Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
She nods solemnly.
Even if I’m not pregnant, I still have to talk with Lincoln. We’ll need to use a backup method if he doesn’t want to risk a pregnancy.
Fortunately, the rest of the day passes easily. I feel pretty lucky that the nausea is mild though I know it could get worse in the coming weeks. I wish I could call my mom and ask her questions. She hasn’t reached out to me once since I left town. You’d think she would be worried about me.
I still text Scarlett every day and she keeps reminding me that whether I’m pregnant or not, everything will be OK. She’s also promised to come here and kick Lincoln’s ass if he’s not supportive.
When Lincoln gets home tonight, it’s well after midnight and I’m already asleep in his bed with the kids around me. The twins and I sleep in his bed when he’s gone. I like the way it smells like him and the kids enjoy getting to watch cartoons until their eyelids are heavy.
He moves around the twins to pull me in his arms and lets out a soft, contented sigh. “We should do something fun tomorrow. Just you and me.”
I can’t help smiling. Even though we’re busy, he makes me a priority. He’s always touching me, and we make love regularly, careful to avoid getting caught by the kids. But it’s more than that. He always talks to me about his day. Really talks and he listens when I tell him about my hopes and dreams. He makes me feel seen and heard. “I have errands and a doctor’s appointment.”
“Good idea. Establish care in a new town.” He yawns. “Tomorrow after errands then.”
Lincoln
“So pretty,” Pearl exclaims over the vintage ruby ring that I’m showing her. I could have gone for a traditional diamond, but something tells me that Lucy will like this better. She’s my little firecracker and the ruby will always remind her of that.
Right now, I’m here at the Wildflower Retirement Home where Pops has been doing his hip rehab. He complained about everything for the first week he was here. The food wasn’t flavorful. His room was too hot. The staff was too damn cheerful. Then he met Pearl, another resident, and he hasn’t had a single complaint since. Now everything is wonderful, and each new day is a miracle. Guess I’m not the only one in love.
He should be just about ready to leave the retirement home and return to his normal living. I suspect his recovery has been just a bit slower than normal. But I’m not going to call him on it. If he’s happy with Pearl, then I’m happy for him.
“That’s quite the ring.” My father leans across the table and squints at the oval cut ruby surrounded by diamonds. It was a custom piece but worth every penny.
“It’s a secret,” Lyla says. We’re in the courtyard of the retirement home having lunch with her grandfather and Pearl.
“More secrets,” Leo mutters as he chews another bite of the gluten free pasta that Lucy made him for lunch. It didn’t matter that she had a busy day of errands and a doctor’s appointment today. She still packed to-go lunches for all of us. I’ve tried to tell her that on my days off, I can pull more of my weight. But she just fusses and shoves me out of the kitchen. I think she likes clucking over us.
Still, Leo’s words snag my attention. I pride myself on knowing what’s going on with my kids at all times. They’re too young to feel as if they have to keep a bunch of secrets. “What secrets?”
“There were no cookies!” Lyla protests.
I squint at her and just wait. I wouldn’t be mad if she ate something that wasn’t gluten-free. But I try to keep her from those foods, so her little tummy doesn’t get upset. It can take days for Lyla to feel good again after she’s accidentally ingested even a little bit of gluten.
“No tossed cookies,” she clarifies, seeming to realize she’s given something away.
Pearl gives her a grandmotherly smile. “Were you throwing up, dear?”
She looks to me then back at Pearl. She holds up a hand to whisper behind, but it doesn’t matter. My girl doesn’t have a clue how to whisper. “Lucy tosses cookies. It’s a secret, shh.”
Lucy is throwing up. I thought when she said she had a doctor’s appointment she was establishing care. I didn’t even think to ask if anything was going on with her health. That’s when the sickening truth hits me. We’ve been doing it without a condom for weeks now. I’m in her every chance I get.
Hell, I took her in the shower this morning. Fucked her against the shower wall twice before I could let her go. It wasn’t enough. It’s never enough with Lucy. My cock is permanently hard because of that woman.