Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
His shoulders sag in defeat. "Okay, I get it, but that doesn’t mean I like it," he concedes.
I offer him a small smile. "I understand your position, and I appreciate your help, but I’m perfectly capable of walking down the hall to use the restroom."
He tenses and stares down at me. "I didn’t want you to trip."
"I’ve never tripped over the bathroom rug before," I gently say.
"But there’s a first time for everything. All it would take is one time for you to trip, and I’d never forgive myself. We should just get rid of it. All of the rugs, actually. They’re a trip hazard, and—"
"Harrison." I grab his hands and give them a squeeze. "The rugs stay."
Again, his shoulders sag. "Fine."
I can’t help but smile. It’s a small battle, but I feel like I just won the war. Harrison has always been overly protective of me, and I wouldn’t expect him to change now that I’m pregnant. However, that doesn’t mean I’m going to remove all my rugs or start drinking organic milk just because he thinks it’s better for the baby and me.
"To answer your question, I went to the eye doctor about a month ago and he suggested I wear cheaters. My vision for distance is fine, but when I’m reading, the words were a little blurry. It was just a small change, but it was enough to bug the shit out of me," he informs me.
"You’re not even thirty," I remind him, though it’s a moot point. I’m pretty sure he knows how old he is, which is a mere two months younger than me.
"I’m aware," he says with a small grin, but it’s replaced quickly with seriousness. "I’m sorry your birthday was ruined yesterday."
I think back on the entire day, from the party to the accident, resulting in a hospital stay. "I don’t really think it was ruined," I start. "It wasn’t exactly a great way to celebrate my thirtieth, but the end result was pretty fantastic," I add, meaning the baby.
His eyes brighten with excitement. "Yeah, that’s probably the best shocking news I’ve ever received," he says before sobering again. "I’m sorry I wasn’t there."
A lump forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe. "Why would you have been?"
"Because I vowed that I always would be."
My eyes burn as I stare at the man I was married to. "Sometimes things change. People change."
"Sometimes they make mistakes and realize it when it’s too late, but vow to make it right. I will make it right, Winnie," he whispers, my name a plea on his lips. I’ve always loved the personal nickname he gave me from when we first met. No one else calls me Winnie. Only Harrison.
I don’t know what to say. It’s not as cut and dried as he thinks, but I’m not completely against the idea either. The truth is: I love him. I’ve always loved him. From the first moment I saw him in the library, I knew he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. He was the one my heart would always yearn for. But somewhere along the way, we lost our way. We let work and lack of communication drive a wedge between us. I’m still not sure if we can get back what we once had, but I’m willing to try.
"Put the glasses back on," I state, changing the subject.
He gives me an odd look but does what I ask—though it was more of a statement than a question. Harrison doesn’t move as I bring my hands up to his face. His strong jaw is tight with tension as I cup it and stroke the coarse skin. There’s a definite five o’clock shadow, something I’ve always loved. I can feel his eyes blaze with fire as he watches me. I don’t make eye contact, instead keeping my eyes locked on my hands. I slide them up his cheeks and hear his breathing hitch.
Using my pointer fingers, I straighten the dark plastic glasses on his face. "I like these," I whisper.
"Yeah?" His voice is hoarse and gravelly.
Instead of speaking words, I nod and make eye contact for the first time. My heart hammers in my chest as our eyes remain locked. A whole slew of emotions and memories flood my mind, some good and some bad. They weren’t all the latter, though. Until right before the separation, there were far more of the good ones than the bad.
Harrison turns his face, kissing the inside of my palm. “I’ll wear them all the time if you’d like.”
A small smile plays on my lips. “That’s not necessary, but I wanted you to know how handsome you look.”
“More than just a gym rat?” he teases.
“You were never just a gym rat, but they do make you look more distinguished. Very debonair.”