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Coleman’s gaze cuts to me, and I can see he’s been wrestling with it. Coleman is the quintessential perfect brother, father, husband, and son. He never does anything wrong. He’s always been the oldest brother and almost like a second father to me.
So I can only assume he’s done the right thing, like telling his wife that he’s going to kill her sister.
“I’ve told her. She understands. She also knows her sister.”
“Your mother will entertain the girls tonight,” my father announces before any of us can respond to Coleman’s words. “I like having them all together when we’re doing these things.”
Dipping my chin, I turn around and head out of the office. I know what time I need to be where. But right now, my attention is only on my bride and our appointment. I want to see this baby. It doesn’t seem real yet. It’s as though this is just something that’s happening, but it doesn’t feel like a real baby is going to come out of it.
I can’t see anything.
Sure, her body has started to change, but it hasn’t sunk in yet. I think that going to the doctor will solidify everything. When I make my way back to my condo, I don’t even bother parking in my regular spot. I just pull up to the curb before I rush inside.
The elevator feels as if it’s climbing at a snail’s pace. I’m not sure why I feel like I’m in a rush. I’m not late or anything. The car door opens, and the moment I step into the hallway, the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.
Someone is watching me.
I’m not running late, but I also do not have time for this shit.
Flicking my gaze from side to side, I try not to make it obvious that I’m looking for someone. Thankfully, that person makes themselves known almost immediately. Someone with a deep voice clears their throat. I turn to face the sound and find Tait standing directly in front of my condo’s front door.
“Cousin,” I murmur.
He smirks. “Cousin.”
Arching a brow, I wait for him to continue, and he does. He takes a step forward, moving away from the front door, and doesn’t stop until he’s just a few feet in front of me. I wait for him to speak, expecting some angry rampage, but that’s not what happens.
Instead, he reaches out, gripping my shoulder with a gentle squeeze as his gaze focuses on mine. “I just wanted to say, whatever you need from me, you got it. I know that we’re on probation and being watched. I know I fucked up when I didn’t come to you. But I love the family.”
“I’m glad for that,” I say. “We love you, too, Tait. You and Tatum. You know…” I begin. “If your sister needs a job, my woman needs someone to help at her lingerie store. It would be a good way to show loyalty to Dad.”
His eyes widen, and his lips curve up into a grin. “I would like that.”
I tell him what time to have her there. He thanks me again before he leaves. I watch him walk onto the elevator before I make my way inside the condo, where I see her immediately.
She’s standing with her back to me, her perfect ass encased in even more perfect leggings. Closing the front door behind me, I watch her and wait for her to say something. But she doesn’t speak, and I don’t move any closer.
I stand there, watching her, wondering in this moment how I could have ever thought that I could marry someone else. Nobody else could ever exist to me but her. Just my sweet Allison.
My sunshine.
The woman who owns all of me.
Chapter
Thirty-Five
ALLISON
Holding the little black-and-white photo in my hand, I wonder how this could be real. I know it is. I took all the tests, I’ve been sick as hell, and still, it didn’t seem truly tangible until I saw this little picture, heard the little heartbeat.
Until my eyes and ears soaked everything in. This beautiful being that my body is creating, this little piece of me and Hendrick. Everything good in us rolled into one tiny little freeze-frame. My breath hitches just thinking about it.
Hendrick reaches over, wraps his fingers around my thigh, and gently squeezes. “Our baby is going to be stunning,” he announces as if he can read my mind, or maybe I was talking out loud. I’m not really sure.
Turning my head, I look at him, watching his profile for a moment as he drives. I don’t know where we’re going or what is happening, but I don’t care either. All I can think about is this brand-new beautiful baby that is about to turn our already upside-down world into complete chaos.
“You think?” I ask even though I know he’s right. This baby is going to be stunning. I think I just want to hear what he has to say about it.
