Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
TRISTAN
“I have to use the restroom,” she says before she turns and walks out of the room, leaving me with my heart so full it could burst out of my chest. My eyes stay right where I last saw her retreating back. I take a second before I turn my head around and sit down on the couch, the thumping of my heart settling down as I replay the words in my head over and over again. I’ve been in love with you since you walked into the hospital room to meet Penelope.
That day is etched in my mind forever. Walking in and seeing Penelope in Abigail’s arms is something I will remember until my last breath. My legs start to move up and down with nerves, replaying all her words. My head was spinning as she stood there with tears in her eyes, and all I wanted to do was kiss her and make sure she was okay.
My legs move before my head tells me to give her space, except I can’t not go to her. I walk to the bathroom, hearing the water running. My hand comes up to knock on the door instead of waiting for her. The water turns off. “Abigail.” I whisper her name softly, wanting nothing but to look at her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she mumbles, but the door doesn’t open. “I’ll be right out.”
“Okay,” I say, walking back to the couch and waiting for her, thinking about what to say to her. Knowing this is the only chance I’m probably ever going to get.
I hear the bathroom door open and then look over at the hallway where I know she will walk out. She walks to me with her shoulders back and her head held high. Fuck, I keep saying she’s beautiful, but she’s so much more than that. “How are you feeling?”
“Good,” she replies, avoiding looking at me as she comes in and sits next to me on the couch.
“Abigail…” I start saying her name, and she shakes her head.
“Please don’t,” she says softly.
“If not now, then when?” I ask, and she looks at me. “If I can’t tell you how I feel now, then when?” I smile at her and can’t help but hold up my hand to cup her cheek. “Before anything, I want you to know one thing.” I swallow, and so does she. “What I’m about to say has nothing to do with the fact that you are carrying our child.” My thumb rubs her cheek. “And everything to do with me and you. When I found out you were pregnant, I was crushed. Physically, emotionally, and mentally crushed. I had my chance with you. I had that one night with you, and I ruined it. I got up when I heard the guys talking about you and walked out of the room. I couldn’t stand it. It was as if someone reached inside me and yanked out a piece of my heart.”
She licks her lip as her blue eyes turn even more crystal, and I hope I can spend the rest of my life looking into them as more than just her baby daddy. “I fell in love with you two years after I met you,” I admit to her, and her mouth opens. “I can even pinpoint when it was. It was after a hockey game, and I came to find Penelope, and she was in your arms sleeping. You sat by yourself rocking my daughter in a corner, refusing to move when someone called you over.” She gasps. “I watched you from the door. You were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. You are even more so now.” I try to laugh at the correction. “I’ve been in love with you for years. Watching from afar.” I shake my head. “Trying not to be the creepy guy who is caught watching. I thought you were so far out of my league, and I came with baggage. I just couldn’t do it to you.”
“She isn’t baggage,” she quickly counters.
“Reason five million twenty-seven thousand as to why I love you.” I get closer to her. “You are the first girl I’ve been with since I got Penelope.” She gasps. “You are the only one I want to be with. I can’t explain it, but I feel complete when you and Penelope are around. Like it was always meant to be us. Asking you to move in with us was more about my need to have you close than anything else.” She smiles through her tears, and I can’t not move in and kiss her. My lips fall onto hers so softly I can taste her tears. “Please stop crying. I don’t like it.”
“Okay,” she says before she leans in and kisses me. “I’ll try.” Her tongue slides into my mouth, and I swear I moan out loud. I’m about to turn my head to the side and take the kiss deeper when my phone rings. I let go of her lips. Going over to my phone and grabbing it, I see it’s an alarm to go pick up Penelope.