Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 74324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Jennifer started to sob.
“But I-I-I want m-my baby. She s-saved my life,” she cried.
I just stared at her.
“I am a law enforcement officer, Jennifer. You actively colluded with a drug dealer to drug me with the intent of raping me in order to get photographs for this dealer to use in an attempt to blackmail me. Despite your precautions, you became pregnant as a result of your role in these crimes against me. Now you have a drug dealer on your back who will not hesitate to use the baby to get to me directly and to keep you in line to get to me indirectly. There is no way that you can safely participate in the baby’s life without putting either of you in danger. To avoid either becoming the dealer’s puppet for life or the possibility of prosecution for your crimes, your only real option is to run, to never look back and to start over. Don’t you agree?” I asked carefully.
She shook her head vehemently. “No, you’re r-right. I’ll do it, I’ll go. And, Mig, I… I’m sorry. If that’s even worth anything to you now.”
I shrugged. “Maybe some day it’ll mean something. But right now, everything you told me is just too fresh and new. You raped me. I just don’t understand how doing that to me—to anyone—was a fair price to pay so you could get drug money. Most likely, I’ll never understand.”
She cried harder.
The doctor came in, and he looked at Jennifer with sympathy.
“Hormones make a lot of women cry uncontrollably,” the doctor said, misunderstanding the situation.
I didn’t correct him, because, honestly, I had no idea how to tell the doctor that the minute the baby was born, I intended to take her as far away from Jennifer as I could get her.
He’d wonder why, and then I’d have to lie, because no matter what, I would never make Jennifer out to be the devil.
“The nurse tells me that you’re having a back ache?” The doctor asked.
Jennifer nodded.
“Yeah, it’s been like this for the past week,” she replied.
And as I left the doctor’s office with a still sobbing Jennifer twenty minutes later, I was seriously regretting the decision not to tell the doctor just how much I disliked Jennifer and why.
Chapter 15
Every man either needs to stand up and be the man she needs you to be, or sit the fuck down so the man behind you can see her.
-Fact of Life
Annie
“No. Just no,” I said, shaking my head vehemently. “I’m not doing it.”
“She doesn’t have anyone else. And I don’t have another choice. Please don’t do this to me,” he pleaded.
She glared at me.
“Why do I have to be there? Why can’t I stay at my own place? What about my dog?” I countered.
Mig’s eyes narrowed.
“Because I don’t want to be there either. Unfortunately, someone needs to be around for Jennifer, since she was placed on bed rest and there isn’t anyone else, except me. And if you’re there, it’ll be a little bit more bearable,” he said evenly. “And we could move to your place above the salon, but it would be cramped for space. I’ll do either one that makes you more comfortable.”
“Why don’t you hire someone to watch over her?” I challenged.
He sighed and looked out the window.
“I tried that. And would do that, but it’s going to cost a fuckin’ whack, and I just bought some new land, and then put all the money down on a house that’ll be built within the next six months. I don’t have the money to spare,” he said defensively.
My head, which had been in my hands, went up slowly.
“You bought some land and a house?” I asked in alarm.
He nodded.
“Where?” I wondered.
“Off the highway. It butts up to the lake,” he said, pulling out his phone.
We spend the next ten minutes trying to decide where to put a house, and I had to say I was excited.
I’d never seen a house built from nothing.
I thought it’d be a fun experience to witness, even if it wasn’t my house.
“Are you going to go more modern or contemporary?” I asked, looking through Pinterest now for house plans.
“I don’t know. What do you like?” He asked randomly.
I shrugged.
“I like a more rustic look, but with a modern feel to it,” I told him.
He nodded.
“That’s kind of what I like, too,” he said, leaning over my back to look at the pictures I was looking at.
“Well, since you know what I like, maybe you can help me pick out some of the designs. I have to go, not tomorrow, but the next day to a few different appointments to pick out the flooring, cabinetry, and lights,” I said. “I want you to come with me.”
I nodded, then finally broached the subject that was really bugging me.
“You know it’s a form of torture, right, asking your present fuck buddy to live in the same house as your ex?” I said cautiously.