Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
I get to my feet with my brows knit. When I lock eyes with the kid as he turns toward me, my stomach tightens. He gives me a huge smile, showing off his tiny teeth.
“Uncle …” He knits his brows as if not sure how to finish. Then he turns to look up at Garret, who’s smiling back at him. The little guy points back at me behind him. “Uncle?”
“Not Uncle, sweety. That’s Dada,” my mother coos as she stops beside the two and begins to rub the boy’s back.
He whips his head back in my direction. “Dada,” he squeals and holds his arms out.
I stand there in shock for a moment, not knowing what to say or do. His eyes are so big and bright, not quite the same hazel as mine, but a really light brown. I move forward and take him from my brother’s hold.
He wraps his arms around me and places his head on my shoulder with a sigh. As if this is where he belongs, or as if he’s been waiting to find me. Feeling his weight against my chest makes this all so real.
“You knew about this?” I growl at Garret as I squeeze my son in my embrace.
“Not until I arrived at the house, while you guys went to the stadium. Bro, I had no idea.”
“She has tried to deny it, but I’ve known from the day he was born. He has your nose and your little smile,” Mom chokes out.
“I think we should take a pause and allow Zah to—” Erica cuts off as I spin on her and glare.
I have so many emotions as she looks back at me. A million thoughts and questions are running through my mind. I land on complete devastation.
I always knew Erica and Zahirah were tight, but I never thought my sister would choose her over me. Especially not to keep something like this from me.
“You knew the entire time. You lied to me. When I asked you repeatedly if you knew where she was or if she was with you, you lied. She was standing right next to you every time, wasn’t she?”
“No. She was in Spain with me, but never around when I took your calls or called. I always left the flat to avoid the risk of you seeing or hearing her in the background.”
“Why, Erica? You’re my little sister.”
“She’s my best friend. She needed space.”
“I have a son,” I bark, my voice breaking with emotion.
“You told her to get the fudge out,” she bites out, making air quotes as she says the word fudge and looks pointedly at my son, “and to go take a Plan B. So excuse me if I sided with my best friend when my big brother was being a butthole,” Erica hisses.
“He did what?” my mother gasps.
I close my eyes and press my nose to my son’s head. I have to count to ten to reel it in. I have a son. She didn’t take that pill.
“Wait, he’s really ours? I mean, Zah is family. She’s like my sister, so of course he’s like my nephew. But … the baby is my real nephew, like my nephew by blood?” Eddy says, sounding as surprised as I feel.
“You couldn’t have thought a kid that cute or smart belonged to Manning,” Erica huffs.
“Why would you say those things? No wonder she’s been freezing us out,” my mother says as if she’s in sheer disbelief.
“I said a lot of things, but I didn’t mean any of them. I was hurt and angry. We both said things,” I mutter.
“Dada,” my son coos and cups my face to kiss my cheek.
“Hey, buddy. That’s right, I’m your dada. You’re so handsome. What’s your name?”
“Me Aaron. I big boy. Smart and strong. Grr,” he growls at the end and makes a muscle with his little arm.
I chuckle and kiss his forehead. I never knew I could love someone so fast and completely. Aaron. Did Zah name him after my dad?
“Aaron Christopher Nickels,” Erica says as she comes over and ruffles his hair.
“Mommy, Nana,” Aaron squeals as he tries to jump out of my arms.
I turn to find Mrs. Nickels and Zahirah. I’ve never seen Zah look so pale in my life. She’s standing with her mouth hanging open as I hold my son in my arms.
I glare at her as the situation begins to set in. Quickly, she snaps out of it and rushes over to take Aaron from my arms. He wraps his arms around her neck and hugs her tightly.
“Before you try to verbally take my head off, for once, listen to me and hear me,” Zah says, holding a hand up as I open my mouth.
“First, I was going to tell you. Second, hold on.” She pauses as Aaron gets fussy in her arms.