Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
7
ANNIVERSARY
Ally
I moaned in protest when I felt Christian’s arms slide beneath me, gently lifting me from the car. “It’s alright,” he soothed as he gently closed his car door with his foot. “You fell asleep on the way home.”
“I didn’t mean to,” I mumbled, but I linked my arms around his neck and leaned my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes again with every intention of going back to sleep.
He brushed his lips to my forehead. “I know you didn’t, baby. Go back to sleep. I’ll put you to bed,” he assured me.
“No,” I mumbled. “I need to eat something so I can take my medicine.”
He brushed his lips to my forehead before he gently set me on the couch. “Let me go see what I can find for you to eat,” he told me before he set off for the kitchen.
I stood up from the couch and went into Christian’s room where my bag was. I set the small duffel on the bed and rummaged through it until I found my medicine bag. My brother had gotten it for me when I decided to enroll in college. It was a simple, black bag that had the word “Strength” on it in purple, cursive letters. I decided to put my medications in it.
I frowned down at it. When Christian saw all of the medications I had to take on a daily basis, surely he would run from me, wouldn’t he?
“What are you thinking so hard about over there?” Christian asked as he walked into the room. “I don’t have shit to eat that’s quick, so I ordered takeout. I need to go grocery shopping.” He glanced down at the bag in my hands. I tightened my grip on it, my heart thumping wildly in my chest.
“Medicine?” he asked me.
I swallowed nervously and nodded my head at him. He cupped the side of my neck and tilted my head back so I was looking directly up at him. “Beautiful, I’m never going to judge you. Stop freaking out so much. I know you have to take medications, and I know that from what I know of you, it’s probably quite a few. And that’s okay,” he soothed. “They help you. I’ll always support you in something that helps you and doesn’t harm you.”
“I take seven different medications,” I whispered. I searched his eyes, clinging to every bit of hope that I could that he wouldn’t turn his back on me. “You’re okay with that?”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and drew me into him, leaning down to softly kiss me. I moaned into the kiss, suddenly wanting him so badly that it hurt. His fingers dug into my sides, his tongue erotically dancing around mine as he deepened the kiss. I clawed at his shirt, my medicine long forgotten. I was desperate for him—a needy mess.
“Fuck,” he swore as he forced his lips back from mine. “Food, medicine, and then, I promise, baby, that I will sate every single need that you have.”
My cheeks flushed at his words. He flashed me a grin. “That sexy innocence of yours—don’t ever fucking lose it, beautiful.”
I stared at the picture on my phone through teary eyes. My ex had sent me yet another photo, informing me that they were having a girl, and they really wanted me to come to this baby shower.
He was standing behind Heather with his arms wrapped around her waist. She was wearing a bralette, and his hands were cupping her belly. Their other little girl was pressing a kiss to Heather’s swollen bump.
Why did he keep doing this to me? Did he enjoy torturing me with this shit?
I squeezed my eyes shut, a sob ripping from my throat.
Today was the anniversary.
And today, I got another sore, painful reminder that I was not a mom, that I had killed an innocent baby because I was a selfish, destructive bitch.
Christian stepped out of the bathroom. He was still shirtless from our shower, but he had taken longer in the bathroom because he needed to shave. And I was glad he stepped out at that time because I needed someone to hold me together before I started screaming. It was crawling up my throat, begging to be released.
“Ally, baby—” Christian began as he quickly began to move toward me, but I didn’t give him a chance to finish before I launched myself into his arms, sob after sob ripping from my chest, each one more painful than the last.
“I’m here, beautiful,” Christian soothed as he squeezed his arms around me, holding me to his muscular frame. He slowly walked me back toward his bed. “It’s okay, baby. I’m here,” he crooned. He peppered kisses all over my face, his hands gripping me like I might disappear right out of his arms if he didn’t hold me tight enough.