What I Should’ve Said (Red Bridge #1) Read Online Max Monroe

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Chick Lit, Contemporary Tags Authors: Series: Red Bridge Series by Max Monroe
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Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
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Tears sting my eyes as every emotion flashes through me in a blink. Hope and worry and happiness and a sad, deep longing for Summer. Missing her is just part of who I am now. And I know that goes for Bennett, too, but on an even deeper level.

Two weeks after he proposed and we reunited, I had my first ultrasound, and the audible sounds of our baby’s heartbeat brought us both to tears. It felt like Summer was in the room with us. Like she was right there, watching the screen, and witnessing her little brother or sister move around in my belly.

But ever since then, in the back of my mind, I’ve been waiting on pins and needles to find out the results of my blood work.

“Do you have a minute for me to go over them with you?”

I inhale a deep breath and brace myself. “Yes.”

It doesn’t matter that I’m standing in the middle of the frigid outdoors of Vermont in November or that I was already running behind. I’d stop in a pool of fresh lava to hear this without delay.

“Okay, great. Let’s see. As far as genetic abnormalities…we didn’t find any. With the risk of OI, we’ll likely do another ultrasound at eighteen weeks or so to be conclusive, but Dr. Vesper is fairly confident we’re looking at a happy, healthy baby.”

I swallow hard, putting a hand over my mouth to stop a sob. Everything inside me feels like it’s just been released from a vise. “We can also tell you the sex, if you’d like. Is that something you’re interested in knowing, or would you like to wait?”

Truly, I hadn’t even considered whether we’d find out or not, but right now, in this moment, I know with absolute certainty. “I want to know.”

“Well then, congratulations. It’s a girl!”

It’s all I can do to get out a shaky, “Thank you,” and hang up the phone before stumbling through fallen leaves the rest of the way into Bennett’s studio. His coffee cup is forgotten, and if the dang thing wasn’t so expensive, I definitely would have left the laptop behind too.

As it is, I carry it just inside the door and ditch it as soon as I can. A leaf sticks to my bare foot, and I lean down to pull it off.

Like a lightning bolt, it hits me.

The leaves that’ve hit me in the face every time I’ve gone to Summer’s grave, the leaves at my feet, the leaf I just pulled away… Summer may be gone for now, but our sweet girl made sure to bring us the next season.

“Autumn,” I say, startling Bennett from his work as he notices my red-mottled skin and altogether rattled exterior for the first time.

“What? Jeez, Norah, are you okay? How long were you outside like that?” He rushes toward me, putting down his brushes and wiping his hands before pulling me into his arms and rubbing at mine vigorously to encourage more circulation.

“I’m fine. I’m good. Actually, I’m great. I…well, I stopped to take a phone call from the OB’s office.”

Bennett’s entire body freezes.

“They were calling to tell me that the genetic testing came back normal.” His eyes fall closed, and I swear I feel the sting of his tears in my own nose. “And they also told me it’s a girl.”

He pulls back slightly, his entire body rigid, but his blue eyes warm with emotion. “A girl?”

“A girl.” I smile through the tears that are now making their way down my cheeks. “And I want to name her Autumn.”

His voice is a whisper. “Norah.”

“This baby is a gift from Summer, Ben. I know it in my heart and soul. Our Summer brought us Autumn.”

Bennett nods, his throat no doubt too clogged to talk at first. When he finds the words, they’re noticeably raspy. “It’s perfect.”

His lips find mine, and I give in to the feeling I get every time they do. It’s comfort and happiness and right on the edge of passion. It’s the kind of kiss that you want to repeat over and over and over again for as long as you live.

I giggle softly when he finally pulls back, and his lips find my neck, working a line from my chin down to my collarbone. “I have to go make you a new cup of coffee. I left the first one out in the cold.”

He snorts, and the vibration of air is enough to make me tingle all the way to my toes. “Probably a good place for it.”

I guffaw. “Excuse me! I’ve gotten a lot better at coffee-making, I’ll have you know.”

He laughs. “Not better enough.”

“Fine, then. Get your own coffee, why don’t you?”

Bennett smiles. “I will. But I’m going to get something else first.” He lifts me up by the hips, and I gasp, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his waist.



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