Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
He has one hand on the door and stops to look at me. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here, Ally. From this point forward, things are going to be different between the two of us. I’m going to go get the food. I’m going to put the groceries away while you eat, and then we’re going to talk.”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond. He walks out the door, letting the screen door slam behind him. He’s gone less than a minute and he’s walking back in with a familiar bag from Red’s Diner. It’s big and stuffed with Styrofoam plates, and I know there’s more in it than just my wrap. I groan, “Please tell me you didn’t bring the cinnamon Blaze cake.”
He sets the bag down on the coffee table and starts pulling out food. “I didn’t bring the cinnamon Blaze cake. You said you had to quit eating sweets, so I didn’t get it. But I did get some fruit, a side salad, and some vegetable soup.”
He grabs the first plate with the chicken wrap and sets it easily on my belly. I can’t even be offended because for the last month, this is exactly how I’ve eaten every meal. I take a bite and chew it slowly. Austin is staring at me, and I lick my lips clean. “Uh, are you going to eat?”
He shakes his head. “I had a late lunch. I’m going to put away the groceries while you eat.”
He moves everything close to me so I won’t have trouble reaching it and then gets up and walks into the kitchen. I take a few bites before I take the time to ask him the question. “So what’s up with the food and the groceries? You know I can feed myself, right?”
He nods and keeps putting stuff away. “I know.”
When he doesn’t say anything else, I eat some more of the wrap, watching him work.
When he gets to the last of it, I force my eyes to the empty plate in front of me. “Want some fruit?”
He’s holding the fruit out to me, and I shake my head. “I’m done. I’m stuffed. Thank you, Austin. The wrap really hit the spot.”
“You want me to put this in the fridge so you can eat it later?”
I nod and put one hand over my belly as I lean my head back on the couch. “That would be great.”
When he finishes putting everything away, he comes to sit next to me. I try not to tense up, but there’s no fighting it. Things have never been awkward between us, but I can’t help but feel that our relationship has been strained since I got pregnant, and it hasn’t helped that I turned him down when he’s tried to convince me to marry him.
I pull my shirt down farther over my belly and try not to fidget. “Okay, so are you going to tell me what you’re doing here?”
He moves to the middle cushion to sit right next to me. All I can do is watch as he leans forward, undoes the laces on his boots, slides his shoes off, and then props his feet up on the coffee table next to mine. “I’m staying.”
I laugh because I think he’s joking, but when all he does is stare at me with that challenging look that he’s mastered the last six months, the smile drops from my face. “You’re not staying here.”
He doesn’t react. He just keeps staring at me with that knowing look on his face.
“Austin, you’re not staying here.”
He just laughs. “I am. I packed a bag. It’s in my SUV, but I’ll get it out in a minute. Do you want to watch some TV?”
He picks up the remote, and I pull it from his hands. “Austin, you’re not staying here.”
He nods. “Yes, I am.”
I sputter. “But why?”
He drops his feet to the floor and turns toward me as he puts a hand on my knee. “Because I’m going to take care of you.”
I cut him off. “I can take care of myself.”
I don’t know if it’s the stress of the day or what, but emotions hit me hard. I’m wiping at the tears on my face as fast as they fall. I’m sobbing, and Austin probably can’t even make out what I’m saying, but I can’t stop rambling. “Why does no one think I can take care of myself? I’m doing the best that I can. I know I need to do better, and I’m trying. I’m trying so hard, Austin, but it’s not good enough. I’m not good enough… hell, I can’t even keep my baby healthy… myself healthy—”
He pulls me into his lap and circles his arms around me. I don’t fight him, and I lay my head on his shoulder and let my body melt into his. He kisses the top of my head. “Fuck, please stop crying, Ally. I can handle anything but when you cry, you know that.”