Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 61542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
“Everything?” I ask, a smile on my lips. There’s nothing I love more than talking about my son. “That might take a while.”
“I have time,” Adam says quickly.
Maybe this is a bad idea, but I can’t say no when all he wants is to hear some stories about his own son. After today, I can’t deny him that.
I can tell he actually cares about William, and that can only be a good thing.
Adam listens intently to every word I say, as if afraid he’s going to miss something crucial, even though I’m just telling him about William’s favorite colors.
William loved yellow for months, and now suddenly, he hates yellow with a passion and loves blue with about the same amount of passion. He won’t even let me put on a yellow shirt on him anymore.
“Sounds like the two of you have been through a lot together.” Adam’s sitting on the couch beside me, leaning one arm against the back as he faces me.
This is the first time I get a chance to take a good, close look at him. And my eyes keep getting drawn to the tiny, inconspicuous details of him.
His leather jacket is resting on the arm of the couch. The top couple of buttons of his Henley are open, and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. The veins in his forearms pop against his skin, and he has a long, strong neck.
“William’s completely changed my life,” I say. “Now, I don’t even remember what it used to be like before him.”
“You must be the strongest, bravest person I know.” Adam stares at me with so much honesty I can’t even laugh at his grandiose statement.
“You must not know a lot of people,” I say gently, thanking him with a smile for the compliment.
Adam chuckles. “That’s actually true,” he says. “That’s what my mom says all the time.”
“You’re close with your mom?” Somehow, I find that surprising.
In my mind, over the past three years, I’ve built up this image of Adam as some filthy monster. But today, he’s challenging all my opinions about him.
“Yeah. She says I work too much.” Adam takes a deep breath as he continues to gaze at me. “Was it a big surprise, when you found out you were pregnant?”
I fall silent. I didn’t expect him to ask a question about me. So far, I’ve just been telling him about William.
“It was,” I say finally.
“Yeah. It must’ve been. I remember distinctly that we used protection.”
“That’s not all.” I used to hate having to tell people about this because I didn’t want anyone to pity me. But since I had William, I’ve loved telling people about what a miracle he is. “I thought I couldn’t have children.”
Adam’s eyes widen. Instead of pity, his face softens with sympathy and understanding. “That’s why you decided to keep him.”
“That was a big part of it, yeah,” I admit. “Maybe it was strange and superstitious, but I felt like, if I didn’t keep the baby and raise him, the universe would never again give me another chance . . . you know?” I laugh nervously. “I didn’t think I could live with that kind of guilt and regret.”
Adam nods. “I should’ve been there for you. I’m sorry.”
“No, we never . . . It wasn’t like that between us, was it? I mean, it wasn’t like you promised me anything . . . I just didn’t think—”
“Katie, I was besotted with you that night. You have no idea the lengths I’ve gone to, just to find you.” Adam levels his gaze at me. “If you’d only asked, I would’ve done anything for you.”
I give Adam a flat stare.
Really? We’ve been getting along so well all day, and now he pulls out this nonsense?
“Come on,” I say. “Now you’re just mocking me. We both know it was nothing like that. It was just dirty fucking with some girl from the sex club.”
“What? It was nothing like that.” Adam frowns. “Dirty? Sure. Fucking? Yeah, definitely. Sex club? Ditto. But you weren’t just ‘some girl.’”
“You can tell me the truth. I’m not going to cry about it. I’m a big girl. I can take it.”
“Why did I keep coming to the club, looking for you, then? I know you have no way of knowing if I really did that, but you are aware that I had Sawyer looking for you for two years, right?” he asks.
“Like you said, I have no way of knowing if you really went looking for me. And as for hiring Sawyer, I don’t really care. You probably have so much money it’s burning a hole in your pocket anyway.”
“Someone’s been Googling me.” Adam smirks.
“I didn’t have to. You got into The Succubus. Only rich, powerful people did.”
“Okay. Fair enough. But also, rich, powerful people don’t have time to waste on unimportant matters.”