Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Our first stop was Holden and Lala’s for Sunday brunch, and we’d just finished telling them the story of the infamous pink dildo.
Holden nearly choked on his coffee. “That sounds like something that would happen to me.”
“Actually,” Brayden corrected. “You’d plant a vibrator in someone’s jacket just to mess with them. Then you’d watch to see how the hell they explained themselves.”
“You’re right. That’s more my speed,” Holden agreed. “You might’ve just given me an idea for Colby’s next birthday gift.”
Lala bounced baby Hope and turned to me. “So, when are you moving to the building?” She winked. “I know you haven’t figured anything out yet. I’m just kidding.” She shrugged. “But maybe secretly hoping?”
“I could get used to it around here.” I smiled. “We’ve had such a fun weekend, and I certainly don’t feel like going home.”
Brayden wrapped his arm around me. “But alas, her entire career and business is in Connecticut. We can’t take the spa with us. But I can do my job from anywhere and will just travel when I need to. So, looks like I’m gonna be a bit scarce around here for a while. I’ll be spending most weeks up there with Alex once I move my stuff at the end of this week.”
“You? Scarce?” Holden taunted. “What else is new? You’re the most scarce one around here anyway.” He faced me. “Alex, don’t let him fool you. We don’t need Brayden around these parts. Colby and I have everything under control since Owen flew the coop, too.”
“We see Owen a lot, though,” Lala said. “He’s still in the City. Brayden will be a few hours away.”
Brayden having to leave this place had always made me sad. While he had a good relationship with his father back in Philly, his true family was right here. Found family could be much more important than blood family. Just look at Caitlin and me.
I looked over at Brayden, who was playing peekaboo with Hope. He revealed his face with the most adorable expression. It melted my heart and made my ovaries explode all at once. Hope giggled and flashed him the cutest toothless smile.
“Look at the way she’s looking at you,” Lala said.
“Hope loves her favorite uncle,” Brayden cooed. “Right, baby girl? You and I both know I’m your favorite. These other guys are all tied up with their own kids, but Uncle Brayden gives you all of his attention.” Brayden lifted Hope out of her highchair and onto his lap. He blew raspberries as he bounced her. She erupted into little giggles again as she looked up at him.
I thought about her name. Hope.
I held on to hope by a thread when it came to having a baby of my own. Supposedly I’d ruled it out years ago, and I wasn’t even sure it was possible, but more and more lately, I found myself thinking about it.
Longing washed over me as I watched Brayden with her. His gaze drifted to mine for a moment, and he narrowed his eyes as if he could sense something on my mind—almost like he could see right through me. I wished I hadn’t made it so obvious. That wasn’t my intent.
He returned his focus to Hope, but there was a new, unspoken tension in the air after that.
After we left Holden and Lala’s, we stopped back over to Brayden’s apartment to use the bathroom and freshen up before heading out again. But before I could get to the bathroom, Brayden wrapped his arms around me and gently backed me against the wall.
“What are you doing?” I chuckled.
He placed one hand on each side of my body, locking me in to kiss me passionately. He spoke over my lips. “I saw the way you were looking at me and Hope.”
I swallowed. “Okay…”
“I feel like I know what you were thinking, but I want you to tell me if I’m wrong.”
“What do you think I was thinking?”
“I guess it was more what you were feeling…”
Feeling exposed, I looked down at my feet. “It was a mixture of hope and fear.” I sighed. “I worry I won’t be able to give you one of your own, but I hope there might still be a chance.”
“I’ve told you before, there are lots of ways to have kids.”
I ran my fingers through his hair. “Yeah. But not with your beautiful eyes and face. I want that for you, a child of your own.”
“What about your beautiful eyes and face? What do you want for you, Alex? Never mind me. Take me out of the equation. Is there any part of you that regrets not having a biological child? Because if the answer is no, you shouldn’t feel pressured because of me.”
“I’m afraid to let those feelings in.”
“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered.
“There is a part of me that regrets it, yes,” I said after a moment. “Very much so.”