Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Sweat trickled down my neck the longer the silence stretched between us, and then Madelyn blew out a shaky breath, squeezing my hands in hers and meeting my gaze.
“I’ve been so tired lately,” she started. “And today, after you left to go get Sebastian, I felt so nauseous I was sure I was going to vomit.”
I nodded. Those words didn’t take any of the sick scenarios out of my head. She was tired and she was sick. I was doing that to her. I was causing her stress. I was hurting her.
My heart was ready to beat itself to a bloody pulp before she had the chance to.
“I thought it was just my nerves, thought it was just everything that’s been going on,” she continued, her eyes flicking between mine. “But… then I… I realized… I’m late.”
I blinked.
Once, twice, then a few times in quick succession.
Late?
Late for what?
Madelyn searched my gaze and waited for me to react, but I didn’t know how to, because I didn’t understand what she was saying.
Not until she lifted her brows and dipped her head a bit.
“I’m late,” she repeated.
And my stomach fell out of my asshole.
I knew she saw it, the moment I realized what she meant, and that moment was followed by my chest rising and falling more rapidly, by my hands growing clammy where they held hers, my next swallow so hard to take it felt like sandpaper lined my throat.
It took everything in me to remain neutral, to wait for her to keep speaking before I got ahead of myself. I almost wanted to tear my hands from hers and sit on them to aide in my efforts.
Because right now, my heart was thundering with hope that was impossible to tame, and all I wanted was to pull her into me and kiss her and scream and cry and laugh and spin her around the room.
She’s pregnant.
Just thinking the words made my heart leap into my throat, made a smile impossible to hide bloom on my face.
I tried to wait for her to confirm it. I tried not to get ahead of myself. But fuck, it was damn near impossible.
What if she didn’t want it? What if this was bad news to her? Judging by the anxiety riddled in every inch of her right now, that very well could be.
I schooled myself as much as I could, waiting for her cue, letting her take the lead and dictate how I should react. Whatever she needed from me right now — I’d be it.
But that hope was inflating in my chest so fast and furious I felt I might float away.
“Kyle,” she whispered, sucking in a sharp breath before she let it out slowly through parted lips. “I’m pregnant.”
The word hung between us, a softly whispered, life-changing declaration made in a quiet home stacked with boxes. My heart beat once, twice, and I savored the way those words sounded, the way they slid over my senses and embedded themselves deep into the roots of who I was.
I let out one shallow breath.
And then I released the leash on my emotions, and I kissed her.
My hands slid into her hair, pulling her mouth to mine. I kissed her hard and long, her lips surprised against mine at first before they softened. I laughed against those soft, perfect lips. Or maybe it was a sob? I couldn’t be sure.
But I held her to me, and I savored that kiss and that moment, never wanting to forget even a single second of it. I committed her to memory — the texture of her hair in my hands, the trembling of her lips against mine, the soft whimper she let out that I mirrored. I vowed to remember everything, from the way my heart raced in my chest to the way the truth raced in my mind.
Pregnant.
She’s pregnant.
I’m going to be a dad.
“You’re sure?” I asked, pulling back to search her gaze.
She nodded, the tears in her eyes spilling over. She covered my hands framing her face with her own, rolling her lips together. “I’m sorry.”
“You—” I frowned. “What? What on Earth are you sorry for?”
“I know this wasn’t planned. I… you’re about to start your career. You’re so young. You didn’t sign up for this, for any of this. You—”
“Woman,” I growled, and then I kissed her silent for good measure. “I don’t give a flying fuck if this was planned or not. You just… you just made me the happiest fucking man in the world.”
“I… wait.” She sniffed. “You’re not mad?”
“Mad?” I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Are you mad? As in fucking crazy? How could I ever be mad that you’re carrying my child?”
Saying the words sent a river of goosebumps down my arms, and I laughed again, resting one palm against her still very-flat stomach.