Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Now with the case they have built against Troy that is solid as a rock, he’s set to go to trial next year. And I will be in the courthouse every single day staring him down because he did not kill me like he had planned. In fact, by hitting that alarm at the bank I prevented him from getting away with everything, since the police showed up almost right away.
When Troy goes to prison for life hopefully, I will finally be able to rest easy knowing that Carly and Matthew are able to do the same with their murderer behind bars. And Troy will rot away in prison never experiencing the joys of falling in love with someone who actually loves him back, start a family or have simple things like clean air or a warm home ever again.
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it through the day.”
Clay’s statement drags me from my thoughts and the fear I hear in his voice hurts me. “You can come have lunch with me.” I move and straddle his waist.
“That’ll be good since my ass will probably be sitting in the parking lot all day anyway.”
“It’s going to be okay.” I cup his jaw and it clenches. “I’m going to work and when you have your next trip, you’ll go on it and we’ll start planning our wedding, then at some point after we’re married, we’ll start talking about having babies.” I lean down to kiss him. “We have a whole bunch of stuff to do and none of it will get done if we live our lives worried about something that might never happen.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper back, knowing that those three little words that used to feel so huge, don’t even encompass the way I feel about him. He’s everything I ever wanted and I’m so happy that fate shoved him in my path.
Epilogue
Clay
5 years later
WITH THE THUNDER of voices filling the loft I stand at the edge of the island in the kitchen watching Willow, her sisters, and her mom fuss over the turkey I just pulled out of the oven for them. My wife looks stunning always, but these last few months have changed her in little ways that take my breath away. The bump and the extra curves she’s carrying now make her look like a goddess come to life and in just a couple of days we should be welcoming our son into the world. And although I’m excited to meet our boy I know I’ll miss her being pregnant.
“Oh no,” she gasps, and my muscles bunch when I see pain slide across her features.
“Oh no what, Mouse?” I move to where she’s standing now holding her belly.
“Nothing, it’s just a contraction.”
“What?” My muscles clench and my stomach drops.
“It’s normal, they’ve been happening all day.” She pats my chest.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Honey, what do you mean they have been happening all day?” her mom asks, now looking concerned.
“I’ve been having them all day,” she gasps and grabs her lower back.
“Now what?” I bark.
“It’s just another one, I’m fine.”
“It might have been a while since I had a baby but that’s not normal, honey.”
“What’s not normal?” Nico asks, getting off the couch in the living room where he’s been watching the football game with my brothers and his sons as the kids play in the back entertainment space.
“She’s having contractions,” I tell him.
“I’m fine.” She waves her hand out. “My water hasn’t broken, and I read online that it’s normal to have some contractions as you get ready to give birth.”
“So now we’re using Google instead of a doctor?” I ask sarcastically and she glares at me. “Were going to the hospital, I’ll grab that bag you’ve been packing and repacking for the last month.”
“I’m not going to the hospital, it’s Thanksgiving.”
“I think you should go to the hospital,” Harmony tells her.
“I’m not going to the hospital,” she argues.
“You are, even if I have to carry your ass kicking and screaming out of the house, you’re going to the hospital and staying there until a doctor tells me that you can leave.”
“I’m not having our son on Thanksgiving.” Her chin wobbles and fuck if that isn’t a kick right to the gut.
“If he’s coming you don’t have a choice,” Nico puts in, and she looks at her mom.
“Honey, you need to get checked out,” Sophie tells her.
“Oh no, no, no.” Willow pants as everyone who was hanging out in the living room comes to stand around the island.
“It’s safe to say that your water broke,” Harmony says, and I look down finding the floor wet.
“Shit.” I carefully pick her up and start walking with her toward the door.
“I need to change.” She says and when I drop my eyes to her and see the tears on her cheeks I give in and carry her to our room.