Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“Oh my gosh! Look at you!” She slaps Justin’s shoulder. “Why have you been keeping Aubrey a secret from all of us?”
Justin pulls me into his side and wraps an arm around my waist. “Look at her. Can you really blame me for wanting to keep her all to myself for as long as I can?”
“Not at all.” She grins and pokes him in the abs. “Just don’t expect me to be as tightlipped about her as you’ve been. Kenton’s been wondering what’s been distracting you lately, and I can’t wait to brag about how I found out what it was before he did.”
I don’t quite understand what all Justin does for work, but I recognize his boss’s name. “Do you work for Kenton too?”
“Nope, I’m a nurse.” She lifts her left hand and flashes a sapphire-and-diamond ring with a matching band. “I’m married to Kenton.”
“Oh!” I feel a big wave of relief as I grasp her connection to Justin. She’s his boss’s wife, and very happily taken, judging by the gleam in her eyes when she talks about her husband. “Justin talks about him a lot,” I say.
“Should I be offended that you haven’t talked about me a lot?”
“Sweetcheeks, don’t fucking start.”
“Sweetcheeks?” I echo softly, stiffening a little.
“It’s a stupid nickname Justin came up with to mess with Kenton,” Autumn explains with a roll of her eyes.
“He makes it too easy.” Justin shakes his head then tips his head down to look at me. “The idiot knows she’s like my sister.”
“Again, I’m thinking I should be offended that you haven’t talked about me,” Autumn inserts, and I relax completely, listening to their banter and better understanding their relationship.
“Well, I better head out. I have a few more errands I need to run before I go home, and we both know Kenton will only be able to hold off calling me for so long, wondering when I’ll be back.” She gives us both a hug before walking to the door and turning to look at me over her shoulder. “I’d love to hang out together some time.”
I pat my belly. “I’d love that, but it’s hard for me to make plans right now, because my daughter is due any day now.”
“You’re having a girl?” She grins. “Is there anything you need? Or can I go crazy buying tiny, pink clothes for a baby gift?”
My cheeks fill with heat. “Oh! That wasn’t a hint for gifts or anything like that.”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart.” Justin tucks me in closer to his side. “Autumn’s just looking for an excuse to go shopping.”
She nods. “I really am.”
“Well then, I guess whatever you want to buy will be wonderful. Thank you.”
“My pleasure!” She pulls the door open. “Since Justin’s like a brother to me and I can see from how he looks at you that he thinks of you as his, that makes you and the baby mine too.”
“Umm, okay,” I whisper as the door shuts behind her, not sure what she means.
“She’s a bit of a whirlwind, but she means well.” Justin tugs me over to the couch, gets me settled on the cushions, and hands me a shopping bag from a department store at the mall. “And she’s got great taste in shit like this.”
My head is spinning as I pull three blankets out of the bag. The first one is made from a fuzzy cream material, the second is a beige faux fur, and the third is super soft and pink. “They’re amazing. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He sits down next to me and kisses the top of my head as I spread the beige blanket over my lap. “We’ve got to do what we can to keep you relaxed. Stress isn’t good for you or the baby.”
I cuddle against his muscular chest. “Sorry I was such a mess earlier. These pregnancy hormones are no joke, and I was hoping for better news from the doctor today.”
“You don’t owe me any apologies, sweetheart. I’m here for whatever you need.”
I tilt my head back and search his blue eyes. The only thing I see in them is complete sincerity. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“Of course,” he replies softly, and my throat burns.
I know my parents and brothers love me, but I ran away from Vegas because they couldn’t see past their anger and be there for me in the way I needed.
It’s been a long time since I felt like I had someone who was really on my side. It’s really, really nice. So nice that my silly hormones go crazy and I feel my eyes fill with tears. I try to fight them back, but one slips through my lashes then another and another.
“I wasn’t trying to make you cry.” He swipes his thumbs over my cheeks. “Being here for you is supposed to be a good thing.”