Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Wow, that’s shocking.”
“I know,” I laughed. “Everybody thinks it’s just one giant orgy, but trust me, it’s not. After bad relationships and long strings of even worse dates, I decided to snuggle up with a battery-operated boyfriend. Or two.”
She studied me for a long time, gathering her thoughts as she often did before saying something I wouldn’t want to hear. “I ran the test multiple times, and your blood results are here.” She sighed. “You’re pregnant, Rob, but you have some time to decide what you want to do.”
What I wanted to do was pull the sheet over my head and pretend that today stopped at that killer kiss against a tree, but that wasn’t an option. I hadn’t buried my head in the sand since high school algebra, and I wouldn’t start now. “Decide?”
Kayla nodded. “You have options, Rob.”
I knew that. Of course, I did. You couldn’t be a woman in this century and not know, but it didn’t take long to decide what I wanted in that regard. I want this baby. “Shit,” I whispered, more to myself than to Kayla. “I’m about to blow my life up, but Kay, I want this baby.”
She smiled. “You’ll be a great mom. Stylish and wise.”
Her words sent a charge of warmth through me, soothing the doubts before they even rose up within me. “I still have to talk to Levi, and I’m probably going to screw that up too. Things have been good between us, but this,” I pointed at my still-flat stomach, “will decimate it. Right?”
“Give him a chance,” she challenged me. “Levi might surprise you.”
Yeah, there was always the possibility that he would flash that heart-stopping smile in my direction and tell me that he would be there for me and the baby. The chance was too small to be measured by any piece of equipment known to man, but it was still there like a fleck of dust on a ray of sunlight. But I lived in the real world where he would politely tell me that he wasn’t ready for kids or that things were moving too fast. He might offer child support, but that was about it.
“Wow, that was a lot of emotions in just a few seconds.” Kayla laughed, her eyes wide with surprise. “Give him a chance. You said he’s a good guy.”
“He is, but instant fatherhood isn’t what he signed up for.”
“It’s not what you signed up for either, but here we are.”
“Good point, but I’m the one growing the baby and making the decision.” I shook my head to rid myself of the negative thoughts. “I can’t freak myself out over how he’s going to react. I’ll tell him and go from there, but either way, I need to get ready for the next chapter in my life.”
“That’s a good mindset, Rob.” Kayla stood and offered me a referral sheet and a gift bag.
“What’s in the bag?”
“Open it and see,” she answered with a gentle grin.
It was several sleeves of salted butter crackers and a six-pack of small ginger ale bottles. I looked up, confused.
“For the morning sickness. As you already know, it doesn’t just strike in the A.M. Nibble a few and take a few sips, it’ll help.”
My eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, Kayla. You are… the best.”
Her professional demeanor dropped, and she stood, circling the desk before she wrapped me in her arms. “You’re having a baby, Rob!”
“I’m having a baby,” I whispered and let those four words sink in. Those four words meant a different path, one I hadn’t expected when I returned to Holiday Grove. A path I now embraced, determined to become the best damn mom I could be.
Kayla pulled back to say more, but the crackle of the PA system sounded loud, calling her name along with a bunch of other words I took to mean there was an emergency. “Gotta go, but Rob, you’re gonna be great, and I’ll be right here to tell you as much when you forget.”
“Thank you, Kay. For everything.” I took my bag of goodies along with the referral to an obstetrician and left the hospital. It was too early to start my shift at the bar, but I knew I wouldn’t get much done at home if I didn’t at least attempt to talk to Levi.
Just tell him. Whatever happens, it’ll be okay. I repeated those words to myself over and over as I stared at the wooden door that would take me to Levi. I knew he was inside prepping for the day, just as I knew we’d have an hour or two alone if I went inside right now. “Just go!” I shouted inside the car before I got my ass in gear, stepping from the car. I took slow, careful steps until I was at the door.