Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“The nurse…” I stammered.
“Please.” He took another step. “Just give me this one concession. That’s all I’m asking.”
I shook my head. “It isn’t what I want.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and blew out a breath. He was heartbroken, but he didn’t understand. I wanted to tell him, but I couldn’t find the words. My pride and my heart were at war, and things with Ryland were never like this before. He usually took whatever it was he wanted, without question. And that included me.
But now there were so many different emotions between us. Emotions I didn’t even know how to deal with. This man before me was not the same man who’d blackmailed me ten months ago. He was not the same man who’d tried to kill my brother, or who had funded Norma’s addictions. This man was a broken, empty shell… and it was breaking me to see him this way. But he still wouldn’t let go of his anger over me hiding this from him. He seemed to be in the habit of taking his pain and twisting it into anger. And I didn’t know how to get through to him.
“Nicole said you’ve been tired,” he remarked. “I’m just trying to help, Brighton. In the only way that I can.”
It wasn’t the only way he could help, but again I was too proud to admit that.
“The nurse said something about a new apartment?” I asked. “What was she talking about?”
“That apartment isn’t going to work,” he said. “I think we both know that. I have a couple other places I’m looking into. I was going to text you and ask if you’d come look at them with me tomorrow.”
The way he said it was so business-like again, I hated it. But I nodded anyway.
“Please just give Emma a chance,” he continued. “Let her take some of your stress away, Brighton. It isn’t good for the baby.”
I frowned because I knew he was right. And when he put it that way, it sounded selfish of me not to take him up on it. Most women would probably kill to have what he was offering while they were pregnant.
“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll give her a chance.”
“Thank you.”
Silence fell between us, and it was awkward. Things had never been this way before. I didn’t know what to say or how to act anymore. So I turned to go.
“I’ve been doing some reading,” Ryland said. “I think you’re supposed to start feeling some movement soon.”
I nodded because I’d read the same thing in my baby book.
“Have you?” he asked. He looked worried like he was missing out on something.
“Not yet.” I smiled. “But I’ll tell you when I do, I promise.”
“Okay,” he agreed. “And I made you an appointment for next week to have an ultrasound, so we can go together. I think you’re due for one.”
I bit my lip and nodded. No way was I going to tell him that I already had an appointment in my old neighborhood. Besides, I wanted him to be there with me.
“Thank you.”
He cleared his throat and tore his eyes away. “Anyway, it’s late. So I guess you should probably get some rest.”
“Yeah.”
I walked towards the door solemnly.
“I’ll have Ted pick you up at noon tomorrow.”
“Okay, Ryland.”
“Goodnight, Brighton.”
“Goodnight.”
***
“So?” Ryland arched a brow at me expectantly as my eyes wandered over the apartment once more.
It was a luxury loft that took up the entire top floor of an apartment building. Complete with a bay view and all the comforts that anyone could ever want. And the real kicker? It had been divided into two living spaces. There was very little in the way of privacy, with only a sliding partition that extended between the lounge areas. Ryland had calmly explained that he would have one side, and I’d have the other.
“You want to raise our baby here?” I clarified. “In this sterile apartment?”
He looked miffed, but I didn’t care. Technically there was nothing wrong with the apartment, but the realization that he was committing to us being separated for the next eighteen years upset me. I knew it was ridiculous. This was what I told him I wanted. And now I was completely contradicting that. I wanted to blame it on the hormones, but I couldn’t even do that.
“What’s wrong with this one, Brighton?”
There was an edge of frustration to his voice, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to be here another moment.
“You can’t possibly think this would work,” I fumed. “What’s going to happen when you start dating again Ryland? You’re just going to bring your girlfriend back to the apartment while I’m sitting in the next room with your baby.”
He tore his eyes away from me and stared out the window. “It would never be like that.”
“You say that now,” I continued. “But you can’t possibly know that. You’re not going to be single forever.”