Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
I waited until I realized it was a show. A show he put on for my mother. He doesn’t want to be with me any more than I want to face the fact that if I let him in I’ll fear heartbreak looming in the distance, waiting to take me down again.
I exhale a breath and rub my baby bump. I’m having this lunch for my baby because he or she deserves the best life possible and one thing I’m certain of, the only thing I’m certain of, is that Shepherd Atwood and his family are excited for this unplanned blessing. I would never take that away from any of them.
“Okay, baby, let's go eat.”
I’ve been to Atta Boy a handful of times, but this is different. I’m not here with Emmie getting a quick drink and appetizers. I’m here, carrying Shepherd’s baby, and it’s immediately obvious as Brock greets me with a hug.
“Hey, mama to my niece or nephew. How are you feeling?”
I smile a sincere smile as I stare up at him. All the Atwoods are gorgeous in their own right and all are very tall. “I’m feeling good, thanks. How are you?”
“Good, great, yeah, everything is good,” he says, stumbling over his words.
I’m sure that’s not true, but I don’t know him well enough to push. Even if I did know him, I probably wouldn’t push.
“Hey, Felicity, great to see you. How are you?” Callum asks, interrupting the awkward silence between me and Brock.
“Hi, I’m good, thanks. How about you?”
“Busy as always,” he says, nodding.
“Sis, how’s that baby doing?” Tripp yells, wrapping me in a warm hug.
“The baby is good. How are you?”
He shrugs, staring at my little bump. “Fine, everything is fine,” he mumbles.
Why do I keep asking how these boys are? It’s obvious they all have things on the front of their minds they don’t want to discuss. I know it well, I feel it constantly.
“There she is. The only woman to get our brother to smile.” Paxton says, hugging me next.
It’s overwhelming being greeted by so many people all at once. Are they watching on a monitor or something? How do they all know I’ve arrived at the same time?
“How are you feeling? Shep treating you well?”
It’s an uncomfortable question and it shouldn’t be. What do I say though, yeah your brother gives me the best orgasms I’ve ever had any time I’m horny, but besides that there’s not much to say?
So I force a smile and say, “I’m good, everything is good.”
“Hey, she’s our special guest, back up,” Anya says, pushing her way through her brothers. All her brothers but one. I’d like to say it doesn’t bother me, but I’d be lying. Everyone has greeted me, but Shepherd.
Anya wraps me in a tight hug and sways back and forth. “I’m so excited you’re here. We have so much to talk about.”
“I don’t know who’s more excited, her or me, because now I don’t need to look at baby cakes, baby games, baby colors,” Griffin says, kissing the side of Anya’s head. “I’m teasing, I love listening to anything you talk about.”
My eyes soften as I stare at them. Their love is so present, so obvious. It’s beautiful and makes me feel an ache. A longing to feel what they have.
“Gross, don’t talk like that about my sister in front of me,” Paxton says, laughing as he kisses Hartford’s lips, who just joined the circle around me.
I feel like they are all sharks circling me, waiting for the right time to strike. It’s terrifying being the center of attention of the Atwoods.
“Hartford, tell them,” Paxton says, wrapping his arm around her. The way he stares at her, his love for her easily seen, makes the ache I feel intensify.
I don’t know much about the Atwoods or their relationships. I do know that Paxton and Hartford were always friends. They were always together growing up. I’m not sure how they ended up together and part of me wants to ask. Part of me is curious to know how it all played out. Was it easy for them? Did they struggle with the decision? But, that’s their story to tell.
My eyes slide to Anya and Griffin when I hear her giggle. He’s whispering something in her ear and I see a slight blush grace her cheeks. Again I wonder how they got together. I know Griffin and Callum are best friends or at least they used to be. I’m curious if that was difficult for them or if it didn’t matter. I want to ask, I want to know how these people found their happily ever afters. I want to know if they had insecurities or obstacles to overcome.
I feel like Shepherd and I have mountains to climb and oceans to swim just to understand each other. And when I see the love present in front of me, I wonder if I’ll ever have something so beautiful.