Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
I hated this – I hated that I had to act this way, that I had to be so cold and distant. I knew that the second I opened and became vulnerable, the news about Ada would come spilling out of my mouth and likely, Nico would never want anything to do with me again.
Or worse, he’d tell his family and they’d chase after me and buy the fanciest lawyer in New York to convince a judge that I wasn’t a competent single parent. My biggest fear in life was the thought of Ada being taken away from me, and there was no way that I was willing to risk losing my daughter just for another night of hot sex.
Except it’s not just sex, I thought immediately. It’s something more, and you know it.
I darted out of Nico’s condo before I could say anything else to incriminate myself. As soon as I was out on the street, I hailed a cab for home. It was an extravagant expense, one that I shouldn’t be making, but I didn’t feel like spending an hour on the subway. It was already late – almost ten – and I knew my father was probably wondering where I was.
The cabbie drove mercifully fast and I was home in less than half an hour. My dad was on the couch with the TV turned on low, and I kicked off my shoes and sat next to him.
“How did it go?” Dad asked.
“Oh, fine,” I said. I bit my lip and hoped he wouldn’t smell Nico’s cologne – or the whiskey – on me.
Dad put his hand on my shoulder. “Mind if I crash here tonight?”
“Of course not,” I said. “Ada will be so happy to see you in the morning.”
Dad nodded. “You know how I hate driving at night,” he said, and I felt another pang of guilt that I’d stayed behind at Nico’s for so long.
“I’ll make up the sofa bed,” I said.
“Thanks, honey,” Dad said. He got to his feet and helped me make the bed with my spare set of sheets. Then, I went into my room and showered and laid down. I was exhausted and spent, my body sore and still trembling from the amazing sex, but my mind was racing. I couldn’t stop thinking about Nico, and the night of passion that we’d shared. I knew that I had to get him out of my brain, for good, but that wasn’t going to be easy.
I also knew that I was more in danger of falling in love with him than ever before, and if I didn’t force myself to move on soon, it would be too late.
Eventually, I fell into a thin sleep.
The next morning, I woke up early and made breakfast. Dad was up playing with Ada in his room and I was just setting the pancakes on the table when there was a knock at the door.
“I called your brother,” Dad explained when he saw my confused face. “I thought it might be nice if we had a family breakfast.”
I smiled, glad for the distraction. “Sounds good,” I said. “Because I made a ton of food.”
I opened the door and pulled my younger brother into a hug. It was hard to believe that the sturdy, muscular guy in my arms had once been a shrimpy little kid with wispy brown hair and pale skin.
“It’s so good to see you,” I said honestly as we pulled away. “Things have been so crazy here.”
Topher took off his baseball cap and nodded. “Yeah, Dad said you’ve been working your ass off.”
I widened my eyes at the profanity, then jerked my head to gesture at Ada, who was sitting not three feet from the door.
Topher laughed, and I glared at him.
“Sorry,” he said, holding up his hands in mock-defeat. “I’ll be good, I promise.”
“I hope you’re hungry,” I said as I led him inside. “I made way too much.”
Topher kicked off his shoes, then walked over to the table and took a seat next to Ada, who was busy trying to butter her own toast.
“Heya, squirt,” Topher said. He ruffled Ada’s hair and she squawked happily up at him.
“Dopher,” Ada said, sticking out her tongue.
“She’s still having a little trouble with some letters,” I said. “But she’s learning how to write her name. Aren’t you, princess?”
Ada beamed up at me and my heart swelled with love, like it always did when I looked at my daughter.
“Sit, sit,” I said to my brother and father. They both sat, and I brought the pancakes in from the kitchen. We ate and talked and laughed, asking Ada questions about Dawning City and what she liked best about New York.
“So,” Topher said, meeting my eyes with his and raising a brow at me. “How are things with Mr. You-Know-Who?”