Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
“I want the baby,” I blurt out.
“That wasn’t even what I meant yet, but okay. Still, everything will be okay,” she says, and when I nod, she hands me a tissue. “I want to set you up for a sonogram to get the conception date.”
“I know when it was. It was only once.”
“All right, I would still like to have one done.”
“I can’t. Then people will know.” I was already getting grilled about coming today, and a sudden fear shoots through me. I know the Vault twins can be assholes, but how far would they go to get what they want? I’m pregnant, which means my father’s will is cut and dry for me to inherit.
“Ella, is there something you need to tell me? Are you—”
“I just don’t want people to know yet.” I cut her off before she can finish asking the question.
I can’t make claims against my stepbrothers if I don’t have real proof. It could make things worse. If I can make it until my twenty-first birthday, then I can tell everyone. Hell, I could throw the brothers out on their asses then.
“We can call it a check-in to make sure you’re still doing well. Honestly, there are a million things we can make up, and no one will be able to find out the truth. They will only have what you tell them.”
“And Oliver.” I have to let someone know.
“What about the father?” she asks, and my stomach clenches.
“I’ll have to speak with him.” If I can find him, I think to myself.
He was a guest at the party, so I’m sure I could track him down with Oliver’s help. I know I’ll have to tell the father at some point, but I wouldn’t hold him to any responsibility.
“All right,” she agrees and then gives me a clean bill of health on all of the other tests she ran.
The relief, even for a short time, is immense. Being pregnant is enough to deal with, so I’m lucky that there isn’t something more. After that we talk about my next appointment and she gives me prenatal vitamins so that I don’t have to go and get them on my own. I shove them down into my purse before leaving the doctor’s office and meeting Oliver outside.
“Anything I should know?” Oliver asks when we get back into the car.
“I’m pregnant,” I say, and Oliver simply nods his head like he already knew.
“It was the hickey,” he admits, and the man really doesn’t miss a beat. “Do you have a name?”
“It’s too early for that,” I answer, but he smiles at me kindly.
“We both know that’s not what I meant,” Oliver chuckles.
“I don’t know his name.” My nose starts to burn with embarrassment and unshed tears.
“Ella, I’m not judging you.” He’s quick to comfort me, and I’m once again thankful he’s here when I truly have no one else.
“Tell me what you know, and maybe I can find him,” he offers, and I give all the details I can. Maybe a few too many. “He said his name was Prince?”
“I think he was teasing.”
“Hmm,” Oliver responds.
“What am I going to do?”
“Nothing right now. Let me do some digging.”
I nod in agreement, but I hate how useless I feel right now. I place my hand over my stomach thinking that things can’t go on this way. I have to do something, but I think Oliver is right. We need to figure a few things out before we turn everyone’s world upside down.
Chapter Ten
LEO
“It’s been days, tell me you have good news,” I plead with Flynn when he walks through my front door.
After our last conversion, I’ve tried not to get my hopes up, but here I am once again on the edge of sanity. Clearly my hopes are more than up.
“Let’s go” is all he says before turning around and walking right back out.
I don’t hesitate or ask follow-up questions before my long strides catch up to him, and we get in his car parked out front. Once he starts the engine, I finally let them all out.
“What’s happening? Did you find her? Where are we going? Does she know we’re on the way?”
“Simmer down or I’ll leave you behind,” he says, but we both know he’d have to pry my cold fingers from his body before I’d let him leave me behind.
“I’m dying inside, Flynn. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but the more time that passes, the worse it feels. I have to see her. You don’t understand.”
“Maybe I understand more than you think.”
His cryptic statement is said mostly to himself, but I have no idea what he’s talking about. I’ve never heard him talk about being with anyone, let alone this crazy for a woman. It doesn’t matter, because at this moment I’m laser-focused on finding my girl.