Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
It was too far.
Too genuine.
Too. Fucking. Fast.
I reached my limit with the overwhelming emotions I voluntarily brought into my home. Seeing the way they were on camera, like they truly were mother and daughter, didn’t affect me as much as it did seeing them interact in person in that moment.
For the first time in a long time, things felt right.
She felt right.
Being here…
For Journey.
My kids.
For me, too?
I growled, pissed off I was allowing my mind to wander there, and she hadn’t even fully moved in yet. The remorse was eating me alive, feeling as though I was cheating on my wife when it couldn’t have been further from the truth.
I’d never betray Bailey. Not like this.
Suddenly, our eyes locked from across the room.
Camila whispered, loud enough for me to hear in Journey’s ear, “Wave hi to your daddy. He loves you so much.”
Journey turned, narrowing her bright blue eyes at me that reminded me so much of her mother’s. Her intense stare never wavered from mine as if she remembered last night and didn’t know what to think of me.
Or worse, I was a complete stranger and she didn’t know how to react to me.
Camila was the one to break her concentrated demeanor, adding, “It’s okay, Little Miss, he’s your daddy and sometimes daddies turn into beasts. Just wait until you start dating.”
Journey smiled, giggling like she knew what Camila was saying.
Although things were tense between us, it didn’t stop Camila from trying to develop a bond between my baby girl and me.
“Can you say ‘Da’?”
Journey answered her, “Ma!”
Camila shrugged it off, gazing at me. Silently trying to find a middle ground amongst us all.
I was the first to cease our connection, instantly feeling ashamed I did so.
Why?
“You’re making a stinky,” Camila announced, now lovingly looking at Journey. Playing it off like my withdrawal didn’t just hurt her feelings.
Again, why?
“It’s okay, your daddy has that effect on people. They poop themselves while he’s around.”
I grinned.
“Let’s go get you cleaned up.”
I watched them leave the living room, overcome by a sense of loss when all they were doing was walking to another room.
“The fuck you doing, Aiden?” I chastised myself.
“Took the words right outta my mouth,” Noah chimed in, catching me off guard.
I spun to face him. His eyes were clearly taking in the suitcase still in my grip.
“Don’t,” I warned.
“Don’t what? Point out you’re carryin’ her luggage, so that means you’re what? Movin’ her in?”
“Yes, that.”
He put his hands up in a surrendering gesture. “Don’t come for me, man. But you might be comin’ for her, yeah?”
“Noah…”
“Skyler said to bring her back, not move her in. That’s on you.” He peered around me. “Wit’ dat ass though… I can see why.”
“I’m sure your pregnant wife would love to hear that.”
He laughed, pulling out his cigarettes. “One, I’m married not dead. Two, Skyler reads all those fuck me books with shirtless douches on the covers. Makes her wet for me.” He arched an eyebrow. “Maybe she should let your new live-in nanny read one… you know, so you don’t havta work so hard at it, old man.”
“You little shit.”
“Just helpin’ ya out. Fuck knows the last time you got your dick wet, or has it fallen off cuz you’ve become a complete pussy now?”
Noah might have been a grown ass man, but he was still very much the little shit I met in my hospital all those years ago.
“Those things will still kill you,” I reminded, nodding toward the pack of cigarettes in his hand. Trying to change the subject.
He cocked his head to the side, remembering how we first met. Repeating the same words he did that day, “Not fast enough.”
Throwing me back to another place in time where the little cock sucker in front of me was worried about his mother and not my dick.
I scoffed out a chuckle. “How old are you?”
Narrowing his eyes at me, he drawled, “Old enough. So unless you got somethin’ to say about my mother, you can turn your ass back around. Don’t need your bullshit of what’s wrong or right.”
For a few seconds, I mirrored his stare. Before replying, “How about you let me buy you a cup of coffee? I can update you on your mom’s condition on our way to the cafeteria.”
If it wasn’t for me having news about his mother, he’d tell me to eat shit, but he gave me the benefit of the doubt. Inhaling one last drag, he flicked out his cigarette. Nodding for me to start walking.
There was something about this kid that reminded me so much of myself at his age. Angry with the world and desperately trying to fit in somewhere.
I held out my hand, stopping him. “I’m Dr. Pierce, but you can call me Aiden.”
He warily glanced down at my gesture and shook my hand. I could tell by the look on his face, no one ever asked to shake his hand.