Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Oh.” I remembered lunch. “My mom wants to meet you.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
I held up a hand to indicate caution. “She’s extremely critical, so we don’t get along that well.” Tammy nodded her understanding. “But she threatened to ambush you if I didn’t bring you over.”
Tammy giggled, wrapping one hand around her mouth like an embarrassed teen. I fell into those deep hazel eyes and wanted to wrap myself around her. Sitting at the kitchen table in her pajamas, she looked so innocent, like a unicorn that had wandered out of the forest and into my home. As I watched, she straightened and sobered.
“What are we, Mike?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Are we friends? Roommates? Or is there something more?”
“I thought we were dating.” I looked into her eyes, imagining the softness of her lips. “I’m not seeing anyone else. I accidentally called you my girlfriend when I was talking to the owner of this cabin.”
“Really?” She fawned, batting her eyelashes. It was adorable.
“Really. I mean, do you wanna be my girlfriend?”
She presented her hand to me in mock ceremony, and I kissed it. “I accept.”
I let our hands fall, still entwined, to the surface of the table. “I’ve never had a serious relationship before.”
“I know,” she said.
“So, I might make some mistakes, and I’ll need you to be honest and understanding.” I hoped to encourage her to be more open in the future. I wanted to be with her, but I didn’t want to feel the way I had felt all day. It had been torture not knowing if she was angry at me, feeling worried and helpless at the same time.
“I will. But you’re doing a great job.” She got up from her chair and came to sit on my lap.
I watched her descend with fascination. This was more action than I had gotten in the last three days combined. She allowed me to place my hands on her thighs, to hold her as she picked up my chin. Her kiss was sweet and lingering, provoking the obvious reaction. We made love, dispelling all of my fears in one glorious act. Now the house finally felt like home, and Tammy felt like my girlfriend. We were on the verge of something great, facing the world as a couple. There were just those two pesky little secrets standing in our way.
20
TAMMY
The customer stood in front of the register, fluffing her newly trimmed hair.
“You look wonderful,” I said, swiping her card.
“Thank you,” the woman said. “My grandnephew is having a birthday, and the whole family will be there.”
“Be careful you don’t steal the thunder from the birthday boy,” I teased.
“Go on.” She blushed, accepting her card back.
When she left, the store was empty, just me and Lindsey. Ava, the other hairdresser, was on her break. I liked these little lulls in the traffic flow, but I understood Lindsey would rather be making money. I started opening the mail, just to keep busy. Lindsey sat down in the waiting area to rest her feet. I realized she hadn’t had a break all day.
“So how are things going with Mike?” she asked.
I set the mail down. “Okay, sort of.”
“What does ‘sort of’ mean?”
“Well, we’re going to Mike’s parents for dinner. I’ve already met his dad. Now I’m supposed to meet his mom.”
“And that scares you because it’s a big step?” Lindsey guessed.
I nodded. “It is a big step. Mike says that his mom is really critical, and they don’t get along well. But there’s something else. There’s something that he’s not telling me.”
“Like what?” She sat forward.
“I don’t know,” I puzzled. “His dad let something slip about Mike’s ‘bad-boy past.’ And I met an old friend of his a few days ago, and there was something they were trying real hard not to say.”
“Maybe you need to sit him down after your dinner and ask him to tell you the truth,” Lindsey suggested.
I flinched. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I have my own secret. If he told me his, I would have to tell him mine, and I’m not ready to do that yet.” I squirmed.
“Do you mind my asking?” Lindsey pressed.
“I’m pregnant,” I obliged.
“Oh my God!” Lindsey sat straight up. She leapt to her feet and pulled me into a hug. “Congratulations! This is going to change so many things. Of course, you’ll come back to work after the baby?”
“Of course,” I answered, just now realizing that I could have been more tactful in telling my boss I was expecting.
Lindsey dropped the hug and stepped back. “You haven’t told him?”
I shook my head. “I’m scared. We haven’t known each other that long. What if he doesn’t want to be a father?”
“Oh honey,” Lindsey clucked sympathetically, “I know exactly what you’re going through. I was afraid to tell Jason that I was pregnant with Mary Ellen, and he found out in the worst possible way. You just need to rip the Band-Aid off, look him straight in the eye, and blurt it out. There are not many good ways to break the news, but you don’t want it to come out in a bad situation.”