Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I’ve lived a carefree life, not putting expectations on anyone or anything, but the few close friendships I’ve hung onto over the years mean something to me.
“I think he’s more excited than he lets on. You two have had that bromance going on for over a decade, having you be part of the family has to make him happy.” Lauren stops and makes Sasha sit, not walking again until the dog calms down. “He feels like he needs to play the protective older brother card, but we both know he’s really a big ol’ softy. But…”
“What?”
“Can I tell you a secret?”
I look behind me, locking eyes with her. “Of course.”
“You might not want to know, because then you have to keep it from Colin, because he doesn’t know I know, and if he knows I know and now you know, it could be bad.”
“Huh?”
She presses her lips together and sighs. “Jenny told me they’ve been trying for a baby and not having luck.”
“Oh, I knew that.”
“Really? I thought I had top-secret information.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble. I’ve known for a while. But why is that a big deal?”
“Because I’m pregnant and Jenny isn’t and I think that hurts her.”
“I guess I can see that, but it’s not like we did this on purpose to spite her. It just happened.”
Lauren nods, and I know she’s not convinced. Actually, I can tell she feels guilty. She’s too fucking nice.
Too nice. Too pretty. Too good for me.
Chapter 13
LAUREN
“I DON’T UNDERSTAND how something so little requires so much stuff.” Noah looks down the aisle of baby toys and blinks. A week has passed since we slept together, and things have been pretty perfect. Though technically it wasn’t our first time together, it felt like it.
And it was everything I wanted it to be.
Passionate, hot, and oh so satisfying. It was everything I imagined too, and I’d wondered from time to time how Noah was in bed. He definitely did not disappoint. Noah came over every day during the week, and we had sex every time. Sometimes more than once.
It’s been a little over two months and I’m falling hard for him. Right now, he’ll catch me, yet I still can’t shake the fear that once the baby comes, he’ll drop me. Hard.
I need to be fair. Noah has done nothing to make me think he’ll be a bad father or will suddenly abandon me. He has been perfect, as in everything I want perfect. Too perfect? I believe in true love and fairy tale endings. Is it possible my Prince Charming has been right there in front of me the whole time?
“Where the hell do you put everything?” Noah asks.
“I was thinking the same thing. Maybe you switch it out?”
“Maybe.” He picks up a box and looks at a rattle with lights and sounds. “Whatever our kid needs, we’ll get it. I don’t want her to go without.”
“If we have a boy, will you be disappointed?”
“Not at all. Honestly, I hope whatever we have is normal.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Normal?”
“Yeah, a lot can go wrong. It kind of freaks me out when I think about it.”
“So if we have an abnormal kid you won’t love it?”
“That’s not what I meant.” He puts the box back. “And you’ve said it before: you hope for a healthy baby.”
“Well, duh.”
He playfully nudges me. “You’re moody today.”
He’s right. “Sorry. I’m tired. I shouldn’t have worked last night.” I didn’t end up clocking out until after eight on a Friday night.
“You shouldn’t work so much.”
“If I pick up more shifts now, I can take off more time later.”
“I told you,” he says softly. “Don’t worry about money. I can help you.”
I smile and nod, moving down the aisle and looking at play mats. I had a conversation with my parents about that just this morning. Noah paid for the first ultrasound I had when my insurance denied it and I didn’t have the funds to cover the hefty bill. He gave me the money in cash, actually. It helped immensely and took the anxiety over not being able to afford it. And my parents agreed that letting Noah help cover the costs is more than fair since it’s his kid too, but I shouldn’t rely on it.
We’re not married, after all. He has no obligation to cover my bills.
“I know, and thank you. I’ll stick to my reg—oh my god, this is too cute!” I stop at a turtle-shaped play mat.
Noah stands close next to me, and he’s smiling. “Want to get it?”
I bite my lip. “Yeah, but maybe it’s too early? I don’t want to jinx anything.”
“Buying something isn’t going to jinx anything, Lauren.”
“You’re right. So yeah, let’s get it.”
He takes it off the shelf and tucks it under his arm. He wraps his free arm around me. “I feel like real parents, buying shit we don’t really need.”