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)
“Awkward,” Sierra sings, “and you’re a dick. I wouldn’t put that story in the baby book, that’s for sure.”
“I’m going to be there every step of the way for whatever she needs. If that leads to more, then it leads to more. That would be the cherry on top.” They share a look, and I finally say my biggest fear. “Fuck, what if I want her and she doesn’t want me?” I’ve been asking myself this the whole time I’ve been trying to get my bearings. “I literally don’t have any answers to any of the questions. I don’t think she does either. We said we’re going to talk this weekend.”
“You going to ask her to be your girlfriend?” Caleb asks.
Sierra hits his arm. “It’s not high school, Caleb.” She shakes her head, then turns to me. “This can get really messy.”
I know, but something inside me says Collins isn’t that person. “If it’s meant to be that we’re just friends, then I’m going to bust my ass to coparent in the healthiest way possible.”
“I don’t know what to say, man,” Caleb starts. “It’s—”
“It’s.” I smile. “I’m having a baby.”
“Technically, she’s the one having the baby,” Sierra counters.
“He put it there.” Caleb points at me.
I get up. “I’m going to head out. She gets off shift at three, and we said we’re going to be leaving at seven. I want to make sure I have everything ready.”
“If she works until three in the morning, when do you see her?” Sierra asks me, and I smirk.
“I go to her house every night at three to cook her dinner and wait for her to go to bed, and then I go to work.”
Sierra blinks away tears. “Isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard?”
“Oh my god,” Caleb mutters. “That’s why he’s been dragging his ass and taking catnaps on the job.”
“Yeah, listen. Before I leave, I wanted you to know I hired Nino and Frankie to work for me this weekend.” Caleb’s eyebrows pinch together. “Collins’s house is sort of on its last leg, and I know she isn’t going to let me do anything, but they are going to be redoing her front porch and her back porch.”
“You think that’s wise?” Sierra asks.
I shrug. “Ask for forgiveness, not permission.” I try to convince even myself of that.
“That’s very smart,” Sierra deadpans. “Also, not okay.”
“If she needs to have it done, she needs to have it done,” Caleb says, taking my side. “If that was me, your ass would be living in my house the minute I saw you shouldn’t be living there.”
“Wow,” Sierra says.
Caleb turns his attention back to me, ignoring Sierra. “When are you going to ask her to move in with you?”
“Thought about maybe broaching the subject this weekend. It would be easier since my house is bigger, and it’s close to everything and not on the other side of town.”
“Well, you got her to sleep with you once,” Caleb jokes, “I’m sure asking her to move in with you is going to be a piece of cake.”
“I think getting her to sleep with him was easy,” Sierra cuts in. “It’s putting up with him that’s going to be the hardest.”
“Hey”—I point to myself—“I’m a fucking delight.” They both laugh at me. “Anyway, thank you for your TED Talk.” I walk to the door. “I would also appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone until we officially tell you, or better yet, I tell my parents.”
“I really wish I could be there for that,” Caleb quips.
“So you can check her out again?” Sierra raises her eyebrows. “By all means, Caleb, you are free to leave.”
“I’m literally in love with you,” he reminds her, leaning to grab her hand. She snatches it out of his. “I moved into your house to be with you. If that doesn’t scream I’m all in, I don’t know what does.”
“Not checking out the woman who is trying to save me while I’m dying on the floor.”
“Now, you were dying.” Caleb shakes his head, then turns his attention to me. “Thanks for coming over and starting a fight.”
“My pleasure. I’ll see you both next week when I’m back in town.”
“And you’ll bring Collins with you so we can meet her?” Sierra asks me.
“We’ll see.”
“What, why?” Caleb asks.
“I’m trying to get her to like me. The last thing I need is to bring her over here to see how unstable both of you are.” I open the door. “Love you both.”
As I get in my truck, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. “At least that part is done. The hard stuff is next.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
COLLINS
“You okay?” I turn from staring out the window to look at Theo. “You’re quiet.” His arm is on the side of the door, holding the steering wheel, while the other arm is perched on the center console, holding on to the base of the wheel. The scruff of his beard is longer than I think it’s ever been. The hair on his head is becoming so long that I might be able to run my fingers through it.