Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
I would forever remember this moment for the rest of my life. This was the moment that changed everything. This was the moment when I took another direction, another road that led me to everything I ever wanted.
Her.
Them.
Mine.
She instantly froze from hearing me say that. Not turning to face me, she questioned, “How did you know?”
“’Cuz our souls are connected.”
That made her spin around to face me. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Not yet.”
She jerked back from my response, regretting her words immediately. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
I stood there with my hands in my pockets, nodding, knowing she didn’t.
“I’m serious, Jackson. I didn’t mean it like that.”
I nodded with understanding again, never breaking our intense stare. She looked like she’d been through hell and back. I’d know, I followed her there.
“Does Cash know?” I asked, fighting with every fiber in my being to keep my shit together.
For her.
“Yeah.”
“And what did pussy boy have to say about it?”
She bowed her head, fresh tears falling down the sides of her beautiful face. “He wanted me to get rid of it,” she cried, tearing at my insides.
I took a moment to compose myself, experiencing rage in a way I never had before.
“Fuck him, Harley. You don’t need him. We can do this together.”
She peered up at me through glossy eyes. “Why would you want to help me? You hate Cash.”
“It may biologically be his baby, but that kid growing inside of you is mine. You said it yourself—you got blackout drunk ’cuz of me. I’m the reason that baby is in there. It’s mine, exactly the way its mother is.”
“Jackson.” She shook her head. “I can’t let you do that.”
“You have no choice. This may be the only chance I get to have a family.”
“What? That makes no sense. You can have your own family.”
“Can I? ’Cuz if I do, I’m cursing them with a life they may not remember. I’d never do that to my child, make them go through what I do every single day. Dying like my mom did, like I may too.”
By the expression on her face, my words stunned her in ways she never expected.
“Jackson, just look at the res—”
“Take it or leave it, Harley. ’Cuz I’m not discussing that topic with you any further.”
“I’m leavin’ it. I can’t let you do this. It’s not right.”
I was in her face before the last word left her mouth. My knees hit the sand, crouching in front of her to hold her face in my hands.
“I’ll tell you what’s not right. The fact that you’re bawling your eyes out over a baby that’s a blessing. Do you have any idea how much I hated my baby sister before she was born? The moment I laid eyes on her, I begged God for forgiveness. She’s my mother’s legacy. I see her every time I look into Journey’s eyes. Her pregnancy may have made my mother die faster, but I wouldn’t trade Journey for anything in this world. I love her with everything inside of me, the same way I already love the baby growing inside of you. ’Cuz it’s a part of you. And I don’t care who the biological father is, that baby’s a part of me too.”
She burst into tears, and I wiped them away with my thumbs.
“I fucked up so bad.”
“No, you didn’t. I never thought I would say this, but Cash did me a favor. He gave me the family I always wanted but couldn’t take the chance to make on my own. Not with my genes. They’re a curse I’d never wish on anyone. Especially my child. Our child.”
“Jackson, you don’t know what you’re sayin’.”
“I have never been so sure of the words coming out of my mouth. I want to do this with you, for you, for us. Please, Harley... Don’t take this away from me.”
Her pouty lips puckered, and I resisted the urge to claim them with my mouth like I’d done hundreds of times by this point.
“I always knew Cash was a fuckin’ pussy.”
“I don’t know what I expected from him, but it wasn’t that. He couldn’t even look me in the eyes when he said it, though when he did. I don’t know what was worse, when he wasn’t lookin’ at me or when he finally did.”
“Does he know you’re keeping it?”
She nodded. “I told him. He doesn’t want any part of it.”
“Good.”
She winced, not trying to hide it.
“It’s the truth. He doesn’t deserve you, he never did. Neither does our child.”
“Jackson, stop saying that. It makes me feel like you’re tryin’ to influence me to be a liar. I couldn’t lie to everyone. I hate lyin’, it would kill me.”
“I don’t see it as a lie. I already told you that baby is mine.”
“I can’t believe you’re sayin’ this to me.” She held my wrists. “I thought... I mean... I thought you’d... I just... I don’t know what I thought... I’m so confused.”