Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“That’s normal, I think. But you don’t have to worry about anything. Your kid is going to have the full support of his uncle and so is his mama.”
I sniff, relieved to have his support. I should have known that Derek would be here for me. He’s done everything he can to make life easier since I arrived. “Thank you. I really needed that. And for the record, we’re hoping for a girl.”
He chuckles at that. “I’d love a cute little niece to spoil, and Cam would too. But you remember that I heard about it first, so I love her more.”
The image of Cam holding a baby daughter close has me blinking back tears. Does he want a family? Will he be excited about this? Will he rock her to sleep on lonely nights and comfort her when she cries? Will he take her to school on her first day?
“Have you told the father yet?” Derek prompts, his tone filled with curiosity.
“I’m coming back here! Call fuckin’ security if you have to!” Cam’s voice rings out from the reception area. He’s so loud that everyone in the building can hear him shout.
“I’m pretty sure I’m about to,” I mutter.
11
CAMDEN
“I found a woman. I’m crazy about her,” I say to Clay. I’m sitting with my back to his tombstone. The sun is warm on my face and a slight breeze ruffles my hair. I haven’t been here to talk with my brother in a while.
After my exams today in Asheville, I stopped by my parents’ house. I tried to talk to them a little bit, but they weren’t interested. They just wanted me gone. I’m trying not to fault them. I know I look just like him. But I wanted to tell them about Journey and the family I want to build with her. Regardless of what happened with my folks, I want to have kids that have strong relationships with their grandparents. I don’t think that’s going to happen so now I’m here.
“She likes me, the real me,” I admit. She left a note written in Klingon in my lunch cooler today. She must have spent hours studying the alphabet poster on my wall. She watches movies with me every night. We watch a favorite of hers then a favorite of mine. Sometimes we only get two minutes into my movie before I’m fucking her in my bed.
“I’m gonna marry her. Wish you’d be there,” my voice breaks. Fuck, grief never gets easier. It’s like carrying a heavy bag on your heart and it’s filled with rocks. Over time, you learn how to carry the bag, so it doesn’t hurt as much. But the pain never goes away. You’re always aching. You just get used to it.
“Still miss you,” I blink hard and my phone rings. That’s Derek’s tone and I scramble to answer. He might need more hands on deck. I didn’t want to leave the crew on duty without me, but the exam had to be taken today.
“What’s up?” I ask, drying my face with the back of my hand.
“It’s Journey,” his voice is tight.
My stomach knots at his tone. Something is very wrong, especially if he felt the need to call me in the middle of a day off. All I can think about in this moment is getting to her, getting to my sweet girl and wrapping my arms around her. I’m already pushing to my feet as I ask, “Where is she?”
“She’s here at Cash’s office. Her sugar crashed this afternoon.”
“Is she a diabetic?” You’d think she would have mentioned something that important to me. She doesn’t have a pump. I’ve been all over her curvy body for the past few weeks.
“They think she’s pregnant. She’s scared.”
My whole world changes with that single word. Pregnant. Yeah, I want a family with her. I want that more than I want to breathe. But I didn’t think it would happen this soon. I thought we’d have more time. I’d planned to put a ring on her finger this week. “I’m on my way.”
“Listen, I don’t know where the fuck the father is so she’s going to need our support,” Derek continues as I climb into my truck.
“Oh, she’ll have it. I can promise you that, brother,” I say before disconnecting the call. I want to tell him. But I’m not about to do it over the phone. He deserves to have me looking him in the eye when he discovers the truth. And Journey? She’ll always have my support.
I make the drive to the doctor’s office in less than ten minutes even though it should have taken longer. As soon as I’m in the office, I march up to the receptionist. “Which room is Journey in?”
Miss Martha, a spry woman in her sixties, gives me her patented death glare that she usually reserves for misbehaving children. “I can’t give you that information, son.”