Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
I clamped down on the intense jealousy brewing inside of me. “You’re still in love with her?”
He nodded. “I think I’m the better person for her. But it doesn’t matter what I think, does it?”
I looked up at the sky. His relationship with Nicole had always seemed hard to believe, but hearing him explain how it had evolved—more slowly than my imagination had led me to believe—did make some sense. He’d been there to pick up the pieces of her heart that I had shattered. And I couldn’t entirely fault him for that.
“I didn’t set out to hurt you or take advantage like you seem to think,” he continued after a moment. “It was never about you. Nicole turned to me to keep from going off the deep end. And you? You slept with random women and dove deeper into the rockstar life. At least with me she was safe. She was protected.” He looked over at me. “I don’t know what else you want me to say.”
He had a point. There wasn’t much left to say. I needed to stop digging while I was ahead. “Thank you for talking to me.”
“That’s it? You’ll let me go now?”
“What else did you think I was going to do?”
“With you I have no fucking idea what to expect. The last couple of times I’ve seen you, you tried to attack me.”
“I’m done with that.”
“Well, that’s good, at least.” He cracked a slight smile and stood. “Have a good rest of the night.”
I watched as he walked away but felt compelled to call after him. “Julian…”
He turned back around. “What?”
“Thank you for looking after her when I couldn’t.”
CHAPTER 31
NICOLE
Today was a big deal. It felt like I was being paid a visit by royalty, so I had to make my apartment perfect.
Atticus was bringing Christian by this afternoon, and I had no idea what to do to entertain a toddler. Atticus had come into town yesterday, but I’d told him to spend the evening with his son and we’d get together today.
My place wasn’t set up for kids. I was also a little worried that Christian would recognize me as the weird lady from the park. Or worse, that he wouldn’t recognize me at all, and I’d have to start all over again. And what if he didn’t like me this time?
When the bell rang, I rubbed my sweaty palms on my shirt and rushed to the door. I opened it, swiping a hand down my hair. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Atticus smiled, holding Christian in his arms.
The sight nearly broke me in half.
“Hi.” Christian mimicked his father, waving his little hand.
I tugged on his striped shirt. “Well, hello there.”
Atticus leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. “Can we come in?”
“Of course.” I moved aside.
As they stepped into the living room, I took a good look at them. It had been surreal seeing Christian for the first time the other day, but it was even more surreal seeing the two of them together: the love of my life and his mini-me.
“I don’t know which of you is more handsome. You both have the same face.”
Atticus put Christian down. The toddler’s eyes sparkled, his cheeks rosy and big as he began to run around my living room excitedly.
Atticus stepped into gear, chasing after him. “Slow down, Bubba.”
“It’s okay. He can roam around,” I said.
Giggles escaped the boy as he ran down the hall.
“Yeah, but he’ll get into stuff he’s not supposed to.”
Apparently, I knew nothing about the potential dangers here. It made me feel like a kid in this situation myself. I followed the chase. “He’s fast on his feet, huh?”
“You have no idea.” Atticus caught him, lifting Christian and tilting him upside down as the boy giggled harder.
A child’s laughter certainly had a way of soothing even a bitter soul like mine.
The second Atticus put him down, Christian took off again, running into my kitchen. He began opening all of the bottom-cabinet doors.
I chuckled. “He’s a little explorer.”
“He’s loving that you don’t have anything childproofed. He’s not used to being able to open everything like this. He’d ransack my place, if I let him get away with it. I’ve got locks on everything.”
I winced as Christian slammed one of the cabinet doors. “I guess I live in a danger zone.”
He took out one of my pots, turned it bottom up and began banging the top of it. I found a wooden spoon in the drawer and handed it to him. He flashed an adorable grin as he whacked it against the stainless steel.
“He understood the assignment.” Atticus laughed.
“He’s a little drummer boy like his daddy, huh?”
“Let’s hope.” Atticus shrugged. “Or maybe not. His life will be a lot simpler if he stays away from that scene.”
I gestured over to the counter. “I ordered pizza for us. I hope he likes pizza.”