Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Silence on the other end. No background noise, just an eerie void.
“Hello?” I bark again. My annoyance seeps into my voice, but there’s still no response. I don’t give the mystery caller another second of my time and end the call with a frustrated grunt. And then I block the number.
Asshole.
The thought of moving to a new place briefly crosses my mind, but reality quickly sets in. Without a job, that’s not a feasible option.
“Back to the nursery,” I mutter to myself, trying to regain my composure.
I strip the bedding and snap photos of the furniture. Maybe selling these items will bring in some much-needed cash.
That’s a depressing thought, but I can’t let my pride get in the way of taking care of my baby.
I interrupt my cleaning frenzy to make some food even though I’m not all that hungry. The morning sickness hasn’t reared its head for a while, so now I’m hoping if I keep my tummy satisfied, it won’t come back.
A quick knock on the door sounds, and I freeze. I look at the door as if it’s going to fly open and attack me. It doesn’t, but a second round of knocking starts, and I reach for the bat I dug out of the closet weeks ago and creep slowly toward the door.
Who can it be? Josie always calls or texts before she comes over, and my mom has my spare key that she never hesitates to use, even though I insist she stop.
I pick up the phone to check for missed calls or texts from Josie or anyone else. But nope, not even Nova.
“Sophie!” The knocking is more insistent now, and my heart pounds in my chest loud enough to drown out my girl power music.
“Open the door, Sophie! I know you’re in there!”
Tank? I must be losing my mind. Tank couldn’t possibly be at my door.
“Sophie, don’t make me kick this door down.”
Tank! Oh my God! It’s really him!
I rush to the door, hesitating just long enough to peek through the peephole. Sure enough, it’s him! My heart is about to burst. Could this really be happening?
“Open the damn door, Soph! It’s me, Tank.” I jump and squeak before I fumble with the locks and open the door.
The moment I fling open the front door, Tank’s face splits into the biggest, brightest smile I’ve ever seen, his eyes lighting up like stars.
“Sophie!” he cries out joyfully, immediately sweeping me up into his strong arms and spinning me around. I can’t help the giddy laughter bubbling out of me as he whirls me through the air.
When he finally sets me down, I feel breathless and dizzy. Tank crushes his lips to mine, kissing me deeply until we’re both gasping for air. We break apart wearing matching ear-to-ear grins, foreheads touching as we gaze at each other.
“I can’t believe you’re really here!” I exclaim a little breathlessly, unable to contain my excitement.
Tank tenderly caresses my cheek, his eyes never leaving mine. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Soph. The moment I got released, I came straight here to you. I had to see my gorgeous baby mama.” His voice drops low and gravelly with emotion.
Slowly, almost reverently, he sinks to his knees in front of me. With a gentleness I didn’t even know he possessed, he spreads his big hand over my stomach. When he speaks, his voice is hushed and gentle. “Hey there, little one. I’m your dad.”
Watching Tank connect with our unborn baby makes my heart swell with emotion. But I still have so many doubts, so many unanswered questions about where we go from here.
As Tank rises to face me, his eyes glowing with affection, I tamp down the concerns swirling in my mind. For now, I let myself get caught up in the dizzying rush of emotions...but inside, my thoughts churn like a storm-tossed river. Is this it? Can we make this work? Raise a child together?
Tank brushes his thumb over my cheek, and I shiver, desire sparking through me in spite of my questions.
“I’ve missed you, Soph,” he says. Before I can react, his mouth is on mine in a searing kiss that melts my doubts, at least for the moment.
When we finally break apart, breathing hard, Tank looks at me and says, “I want this. Us. Our family.”
For the first time in my life, I’m speechless.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Tank
Walking out of County Jail and into the bright California sunshine as a free man made me feel fucking wonderful. Walking straight into Sophie’s warm and welcoming arms? Nothing fucking sweeter than that.
As soon as her shock fades, I can tell she’s excited to see me.
Sophie looks gorgeous as fuck in that thin t-shirt that highlights her round tits and hard nipples that tell me her mind is exactly where mine is.
But then I look at the way the t-shirt hugs not just her tits but her belly. Our baby. She’s bigger than I expected and even hotter because of it. I take a step forward, hand shooting out, eager to touch my growing baby.