Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“Thank you and enjoy,” Larissa said, pulling him out of his thoughts.
The reality check like a slap to the face.
Larissa turned toward the back where he was standing. He hadn’t even attempted to hide that he was here. The moment she saw him, everything changed. She stopped smiling and just looked around the bakery.
“You shouldn’t be here,” she said.
She carried a tray on her hip.
“I know,” Big Dick said.
Larissa looked like she was going to say something else, but she stopped and instead began to fill up her tray, getting it ready to fill the main counter.
“You changed your number,” he said.
“Yes, I did.”
“Look, I get that you hate me and you have every right to hate me.”
She was tense, with her back to him.
“But we’re going to have a baby together.”
She spun toward him. “You think I don’t know that?”
He saw the pain in her eyes.
“Larissa, I—”
“I had a plan. Well, it wasn’t much of a plan, but it was something I thought was feasible. I figured I would find a man, fall in love. I did that. I found a man, and I fell in love, and I figured with time it would become a relationship that didn’t involve lying to our friends. That was one of the first mistakes I made. Then, when the time was right, we would get married and have babies. I’d be in such a strong emotional, correct environment for when the baby came, that I would never doubt my actions.”
Tears glistened in her eyes. “I’m pregnant and do you know what hurts?” she asked.
“Larissa—”
“I don’t even know if I’m happy about it.” The tears fell down her cheeks. “What kind of mother does that make me? I’m pregnant, and what if she or he can sense that I’m not happy about this? That I regret being in this state because it was something I promised myself I would never be. I’m worse than my own mother, because at least she didn’t make me grow up hating myself with her constant rejection.”
“You’re going to be an amazing mother,” he said.
This was hard. This fucking killed him. It would be easier to turn away and run. But he forced himself to stand there and look at the woman he loved more than anything in this world, as she broke apart. As she shattered because of that fucking bet that meant nothing.
He had more than broken her heart, he’d completely shattered her whole being. Big Dick didn’t care if she pushed him away. He had to hold her.
He closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her, refusing to let go, even as she struggled, sobbed, and completely broke down in his arms.
After a short time, she stopped fighting him, and he just held her. The shop actually stayed empty long enough for him to hold her.
He knew they had a long way to go. He had a lot to prove to her, but he wasn’t going to back down. He had to win this battle.
Living without her was not an option.
****
Larissa opened the door to find Hailey on her doorstep, complete with a large bag, and she held her hand up with a bottle.
“So, I come with my makeup case and nonalcoholic wine. It does say it is fine for pregnant women, so I figure it was like an invention for pregnant women to drink at the holidays and stuff like that.”
“You did not have to do that,” Larissa said.
“You looked so sad today, and I just wanted to come and cheer you up. Trust me, you already know having makeup on is a lot of fun, and it will help you relax. You just have to throw yourself into the process.”
Larissa stepped back and allowed Hailey to enter. In the last few weeks, she had been around Hailey’s Beauty Parlor a lot. Rather than head home once she closed up the bakery, she went to see Hailey. She found watching makeup application, relaxing. Also, she just couldn’t help filling the shelves. Harlow still worked for Hailey, but with how heavily pregnant she was, and the fact she got tired, she went home early.
“Your dad said he was away for a few days on a trip and asked if I wanted to come around and see you. Of course, I said yes.”
“You didn’t have to,” she said, hating the thought of anyone doing something they didn’t want to do.
“But I wanted to, and besides, eating takeout with you is much better than eating takeout all alone. Not to make you feel sorry for me or anything, but I do spend a lot of time on my own. Just so you know. All alone. Little old me, all alone.”
She started to pout, and Larissa burst out laughing.
“You’re right, eating takeout with a friend is better than eating it alone. What do you want to order?”