Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 28
Alex
Mom: When will you be on your way?
Me: Soon. Just settling in before I head to you.
Mom: I can’t wait to see you. I’m so excited.
Me: Me too. See you soon.
Mom: Not soon enough.
I chuckle to myself, wondering if she’ll think that once I show up with her future daughter-in-law and grandbaby in tow. I fully expect to get a cocha flung at me, but I can’t help but be excited for her to meet Elliot. I know my mom is going to love her and adore her just as I do. I sit on the bed, scrolling through Instagram as Elliot throws everything out of her bag.
She’s doing that thing where she’s freaking out but doesn’t want me to know. She has her lips pressed together in a hard line, her eyes wild with nervousness, and her shoulders are bent back so tightly, I’m worried she’ll pull something. She curses under her breath, but I feel her chancing glances at me to make sure I don’t hear her. She’s been doing this since I moved in with her, and as I always do, I give her time to figure out her emotions and what she wants to do. When there is no end in sight without my help, I do what needs to be done.
I have about ten more minutes in me before I get up to take over.
I know she hates when I do it. I know she’d rather just deal and feel all the emotions that are coursing through her, but I refuse to let her suffer. She started taking the new meds, but they haven’t had time to kick in. It can take up to fourteen days, and there is no way in hell I’m going to let her agonize and fight her own mind. I can help. I can be there for her, and I will. No matter how much she thinks she doesn’t need me, I’ll prove otherwise. I bring my bottom lip between my teeth as she huffs and puffs, throwing things around. I’d given my mom the time I’d be there, though she’ll have to wait. I won’t rush my woman.
When another huff comes out, I look over to see Elliot’s eyes welling up, and I know it’s time for me to take over. I set down my phone. “Mami.”
“What?” she snaps, but then her shoulders fall. She looks over to me and exhales harshly. “Sorry, I’m freaking out.”
I nod. “Come here.” She needs me, and as much as that scares her, she doesn’t keep herself from me. She closes the distance between us, and I pull her into my lap. I cuddle her close and take her hand in mine. She watches as I kiss each fingertip then her palm before threading our fingers together. She leans against me, pressing her nose into my jaw. I inhale her sweet scent, overwhelmed with love for this woman, before I whisper, “Talk to me.”
She swallows thickly. “I don’t know what to wear. Do you want her to know off the bat that I’m pregnant, or should we hide it a bit? I’m worried she’ll hate me when she finds out I didn’t tell you until recently, and I really want her to like me because I know you love your mom and I don’t have a mom, so I’d like to be special to her, but I just feel like I’m not going to live up to expectations of someone your mom would approve of—”
I cut her off by turning my mouth to hers and claiming her sweet lips. She melts into the kiss, and I squeeze her to me, my hand splaying across our son.
When I pull back, I meet her eyes and then kiss her nose softly while still looking deep into her eyes. I lift her off my lap, placing her on the bed before I walk over to where she has thrown all her clothes. I reach for a cute little sundress that has see-through sleeves and is perfect for the start of the Michigan summer. It shows off her toned legs, and it’s tight enough that my mom will know right away that Elliot is pregnant.
With my son.
I go to grab a pair of sandals, but then I remember they dug into her feet the other day, so I grab a pair of white HEYDUDES I got her instead. When I turn to look at her, she’s watching me, her eyes sparkling with tears. I flash her a small smile before laying everything on the bed and taking her hands in mine to lift her to her feet. I don’t say anything as I pull my practice shirt off her body, leaving her in a sheer white bra and pink boy shorts. I lick my lips as I take in her gorgeous curves and think about how I wish she could be pregnant with my baby forever.