Didn't Expect You (Against All Odds #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,41
head on his chest I close my eyes and let myself indulge in this moment. For a second, I want to forget everything that’s happened since the last time I saw him. Since the kiss we shared. That perfect kiss when our lips met for the first time, our hearts beating at the same rhythm, and our souls lost in the abyss of the other, if not forever, at least for a moment.
Talk about unforgettable first kisses, exciting destinations, and unfortunate detours. No, it’s a roadblock, and we each have to go our separate ways. We’ll always have…what do we have?
Nothing. What could’ve been after Sunday is completely gone. For a long time, we don’t say anything. We stay still, holding each other, or maybe he’s the one holding me.
I’m not sure how much time passes but at some point he kisses my forehead and says, “Let’s get those bags inside the house, and then you can tell me what’s happening.”
When I move, I realize that Brock is right beside Nate, quiet, sitting like the good boy that he is. I squat to pet him.
“How are you, boy?”
“Ruff!” he says and licks my cheek.
“I’m glad you guys are here, but you shouldn’t have come,” I say, trying to hold the tears because even this gesture makes me want to cry.
“The last time we spoke you were…in a bad place. You ignored my calls and texts. I couldn’t leave you like this. Since I was on my way to Seattle, I decided to stop by,” Nate explains.
I look up and smile, “Thank you for coming, but I’m fine.”
Nate arches an eyebrow and crosses his arms. “You don’t look fine, sweetheart.”
“Well, I’ll be fine soon. I’m just trying to figure out my future. Are Persy and Ford back too?” I ask, hopeful, because I need to speak to my sister.
“No,” he responds. “They’ll be back on Sunday. In the meantime, why don’t we go inside? I’m not Persy, but I too can be a good listener.”
Nate carries the grocery bags and sets them on the kitchen island. I close the trunk, grab the bookstore load, and set it next to my planner and all the printouts I have from earlier today. In silence and without prompting we begin to fix the groceries. He pulls out the trash can that’s under the sink and starts tossing the takeout containers from inside the fridge. As I’m organizing the cans in the pantry, I hear Nate say, “Your reading material is...interesting.”
I turn around and look at him, then at the book he’s holding, What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
“Mom was right,” I mumble.
He nods a couple of times and asks, “You want to talk about it?”
Before I say anything, my phone rings. It is Kerry Sanders, the realtor I contacted earlier.
Lifting an index finger, I say, “Give me a second, I have to take this call.”
For the next five minutes, I explain to Kerry my plans. She runs a quick search and gives me a house price according to the address where I live. She warns me that it’s just an estimate that could be lower or higher depending on the condition of my place. We set up a time to meet this evening.
Nate shakes his head but doesn’t say anything until I hang up, “You’re selling the house. What’s going on, Nyx?”
“I could use the equity,” I explain. “There are a lot of expenses coming up and my insurance sucks.”
According to the customer service rep I spoke with yesterday, I can’t make any changes until the end of the year. Also, the cost of my health insurance is going up, since I’m no longer employed with Bryant, LLP. I tried to get a few quotes online from other health insurance companies, but everyone wants to speak to me to sell me their policies. Even though I plan on changing my insurance and getting coverage, I have to have a backup plan.
“So, we’re keeping the baby?” he asks, more like mumbles.
I nod once in response.
Maybe Ed was a mistake, sex with him was as boring as getting a pap smear, and he’s not the person I’d like to raise a kid with, but the baby is part of me. I want her or him.
“I’m over with the week, and it’s just Wednesday,” I whisper. “It's…overwhelming to even think about what’s happening. There are so many things I have to do, including the lawsuit due to the wrongful termination of my employment.”