Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
I lifted my chin at my dad, who was holding the elevator door open. As soon as they were out of sight, I dashed back inside to finish getting everything ready. If I weren’t so fucking impatient, I might have taken a moment to marvel that the day had finally arrived.
After my shower, I trimmed my beard, then dressed in a thick cable knit sweater and jeans. It was cold as fuck outside, but dry, so I didn’t bother with my snow boots. Once I had my keys and wallet, and had donned a thick, black parka, I headed to the garage where Garrett was waiting with the car.
The ride to the hospital seemed to take much longer than it should’ve, and the anticipation made me crazy. The second we pulled up to the entrance, I opened my door and dashed inside.
I’d asked Samantha to come in early so I wasn’t forced to wait all damn day. And since she hadn’t been here the past three days, I knew exactly where she’d go first.
When I approached Gracelynn’s old room, I realized that I was the biggest fucking idiot in the world. I could hear Samantha’s sniffles and wanted to punch myself for not anticipating this. But I wasn’t sure how I could have done things differently. She’d officially turned eighteen yesterday, and I’d given her the day with her family to celebrate before I stole her away and kept her all to myself for who the fuck knew how long.
I’d run out of excuses for keeping Gracelynn in the hospital and had ultimately decided to get her settled before bringing Samantha home as well.
But logic didn’t hold up against my girl’s tears.
I pushed open the door, and my heart squeezed painfully at the sight of Samantha sitting in the chair next to the bed, looking broken as she sobbed.
“Hey, hey, baby doll,” I said in a soothing tone as I swiftly walked over to her. “Don’t cry.” I scooped her into my arms and took her place, then settled her on my lap so she could bury her face in my chest as she wept. I rubbed soft circles on her back and kissed her temple, hoping she’d find some calm in my touch. It worked because after a few minutes, her hysterics had died down, and she wasn’t clutching my sweater in a white-knuckled grip.
“I can’t believe she’s gone,” Samantha whispered. “No matter how hard I tried to prepare myself.” I started to respond when she asked, “Want to hear something crazy?”
I smiled and kissed her temple again before laying my cheek on her silky hair. “Crazy, huh?” She had no idea what crazy looked like. Well, she would soon because mine was about to be revealed.
“I, um, there was this tiny part of me that hoped I could try to adopt her when I was eighteen. It was so stupid, but I couldn’t stop myself from dreaming.”
Since she couldn’t see my face, I didn’t bother to hide my smile. “That’s definitely not crazy, baby doll. Gracelynn was easy to fall in love with, and you have such a great capacity for love. How could you not wish to keep her?”
Samantha sighed. “Thanks. I guess…I guess I’ll just have to learn to be okay with it. Although, it would be easier if I at least knew she was with a good family who will love her and take care of her the way a family should.”
Her tone was probing, and I fought off a laugh. She was digging for information she didn’t think I would share, but today was her lucky day. “I have permission from her father to show you where she lives now.”
Samantha’s head flew up, knocking mine back so it smacked into the wall. “Ouch! Shit!”
“Oh, my gosh! Noah, I’m so sorry!”
I winced as I felt around the back of my skull and found a spot that would eventually be a very sizable goose egg. “Relax, baby doll. I’m fine.”
“But—”
“Do you want to go to Gracelynn’s new house or not?”
My accident was immediately forgotten. “Seriously? They’re going to just let you take me inside and show me around?”
I nodded. “I know her father exceptionally well.” Better than anyone, in fact.
“Will she be there?” Samantha asked, her eyes brimming with hope.
“Not at first,” I mumbled, dancing around the truth. I didn’t want to deflate her happiness, but I also didn’t want to lie. “Why don’t you get bundled up, and we’ll go?”
Samantha scrambled out of my lap and dashed to the hooks by the door to grab her coat, hat, and scarf. I stood and swiftly walked toward her, intending to help her into her coat, but she was pulling it on as she hurried out the door.
When she walked in the direction of the exit, I grabbed her arm. “Hold up, baby doll. I need to go to my office first.”