Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 104288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Needless to say, that’s not what happened. Becca wasn’t doing well after Katie was born. She said point-blank she didn’t feel a bond with the baby. Her doctor diagnosed her with postpartum depression, which she took medication for. That seemed to help. But then one day I come home from work to find her bags by the door.” He wipes his eyes with his thumb. “She said she was sorry but she didn’t want to be a mom or a wife. It wasn’t the depression, or the baby, or any of that shit. It was just who she was—someone who didn’t want to be tied down.”
My voice trembles when I ask, “Did you believe her when she said that?”
He shrugs. “What choice did I have? Her family was fucked up, so I think that did a number on her psychologically. And one of the things that made me fall in love with her was her wildness. She didn’t give a fuck what anyone thought. While I appreciate that now, I can see how the life I wanted didn’t jive with what made her happy. But I was stubborn, and I convinced myself she would change as we got older.” He swallows. “That was unfair of me. I get that now. But back then . . .”
“Don’t tell me you blame yourself for what happened.”
His eyes lock on mine. In the dark, they shine with emotion. “How could I not? And regardless of who’s at fault, Katie still doesn’t have a mother.”
“What happened between you and Becca was tragic. The life you’ve given Katie is not.”
He sniffles again. His hand finds my leg and he gives it a squeeze. “Thank you for that.”
“It’s true. You have to know you’re her whole world. She loves you because you’re so damn good to her.”
“She loves you too, you know,” he says softly.
Tears spill out of my eyes. “I love her.” I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with you too.
His eyes are imploring when he says, “We have to handle this carefully. With Katie, I mean. Kid’s had enough disappointment in her life. I want this to be happy news.”
“I agree. I don’t think we tell her about the baby until we’re sure everything’s okay. I was reading the packet Dr. Yelich gave me, and it sounds like once we hit the twelve-week mark, the chance of a miscarriage goes way down.”
Tuck nods. “All right. I like that plan.”
My heart thuds in my chest. I’m afraid to ask about us. What we are. How we should act around Katie.
But Tuck put himself out there by kissing me like the world was ending just now. Maybe it’s my turn.
“I think we go about life as usual,” I say. “In terms of you and me. We can do whatever we want together after hours. But when Katie’s with us, we keep it friendly.”
Tuck’s lips twitch. “As long as I don’t gotta be your friend at night, I’m good with that. Just your friend, I mean. I’m done keeping my hands off you, Tiny.”
“I have discovered my orgasms have gotten much, much better since I found out I was pregnant.”
He cocks a brow. “Who you thinkin’ about when you’re having them?”
“You.” My heart is still going apeshit inside my chest, but the word comes out easily. “Always, always you.”
“I heard you once. When you were in the shower.”
I jerk. “What?”
Grinning, he holds up his hands. “It was innocent, I swear. Or it was until I stayed in your kitchen and listened to you come. It was that night we came out here the first time. You forgot your phone in the kitchen, so I brought it over to the crofter. You didn’t answer your door and I stuck my head inside. That’s when I heard you say my name. Moan it, really.”
I cover my face with my hands. “Surely that was illegal.”
“How hot you sounded with my name on your tongue? Yes. That is definitely illegal.”
I give his shoulder a playful shove. “So now you know I’ve had a crush on you since day one.”
“Tiny, I’ve had a crush on you since you complimented my neck tattoo.” He points to the wave rising in blue and black ink up the side of his throat. “You were so fucking sharp.”
“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”
“It is, though. You were sharp, like you were smart. Witty. And you weren’t afraid to look me in the eye. I liked that.”
I look at him. He looks back. Feeling swells between us.
“We’re really doing this,” I whisper.
His gaze doesn’t waver when he replies, “I think so, yeah. I’m gonna try my best, Tiny. Try to be good to you. And try to be the man you and the baby need.” He nods at my middle. “I know how to be a dad. But I gotta learn how to be a partner.”