Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“How about I go get you some of that cheesecake you can’t seem to get enough of?”
“Fine,” I say, sitting down on the couch.
At this point, I’m willing just to have a little time alone.
“I’m going to take care of you, Felicity. Both of you.” He kisses my forehead and walks out the door.
I close my eyes, dropping my face into my hands. I don’t need him to take care of me. I’ve told him countless times. He saw me buying the pregnancy test and he’s been a leech ever since. He hasn’t asked if it’s his and I think it’s because he knows the answer.
You don’t need to be a math genius to figure it out.
I found out two months ago and that brings us right back to Christmas. Yep, Shepherd didn’t just give me a night to remember.
When I saw the positive test there was a moment, however fleeting, that I believed he would accept me and the baby. I imagined a life together.
But the longer it went without any contact, the more I realized it was just a foolish fantasy.
I’m an independent woman who makes a good living. I don’t need anyone to help me. It doesn’t mean I don’t want it.
The thing is, I want it with someone who doesn’t want me. There’s no way he’d want us both.
Karl thinks he’s going to step in and take charge. It seems he’s forgotten that he left me waiting at the altar. He acts as if nothing happened and I can’t do it. I told him I could try being friends for the sake of our history, but that’s all it will ever be. I no longer have feelings for him. I’m no longer attracted to him. I no longer love him. I’ve told him this and still he thinks he needs to constantly be here.
It’s nice and it’s annoying. I’d rather have my space and deal with my feelings in private. It seems every time I’m about to lose it, he knocks on the door. It just pisses me off even more.
I get up and look out the window and see Shepherd sitting there drinking his disgusting coffee. He doesn’t have a care in the world other than being the grumpiest neighbor there ever was.
“I don’t understand how you can even let him into your house. Have you forgotten what he did to you?” Emmie asks, standing in front of my desk.
“I haven’t forgotten anything. It doesn’t mean anything. He thinks I need help around the house since he up and left,” I lie.
No one knows I’m pregnant. No one but Karl and my mom. I’m not ready to tell everyone just yet. I’m not ready for the questions that I don’t have answers to. I’m not ready to tell everyone that I had a one-night stand with my neighbor and got pregnant. I’m not ready for the rumors and whispers. Small town and all.
So right now, my secret is mine to keep. I’m taking great care of myself and the baby is healthy. That’s all that matters for now.
“Tell him your sexy neighbor is more than willing to help with anything you need,” she says, laughing.
“Emmie, stop. I told you that’s over. It was a slip in judgment and it’s over.”
I refuse to look up from my computer because I know she’ll see the sadness in my eyes.
“Felicity, I don’t understand why you don’t just go talk to him. Ask him what happened,” she pushes.
This time I sigh and lift my eyes to hers. “I did talk to him. He was just as grumpy as ever. He knows it was a mistake.”
“He said that?”
“No, he didn’t say that, but ugh, it’s obvious. Now, please, just let it go. I have, you need to.”
“I’ll let it go.”
“Thank you,” I say, forcing a smile.
She shakes her head. “For now, but I refuse to believe it’s over. I saw the way he looked at you. That wasn’t a lie and it wasn’t a mistake.” I go to interrupt but she holds her hands up. “But for now I’m letting it go.”
Thankfully, she does let it go and the rest of my day is spent working and googling what the baby looks like today.
When I clock out of work, I decide to go to my mom’s house. Karl won’t come looking for me there and I can have a good home-cooked meal. As I pull up to her house, I see her sitting out on her porch, much like Shepherd does. Only she isn’t grumpy and she isn’t drinking God awful coffee.
“My baby girl,” she says, smiling as I walk up to the porch.
“Hi, Mom.”
She wraps her arms around me and I close my eyes, feeling the comfort of her hug.
“How are you feeling? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating enough?”