Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
“It's not weird.” Atlas cups my cheek, and I can't help but nuzzle into his warm calloused palm. “It's perfect.”
“You mean it?” I ask, even though I already know he does. He's honest to a fault.
“Yeah, Pip. I mean it. Now, let's go tell Ellis the big news.”
“Are you going to ask him to be your best man?”
“I was thinking flower girl.”
Laughter explodes out of me. “He'd so do it. He's been showing me these videos of guys doing just that. Says they're called flower dudes.”
“Oh, shit.” Atlas releases a deep chuckle. “Maybe we better stick to best man then. You gonna ask Scarlet?”
“Yup.” Who else would I ask?
“Here's to hoping those two can get along long enough for us to say our vows.”
“I think they might surprise you.” It's like I tried saying to Ellis the other day, the line between love and hate is razor thin, after all.
EPILOGUE ONE
ATLAS
“Atlas,” Nora calls from a few yards away.
“Almost done!” I holler back, assuming lunch is ready. “Just gotta tighten these straps.”
Nora's due in two weeks, so I figure now's as good a time as any to get the car seat installed.
“Tighten them quickly.”
The strain in her voice has me whipping around to face her. She has one hand on the top of her belly and the other cradling it from below. Her shoulders are tense, her eyes are pinched shut, and her lips are pursed.
Something's wrong.
“What's going on, Pip?” I ask, giving the strap one last tug before closing the car door.
“James—he's—now.”
“What about James?”
“It's time,” she says through clenched teeth.
“Time... time like—”
“We need to head to the hospital, Atlas.” She sucks in a deep breath and then lets it out slowly. “Now.”
“Fuck, now. Okay. Bags! We need your bags.” I rush toward the house, but stop at the threshold. “Where are they again?”
“Our closet.”
“Okay. Got it. You wait here. I'll grab everything and then help you into the truck.”
She nods, and I take off like a shot, hollering Ellis's name as I rush down the hall.
“Yeah?” he calls back, poking his head out of his door.
“It's baby time.”
“For real?” Leave it to him to somehow sound more nervous than me.
“Yeah. We're headed to the hospital. Do me a favor and let Scarlet know.”
“You're lucky I love y'all, man.” Maybe Nora's right and there is something there, because God knows, they fight like an old married couple. “Let me know when my nephew is born. I call dibs on holding him first.”
“Yeah, yeah. You two better be on your best behavior or I swear to God, I'll kick you out of Nora's hospital room.”
“It's not my fault you and your girl befriended Satan.” Ellis mimes a halo over his head. “I'm a perfect angel.”
I try not to grin at his antics, but it's a losing battle. “I don't have time for this. Text Scar and keep your phone nearby. I've gotta go.”
He tips his head my way in acknowledgment, and then I'm on my way. I make quick work of grabbing Nora's bag, pillow, and the gift I picked out for her, especially for this occasion—a push present, Scarlet called it.
I race back to the truck like I'm trying for Olympic gold, throw the bag in the back seat, and then help Nora into the cab.
“You ready, Pip?” I ask, stepping onto the running board to buckle her in.
She looks back at me with wide eyes. “What if I'm a bad mom?”
I rear back. “Not possible.”
“Atlas, I mean it.”
“Nora Morgan, you are everything good in this world, and there's absolutely zero possibility of that not carrying over to motherhood. I guarantee it.”
She gasps and grabs my hand, squeezing it with a strength I didn't know she was capable of. “Okay.”
“How far apart are your contractions?” I ask, because they seem to be coming pretty quickly.
“Um, like two or three minutes apart.”
My eyes widen to the point where I'm sure I look like a cartoon character. “Okay.” I suck in a deep breath of my own. “Okay, yup. Let's go.”
I step down and race around the front of the truck before hopping behind the wheel and hitting the ignition. I'd like to say I drive calmly and follow all of the traffic laws, but that'd be a damn lie. I drive like a bat out of hell, bobbing and weaving between cars, my eyes anxiously flitting between the road and Nora.
In fact, the only other time I've ever driven anywhere near like this was the day Nora was taken, and coincidentally, both of those days ended up with us in the hospital. At least this visit is planned—mostly.
“How you doing over there?” I ask as I merge onto the highway.
“Peachy,” Nora replies through gritted teeth. “Just freaking peachy.”
I reach over and take her hand in mine, knowing damn well she's about to use it like a stress ball. “We're not too far out now.”