Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“One hundred and fifty-seven.” She laughs, and it hits me right in the chest.
“Good to know,” I reply, looking back out the window and seeing we are almost there. The flight attendant comes and takes away the fruit and the water. The plane touches down with a jolt, and I see the black SUV waiting for us. I get up and hold out my hand for Abigail. She slides her hand into mine, grabbing her bag on the way out. The cool air hits me right away. “This is nice,” I state, looking around and seeing her pull a jean jacket from her bag. She struggles to put it on, so I take it out of her hand and help her into it.
“Thank you,” she says as she pulls the hair out of the back of the jacket. The man is standing there holding the back SUV door open, waiting for Abigail to enter. I watch her get in, and then, instead of sitting there, she scoots over so I can get in next to her. I nod to the driver as I get in beside her. She is fishing her phone out of her bag by the time the guy closes my door.
“Here we go,” she mumbles as she presses the dial button, putting the phone to her ear. The driver gets in the front seat at the same time Abigail starts to talk. “Hey, Dad,” she greets him, and I can hear Justin calling her beautiful girl. “I was wondering if I could pop in and have dinner with you?” I can hear him shriek, and I laugh. “Yeah, I have something to tell you and figured it should be done face-to-face.” She rolls her lips and looks over at me. “No, it’s not worse than me being pregnant and alone.” I shake my head, hating she was alone. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She hangs up. “Well, this is going to be fun.”
“For you.” I shake my head. “I’m the one who left you pregnant and alone.”
She reaches out and puts her hand on mine. “That is my fault, and I’ll bear that.” I turn my hand over to link our fingers together.
“There are a lot of things I think we should get on the table,” I tell her as we make our way to her parents’ house. This is not the time to bring up that I want her to move in with us. This is also not the time to tell her I’m in love with her.
The SUV comes to a stop in front of the big house, and I don’t have time to look outside before the door is opened by the driver. “Thank you,” I say, getting out and again holding out my hand for her. She slips her hand in mine as she gets out, and this time, she keeps it in mine.
“Whatever happens,” she starts to say, “it’ll be okay.” I’m about to say something to her when the front door swings open, and I see her mother there.
“Oh my,” she says, putting her hand to her mouth when her eyes go to Abigail and then to me, followed by her looking at our hands together. “Hi,” she greets us with a smile on her face, trying not to be shocked but failing miserably.
“Hi, Mom,” Abigail replies as she lets go of my hand and hugs her mom. “So good to see you.”
“Hello, Caroline,” I say, walking to her and kissing her cheek like I always do when I see her.
“Your father is in the family room trying not to freak out,” Caroline shares, moving away from the doorway to let us walk in. “I think the phone call to give him a heads-up was not the best plan we had.”
“Is she here?” I hear Justin say from somewhere in the house, his footsteps coming closer and closer to us. My stomach literally feels like it’s on fire when I finally see him round the corner. “She is here,” he says, smiling at her and then looking at me. “Did you give her a ride?”
“Sort of,” I reply, my mouth suddenly so dry it feels like my tongue is fifty times bigger than it should be.
“Come and sit,” Caroline invites nervously, knowing her husband has not put two and two together yet. I take a step forward, and the front door swings open. “Here we go,” she mumbles as I look over my shoulder to see Max and Matthew saunter in. “What are you guys doing here?”
“There is a family meeting,” Matthew explains, looking at her. “Justin called me.”
“And you?” She points at Max.
“I was with him, so I decided to tag along.” Max shrugs. “Why, am I not invited?” He puts his hand on his chest and pretends to be hurt.