Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Looking up, I check the street sign and see that I’m in the right area. This is close to the pharmacy, so she’s definitely staying nearby.
“Thank you, Bruce. Thank you so much.”
“I’d feel the exact same way,” he says and then ends the call.
Fueled like I haven’t been in days, I make my way over to Tenth Street and start scanning the buildings. There are two possible hotels she could be staying at, so I pull over and try the first.
The guy at the counter tells me that they’ve been renovating and only have limited availability with advance booking. It’s still early in the morning, so I can see construction crews walking around so I decide to take my chances and go to the second one.
When I go inside, I see an older woman behind the counter and try to be as calm and polite as I can. Never mind that it’s been a couple of days since I’ve slept or showered so I’m sure I look like a mess even if I feel like I could run a marathon. The thought of being so close to Chloe right now is killing.
“Hi, my name is Sawyer Ingram, and I’m supposed to be staying here with my wife, but she’s not answering her phone.” Glancing down, I see her name tag. “Do you think you could look up the room number for me, Judy?”
Her eyes narrow ever so slightly as she goes to the keyboard. “What’s your wife's name, Mr. Ingram?”
“Chloe.” Then I spell it for her for good measure and keep my smile polite and calm. Breathe, Sawyer, breathe. This could be it.
“I don’t see that name, but the system could be updating.” She looks at the screen and then quickly back at me. “Maybe you should try calling her again.”
“Are you sure? Could you check again?” I’ve got a feeling that she’s not telling me for a reason. Maybe because I look like I’ve been living out of my car? “I’m happy to show you my identification.” I slide my driver’s license in front of her, but she barely glances at it.
“That won't be necessary. She’s not a guest at our hotel.”
“Wait, you said you didn’t see the name, and now you’re saying she’s not a guest. Which is it?” I narrow my eyes, and the older woman takes a slight step back.
“Sir, I’m going to need you to please leave the premises or I’ll have to call the authorities.”
“Okay,” I say before grabbing my license and backing up. I’m not here to terrorize an old lady who is just doing her job. “I’m sorry, my mistake. I’ll try calling her again.”
From the way Judy reacted to my questions, Chloe is definitely here. Now all I have to do is wait for her to make an appearance.
After that, I have no fucking clue.
Chapter Nine
CHLOE
I close my eyes as if I can hide from what I’m seeing. Earlier I felt some cramps so I came to the bathroom to check, and there are three spots of blood on my panties. Now I’m really starting to freak out because the cramps aren’t going away.
“This can’t be happening.” I took both tests, and when I saw those lines come up, it was the first time I smiled in days.
Now I might be losing this too. I know I’ll need to call Sawyer because if I’m going to go to the hospital, he has the right to know—this is his child too. But I’m going to wait until I get there before I call him. He’s going to lose his mind.
Grabbing my purse, I make sure I have everything I need before I head down to grab a taxi. Where has the day gone? All I did was lie in bed all day, and now it’s night? I’ve been so disoriented since everything happened and now this.
Part of me realizes that moping for hours at a time and not facing the reality of the situation is childish. I can’t keep doing this anymore. I’m pregnant, and it’s time I stop living with my head in the clouds. At least that’s what Paul would always say.
A few cars drive by, but I don’t see a taxi in sight. Deciding I need to go back inside and ask for them to call a car, I turn around and run right into a solid chest. One that I know all too well.
Sawyer locks his hand around my arm, and his fingers grip so tightly that there’s no way I could break free. Not that I would make it far. His hold isn’t painful, but it’s sure as hell possessive.
His warm, familiar smell wraps around me, and I want to bury my face in his chest. As much as I’d love to, I manage to stop myself. Sawyer's dark gaze keeps me pinned where I am, and it’s then I notice he looks like hell. Of course he’s still handsome, but I’m sure I look like a mess too.