Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
When I think I’ve gone through them all, Elle lifts the last bag. “One more.”
I take the bag from her hands and open it, looking inside before I pull it out, thinking it might be more underwear. I gasp when I look inside, and Elle asks, “What is it?”
I open the bag and pull the stuffed animal out, gasping as I take it all in. It’s a huge, pink teddy bear. Probably the biggest one I’ve ever seen. Elle clasps her hands together under her chin. “Awwwww.”
I just stare at the bear in awe. It’s perfect.
“Knock, knock,” Huddy hollers from down the hall. He dropped Elle and the bags off this morning, and he’s back now. As soon as he walks into the bedroom, his eyes go to Elle. They both smile at each other, and it’s a sight to see the love shining between them. “You ready to go?”
She bounds off the end of the bed and goes to him. She kisses him lightly and then pulls away when he tries to hold her to him. “Soon. I’m going to put all these clothes away. Have a seat, big guy.”
He goes across the room and sits in the chair where all the bags were sitting moments ago. Elle starts gathering items from the bed. She grabs the bag of underwear and whispers, “I’m just going to set these on the shelf in the closet. You can try them on later.” She winks, and I blush again.
When Elle goes into the closet, I look at Huddy. He’s staring at me, and I shift in the bed. “How’ve you been, Huddy? I know Austin’s glad to have you home. All the brothers are.”
He grunts, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s all he said to me, but he surprises me when he tacks on, “I’m glad to be home. I wouldn’t have met Elle if I hadn’t come.”
A smile forms on my lips. Forever, even when we were younger, Huddy was the distant, grumpy one. The fact that he’s not only showing emotion but talking about it too makes me happy.
But Huddy’s not really smiling. If anything, his frown at me deepens.
Unaware, Elle walks into the bedroom, grabs some clothes, and disappears back into the closet. I could just leave it alone, but the longer I sit here with Huddy glaring at me, I know that I need to say something.
“I know it doesn’t look like it, but after the doctor gives me the okay, I’m moving back home.”
Huddy scoots to the end of the chair. “I hope not.”
I rear back. “You hope I don’t move back home?”
He stands up, crossing his arms over his chest. “No, I don’t.”
I tilt my head to the side, trying to read his closed-off expression. “I just don’t want you to think I plan on taking advantage of Austin or anything, that’s all.”
He takes a step toward the bed. He’s still not smiling, but his face softens as he smirks at me. “You love him.”
I put my hand to my round belly. “The baby is not his.”
I don’t know why I put it so bluntly. It’s really no one’s business, but for some reason I feel a need to tell him.
He doesn’t look surprised by my little outbursts. “I’m pretty sure that Austin would disagree with you.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, he’s crazy.”
“He loves you.” He says it matter-of-factly. “He’s loved you since we were kids.”
No matter how much I want it to be true, I deny it. “He cares about me. I know he does.”
Elle comes back into the room and glances between Huddy and me. She pats Huddy on the stomach, and instantly he softens into her touch. “Play nice, Huddy.”
He leans over and kisses her on the forehead. “I am, baby.”
She nods and grabs some more clothes before heading back into the closet. As soon as she disappears, he turns back to me. “He loves you, Ally. If you think about it, you know he does. What you need to be asking yourself is why he’s never pursued you before now.”
This I can answer. I’ve spent most of my life wondering why Austin and I couldn’t be together, and I have all the answers on the tip of my tongue. “Because I’m poor and from the wrong side of the tracks—”
Huddy interrupts me. “Bullshit. You know he doesn’t care how much money you have. He’s got enough money for both of you.”
I shift on the bed. “Because I have no family, and family is important to him.”
This time he blurts out a laugh. “Right. Are you telling me that since day one, you haven’t been a part of our family? I know my brothers and I have always considered you one of us… you’re our family.”
Emotions surge through me, and I can feel my eyes well up. These damn pregnancy hormones are striking again. But before I can ask him why then, I hear the front door slam.