Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“That is weird,” Farisha agrees. “Do you think he’s going to propose?”
Her question throws me a bit. “Already? We’ve only been officially dating for a few weeks now.”
“Yeah, but you’ve been in love with each other for years. I totally think it’s too early, but if you’re the one for each other, why wait?”
“I, uh, I guess.” I try to keep hope from bubbling up in my chest. “I might have thought that already,” I confess, thinking back to him sitting across from me at the hospital. The emotion in his eyes…the way he was so nervous at the mention of us becoming a family. Was it because he wanted to ask me to marry him?
To officially start a family of our own?
“Hang on,” I say. “You think he’s going to propose?”
“Honestly, I have no idea, but that’s the first thing I thought. What would you say? I’m sensing shock on your end.”
“Oh, yeah, I would be shocked, but I’d say yes,” I answer with no hesitation. “You’re right. I have loved him for a very long time.”
My own phone chimes in my ear and I pull it away to see a text from Sam. “Holy shit, Farisha. That’s Sam. He said he wants to go for a walk along Lake Michigan before I have to leave tomorrow for LA.”
“Are your nails done?” she asks with a laugh.
“I don’t want to jinx it. It’s soon. Sam probably isn’t sure about spending forever with me yet.”
“He’d be crazy not to. You’re a catch, Chloe. I’ve told you a thousand times, if I didn’t like dick so much, I would have a crush on you.”
“Hah,” I say, smile breaking out over my face. “Oh my god. Oh. My. God.” I stand up and stride to the window, fighting hard against the excitement that’s building inside of me. “I…I love him so much,” I blurt.
“I know you do. Do you know how annoying it was to stand back and watch you two play the Ross-and-Rachel game for years?”
“Probably just as annoying as it felt to be so close to Sam telling me how he felt only to have him push me away.”
“Hah, true. Ahhh, Chloe!”
“Don’t get too excited,” I tell her. “We have no idea what’s going to happen tonight.”
“Right. Okay, breathe. And yes, that’s a reminder to myself.” A baby starts crying in the background. “Oh, and for the sake of transparency in our relationship, since I’m clearly the only one who knows how to be honest, I stopped taking birth control this month. Fingers crossed I don’t get pregnant any time soon.”
“They why’d you stop taking your pills?”
“Because at the time it sounded like a good idea. Now everything annoys me.”
“Are you sure you’re not already pregnant?”
“I’m literally bleeding out of my vagina as we speak.”
I laugh. “I will be soon too, so we can be almost cycle sisters again,” I say.
“How did we get messed up on that? We’re always together.”
“We are,” I say as it dawns on me. I’ve never had a super reliable period, but it’s been pretty constant in coming once a month. I mentally count back to the last period I had and realize that—fuck—I’m officially late.
22
Chloe
“Hey, lady!” Karina says with way too much pep. I thought for sure I’d get tons of sleep today, but it’s turning out to be just as unrestful as the hospital, though I have napped on and off throughout the day.
“Hey,” I reply.
“You sound sick. Is everything okay? Do I need to cancel tomorrow?”
“No,” I assure her. “I’ll be there. I was almost asleep when you called.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Chloe. Do you want to call me back later?”
“It’s okay.” I sit up, blinking as I look out at the city below. The sun is setting, and I’ve been on the couch pretty much all day. Sam will be home soon, and I want to have something ready for him for dinner, so it’s a good thing Karina called and woke me up. “What is the plan for tomorrow?”
“I was thinking we could stage a little something-something between you and Charles to get the media talking again, speculating you two are back together.”
“But that photo of me with Sam just came out.”
“Exactly.”
I can see her smiling as she talks, and a bad feeling sinks in the pit of my stomach. “Why would I pretend to be dating Charles when I’m happy with Sam. I’ve been posting about him on social media and everything.”
“I know. It’ll get people talking. They’ll speculate for a few days and them come back to the conclusion you two are friends.”
I wrinkle my nose. This is only one of the few times I’ve disagreed with Karina on something. I have no doubt acting out this plan will get us exactly what we want, but at what cost? Sam doesn’t know the truth about Charles, and I don’t want to betray the trust Charles and I have in each other to tell Sam the truth before Charles is ready…though…then again…I trust Sam not to say anything to anyone.