Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“I can’t slow down! You’re in labor!” She shouts as she slams on the brakes. She jumps out of the car while the vehicle is teetering back and forth from its sudden stop. I unbuckle my belt and open my door, wondering if my legs will hold me up. “Woman in labor! Call an ambulance!” she shouts. I hold my head down, wondering if Diesel will kill me if I kill his daughter. I figure he might, plus I like Lottie, so I nix the idea. As I try to stand, a large, dark, and scarred hand reaches out to help me. I look up and King’s dark eyes are staring back at me, full of concern. So much for hoping he was back in Virginia.
“Hey,” I murmur as he helps me stand up. I have to admit I’m grateful for the support, because my legs are shaky as hell. I need my car back. I’m never riding with Lottie again.
“Careful, Gabby. Do you need me to carry you?”
“Carry me?” I squeak.
“You’re in labor, although why that crazy chick brought you here and not the hospital, I don’t understand.”
“I’m not in labor,” I whisper. His forehead crinkles as he looks at me with obvious confusion. My gaze lifts to the crowd that’s gathering around us, and I rethink the whole killing Lottie thing. Maybe I could just take nasty revenge on her. Then, I remember I’m not the person I used to be and, as such, revenge is out of the question. “I’m not in labor,” I deny again, so that everyone around us can hear me.
“What’s going on, then? And why was Lottie driving like a bat out of hell?” Rory, Diesel’s old lady, asks.
“I was having pain, but it wasn’t labor pains. It started as we turned onto the road leading here and supercool, normally badass Lottie disintegrated—leaving me with panic-ridden-thinks-she-is-Mario-Andretti Lottie. If I’d known that was going to happen, I would have kept the pains to myself.”
I see King’s lips twitch and realize he’s still holding my hand, helping me to stand. I quickly let go and take a step back, forcing a smile on my face for everyone here.
“You think I’m badass?” Lottie asks with a grin. I roll my eyes. “Coolest chick I know, Lottie.”
“Stop, it will go to her head and we’ll never hear the end of it,” Aspen, her sister, responds. I let out a giggle.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Gabby, honey? Maybe Dragon and I should take you to urgent care just to make sure,” Nicole offers, walking toward me and running her hand over the side of my face—as if her touch could take away the pain. It kind of does, but it’s more so because no one has touched me like that except my parents and that was before I turned into a crazy, she-bitch from hell and got my brother killed on the side of a road. I manage to hold back the tears that threaten to spring up out of nowhere. I chalk it up to pregnancy hormones and smile at her, capping my hand over hers.
“I’m fine. The doctor said as I get closer to delivery it would happen. She even warned me that my little jellybean would stop moving as much because she didn’t want me to panic. I’m good, promise.”
“I still think you should be seen,” she argues.
“I do, too,” Dragon adds in. My gaze jerks up to look at him in shock. He’s been so nice to me—super nice, honestly. I know I suck, but he freaks me out. I’m scared of him. He’s always hated me, and I know that I’ve given him every reason to. No matter how nice he is being, there’s no way that just disappeared. He’s holding it back for his wife. He’d do anything for Nicole. That’s how my dad is about my mom. It is what I wanted from Dom. It’s something I never got and then I tried to force him to give it to me, which led to me making sure he would never give that to me.
I slam the mental door on my past shut, the sound echoing in my mind like a gunshot. I know it’s only in my head, but I’m surprised everyone around me can’t hear it.
“There’s really no point,” I argue, although even I can hear the nervousness bleeding through my words.
“I don’t agree. C’mon, I’ll get Diesel’s truck and Nic and I will take you. Mine is still hooked up to the trailer.”
“I’m fine, really. I just had a long day, and I walked over to look at cribs while I was waiting on Lottie. Actually Lottie, I forgot to ask, do you think you can run by and pick up the pack and play set for me tomorrow? I’m supposed to have my car back, but I am working a double shift at the diner. I don’t want to risk them being sold out. I can give you the money, plus gas money,” I ask, rubbing my stomach.