birth control.”
“I was not.” I push my food around in the container. “There was no reason for me to be.”
“Right.”
My back goes straight up. “I don’t know what you mean by that,” I snap at him. “But I’m not who everyone says I am.” I push away from the table, and his arm drops from the chair beside him. “And before you ask, I’m not getting rid of the baby.”
“I would never tell you what to do with your body, Collins,” he says, his voice soft. “Just like I would never assume anything about you. We had sex. Protected. But things happen.”
“They do,” I agree.
“Sit down and eat.” He motions with his chin. “You said you were starving, and you only took five bites of your food.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not hungry anymore.” I turn and put the top back on the container. “I’m tired. I’ve had a long day, and I have another two shifts before I get a day off.”
We have a staredown in the middle of my kitchen, basically back to the scene of the crime, really. “We have to discuss this.”
“What is there to discuss?” I put the container back in the fridge instead of throwing it out. “I’m having a baby.”
“We’re having a baby,” he corrects, his eyes staring into mine. The statement makes me go still. “Go get some sleep,” he urges. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He gets up. “Lock the door behind me.”
I watch him walk out of the house, closing the door softly behind him. I lock it after him, not because he told me to, but so he doesn’t change his mind and come back in the house. I turn off the lights and head to my bedroom, sliding into bed. I can smell cigarette smoke drifting in from outside, but I’m too tired and it’s too hot to close the windows.
I’m off my game, my shield is slipping, and my mind is on other things, which is why it won’t be until much later that I’ll remember none of my neighbors smoke. And none of them would be out in the middle of the night.
CHAPTER NINE
THEO
I walk into the hospital with a tray of coffee in one hand and a box of donuts in the other. The only people in the lobby are either starting their shifts or finishing them. I take the elevator up to the second floor.
I had set my alarm for 3:00 a.m. to make sure I went to Collins’s house when she finished her shift. I wasn’t expecting to find her throwing up in the garbage. The sight of her being sick and alone hit me right in the stomach. It was as if someone kicked the shit out of me repeatedly. Even while I was taking out the garbage, the sense of guilt rushed over me like I’ve never felt before. After I left, I just drove around until the bakery opened, picked up a few things, and headed here.
The elevator doors open, and I step out, the hallway lights still dim as I press the button to open the swinging door. The right one swings open as I make my way down the corridor to Sierra’s room. The nurses’ station in the middle of the floor is the only area that has the lights on. One of the nurses behind the desk is typing away on the keyboard, and she casually looks up at me and smiles before looking back down. I thought for sure someone would say something to me since it’s not really visiting hours. I stop outside Sierra’s room. The door is slightly ajar, so I knock on it with my elbow.
“What are you doing knocking?” Caleb hisses when he pulls open the door.
“It’s common courtesy to knock on a closed door before walking into the room.” I gawk at him. “What if she was naked?” He turns his back to me, and I follow him into the room. “What if the nurse was in here?”
Sierra is lying all the way on one side of the bed, leaving a lot of empty space. “Are you sharing her bed?” I ask him. Sierra smiles softly, her eyes opening slowly and then closing. “Good god, Caleb, she’s been shot. She can have the whole bed.” I shake my head, putting the box of donuts and the coffee on the tray table that has been moved against the wall. I turn back, putting my hands on my hips. “I expected better from you,” I tell Sierra.
“I can’t sleep without him by my side,” she replies. “I had to force him and threaten him.”