Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
My heart was full enough today without the direction this conversation was headed. “You can spare me the lecture. We’ve had this discussion many times.”
He smacked me on the back. “You know what I think you should do?”
“What?”
“Stop talking to me and get the hell out of here. Go find out if Abby’s alright. You think you’re in shock? She’s the one who has to carry a baby for the next nine months. Wrap your head around that.”
I nodded. Despite the fact that it was getting late and I’d hoped to go back to London tonight, now was not the time to run again. It looked like I’d be spending the night at The Bainbridge. Sticking around and accompanying Abby to work tomorrow morning would be a nice gesture.
I bid my cousin goodbye and drove back to the inn.
CHAPTER 17
* * *
Sig
Track 17: “Tiny Bubbles” by Don Ho
Lavinia was sitting in the living room when I arrived.
“Sigmund!” She straightened in her seat. “I didn’t know you were coming back tonight.”
“Where’s Abby?” I asked.
“She’s up in her room, but I don’t think she’s asleep because I heard footsteps just a moment ago.” Lavinia had a suspicious smile plastered across her face.
She knows. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Congratulations,” she whispered.
“She told you...”
“She did. Don’t be mad. She needed to tell someone.” Her lip began to tremble.
“Don’t cry, Lavinia.”
“I can’t help it.” She sniffled before coming over to hug me. “Such a blessing.”
I wrapped my arms around her, reluctantly accepting her embrace. “Christ, old woman, if you’re crying now, you’ll have a heart attack when this baby comes. Save your energy.”
She wiped her eyes. “Why did you come back?”
“I went to Leo’s to tell him the news. I figured I’d just stay here since it’s late.”
“Ah.”
“I also wanted to talk to Abby.”
She smirked, and I chose to ignore it.
I headed upstairs and decided to stop in the bathroom before checking on Abby. When I opened the door, I flinched at the sight of her—in my bathroom. Abby was in her underwear and bra, her breasts spilling out of it.
She covered her chest. “Jesus!”
I turned around and stuttered, “I—I’m sorry. I thought you were in your room.”
“Why are you here?”
“Well, it’s technically my bathroom.”
“I know. But I thought you returned to London.”
“I ended up going to Leo’s instead of home. It’s too late to drive back now.”
“I thought I had the upstairs to myself,” she said. “I wanted to take a bath. My bathroom only has a shower.”
“You don’t need to explain,” I said, keeping my back to her and feeling like a complete idiot. “You’re welcome to use the tub anytime. You live here.” I reached to pull the door closed again, but she stopped me.
“Don’t leave, Sig.”
I froze. Don’t leave? Is she mad? She’s half-naked.
“I’m about to slip under the suds,” she said. “I’ll be covered. I want to talk to you.” She paused. “I’ll tell you when it’s safe to turn around.”
I swallowed. It will never be safe with you. My pulse raced, and my dick struggled to comprehend this situation. It wasn’t supposed to be incredibly excited by such a prospect.
“Okay. You can turn around,” she finally said.
I turned to find her enveloped in the soapy water. Much to my relief, you could indeed see nothing below her neck.
“Hi.” She smiled.
“Hi,” I said, not moving from my spot near the door.
“You can come closer.”
Against my better judgment, I relented, moving forward and sitting down on the ground a few feet from the bathtub. I tried my best to ignore what I imagined to be heaven hidden beneath those bubbles.
“You went to Leo’s instead of back to London so you could tell him the news?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded. “I told Lavinia—I had to—and my dad. But that’s it.” She lifted an arm and ran a hand along her smooth skin. “I’m surprised you came back here tonight.”
“I wanted to see you,” I admitted. “Talk to you.”
Her eyes widened. “You did?”
“I need to apologize for shutting down earlier, for not acknowledging the impact the pregnancy news must have on you. You’re the one most affected here. Leo asked me how you were doing, and I was ashamed to realize I hadn’t asked.”
“It’s okay, Sig.” She smiled. “There’s no playbook for this situation.”
“How are you doing?”
“It feels like I’m outside of myself, watching all this unfold.” She moved around beneath the water, a stray bubble flying into the air. “Maybe I feel that way because this baby isn’t mine. Not sure if I’d feel differently if it were. Then again, I don’t really have any signs of pregnancy yet.” She closed her eyes. “Well, there’s one. But I’m embarrassed to admit it to you.”
“What is it?”
“Not going to say right now.”
“Alright.”
“Anyway…” She sighed. “I also never asked how you felt after we got the news.”