Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
He tells me he loves me, even when I feel like there is no way he could.
I take in his profile while he watches Dr. Riley like a hawk as he moves between my legs to check me. Alex still doesn’t trust him or care for him, and I’m surprised he doesn’t mark me before we come. His possessiveness is so hot, but also mind-blowingly annoying. I don’t care, though. I love him. Even when he is driving me wild, which is about all the damn time.
When Dr. Riley nods, my stomach tightens with nerves. “You’re at a three, which, as I explained, is normal.”
I’ve been at a three for two weeks, and I still have two more weeks to go.
“And you can’t just evict him? I’m cool with a C-section.”
Alex chuckles beside me, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Impatient ass.”
I fight back a grin, but my face fills with a flush. He only calls me that now when I’m begging him to let me come.
“Nope. I want all first-time moms to let the baby decide how the birth will go. I’m pretty sure we still have two weeks, but you never know. Your water could break today.”
My eyes widen, and I rub my belly. “No, sir. Grandma Lou is getting married today. No coming today.”
Dr. Riley’s brows pull together, and beside me, Alex waves him off. “Weird family, dude. And they call their grandfather Peepaw.”
The doctor’s brows deepen. “What’s wrong with Peepaw? I have two peepaws.”
I smile widely at Alex. “See? Normal.”
“Sure,” he mutters as he helps me sit up. “I’ll admit, I’m sort of sad to leave the South.”
Once more, my stomach clenches. Alex was traded to Utah’s new NHL franchise, which is great for his career and only shows how fucking awesome he is. He had ten shutouts total during the Cup run, and I should have known then that he was going back into the NHL after his stellar performance. I was sad the Assassins couldn’t keep him, and I wished they had so I could be with my family, but Alex is my family now. I’m so proud of him. When I watched him hoist that Cup in the air after sweeping Hershey in what I called the final Battle of the Bears, I cried like a baby.
He did it.
My man did it.
And with all the promo I did for the Cup run, Peepaw not only insisted that I keep doing media for the Bears, but it also prompted Utah to hire me for their social media. I won’t be running the department like I am for the Bears, but I will be part of Utah’s creative team. Alex says that it won’t be long before I’ll be running all the social media for every team in the NHL. He’s insane, but his faith in me makes me all warm and toasty.
I have to admit, I’m a bit nervous about living in Utah. It’s the one place in the US where the cult never made a home. Not sure why, but Louisa thinks it hilarious that we’re going there now. Says it’s good I remember how to make dresses and churn butter. I don’t find her funny. Alex does, and when he laughs, I forget that we’re leaving all I know and starting our own life.
Together.
I’m sitting on the bed, rubbing lotion into my belly as I stare at my dress for Louisa’s wedding. Like she wanted, it’s the smallest affair ever. Only my sisters with their dates and my peepaw. Oh, and Ciaran’s mom and grandma. His siblings are trash and no-showed. We’re meeting at a little chapel on the highest part of the mountain. They’re going to get married outside in a gazebo as the sun sets. It’s so romantic, and I can’t wait to watch my sister get the happily-ever-after she deserves.
I stroke my thumb over my ring, and I can’t help but smile. I don’t know when we’ll get married and I’ll become a Cruz, but the more I’m around all this wedding planning, the more I’m ready for it to happen. I glance over as Alex comes out of the closet in a light-blue suit that hugs his body like a second skin and hits right at his ankles, some white Italian loafers on his feet. His hair is brushed back, his beard tidy now, and the first few buttons of his shirt are open, revealing the ink of his tattoo that makes me all hot and wanton.
As he fixes his cuff links, he moves his eyes to me, and his brows draw in. “Mami, you getting dressed?”
I shrug, my eyes clouding with tears, knowing I can’t lie to him. “I’m worried the dress won’t fit.”
He scoffs. “It’s going to fit.”
“I’m size whale.”
He scoffs. “Hardly. You’re perfect.”
I don’t agree, but he ignores me, grabbing the hanger off the door and coming to me. I drink him in as he strides toward me, sexy confidence in every step he takes. His eyes are dark, set on me as he closes the distance between us. He steps between my legs, brushing a stray curl behind my ear before he trails his finger down my jaw. “You’re so beautiful, Elliot.”