Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 86823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Tomorrow morning,” she said quietly, obviously sensing the tension between him and Nicholas, as well as his bad mood.
He nodded and looked at me. “Are you ready to go? We’ll come pick her up in the morning and head back.”
I looked down at Amy once I stood up. Travis packed away my food silently. “If you need me, call me. I promise I’ll be here the moment you tell me you need me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Go celebrate making a baby,” she said, laughing lightly. I rolled my eyes at her.
Travis chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist, leading me out of the hospital. By the time we made it to the hotel, I had finished my food. I was starving, but it made sense considering I’d been throwing up for hours. “I already have the room key,” Travis informed me. “When we get up there, we need to talk.”
I nodded. Anxiety swirled in my gut at the thought of the impending conversation. “I know.”
I was a little worried about what our talk would bring about. I knew that I was going to have to open up about how I felt, and I didn’t know if I was ready to do that. I had been closed off for so long that I wasn’t sure if I could open up now.
When we got into the room, I sat on the bed and took off my shoes, trying to put this talk off as long as I possibly could. But I should have known better. As soon as Travis was comfortable on the bed, he grabbed my hips and pulled me between his legs, wrapping his arms around my waist, resting his hands on my belly. It kind of shocked me because I wasn’t used to affection, especially from him. I must have stiffened because he began rubbing circles on my hips, making me relax back into him.
“Want me to start?” he asked, his voice soft – quiet. It . . . relaxed me.
I nodded. I wasn’t ready to open up about how I felt yet. I was scared to. I knew that I had to tell him or otherwise this wouldn’t work, but I was so scared that I would end up hurt somewhere down the road.
I didn’t want to end up suffering like my dad had.
“I obviously care about you a lot,” Travis began. I looked down at my lap, glad I wasn’t facing him. I didn’t think I could get through this if I had to look at him as he spoke. “I like you a lot. I’ve honestly never felt like this about anyone.” He paused for a moment. “I wouldn’t call it love . . . but it’s definitely something. I want to make this work between us because I want you. I know that we argue a lot, but it’s something that I’m willing to work through to have you by my side.”
He paused, drawing in a breath. I was holding mine, desperate to hear what he had to say, clinging on to his every word. My heart was pounding in my chest, a mixture of fear and excitement rushing through me.
“I know that you’re worried about me leaving you to take care of this baby by yourself, but I’m not. I’ve always taken precautions to make sure I never got anyone pregnant, yet with you, all of my precautions flew out of the window every single time I managed to get you naked.” My cheeks warmed at his words, surprising me. “Having children isn’t a bad thing though, which is why I’m willing to stick by your side through this.”
He rubbed my belly soothingly, and I continued to listen to him pour his feelings out. “I know that you’re emotionally detached, Katie,” that was an understatement, “but I’m willing to help you with that if you let me. Our relationship won’t always be smooth. It’s going to be rocky as fuck because we’re both stubborn assholes, hard-headed, and controlling,” I snorted, “but we can make this work if we put our minds to it. I won’t give up on you, baby.”
I bit my lip to hold back the tears that suddenly sprang to my eyes.
I won’t give up on you, baby.
I hated being so damn emotional all the time. What he had just said to me was the sweetest goddamn thing anyone had said to me in my life. And yeah, most women would probably freak out that the guy that had gotten them pregnant didn’t love them, but I was so thankful that he hadn’t said that he did. I didn’t think I could have handled a confession of love. I probably would have run straight out the door.
Forming a relationship already made me feel like I was taking five hundred steps. I wasn’t ready to hear the L word yet.