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“I freaked you out, didn’t I?”
Blinking a few times, she turned to him and shook her head. “You made me feel like I am actually wanted.” Tears pricked her eyes, and he pulled her close to him.
“Hey, no crying, unless it’s because you’re happy.”
She nodded against his chest. “I am happy. You make me happy, Charlie.” Pulling back and looking into his face, she was struck anew by the force of how much she loved him. It seemed crazy that she could feel like this for one person after such a short amount of time, but her feelings had been there all along, and until Charlie had told her he loved her, she hadn’t known it was so intense and consumed her fully.
He wiped her tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
“I hate to tell you this, but I told you so.”
For a moment, she was confused by his statement, but then it clicked into place. He was stating the fact that he had known they were having a boy and that he would be a bear. Smacking him playfully on the arm, she scooted back to her seat and chuckled. “Yeah, I guess you did.”
He started the engine, but before he pulled out of the parking lot, he leaned over and kissed her on the head. “You want to wait to tell everyone the good news until tonight?”
She nodded, because that was just what she was about to tell him. He took her hand in his and then maneuvered the truck out of the parking space and away from the doctor’s office.
“I need to stop by the butchers and pick up a meat order Bram placed for dinner tonight.”
“That’s fine. I’ll go into the supermarket and grab a few things.”
He pulled into a spot right in front of the little grocery store and cut the engine. “I won’t be too long. I’ll meet you inside.” He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. They climbed out of the truck, and he jogged across the street to Brady’s. She walked into Sweet Water’s small grocery store and grabbed a cart. If anyone wanted more than the necessities, they’d have to travel twenty minutes outside of town to the larger chain supermarket to get it.
After paper plates, plastic cups, and any other “party” items she could think of, she debated whether or not to grab a bottle of wine for Melissa and Candace. Deciding against it, because if she knew anything about Melissa, it was that she would probably bring a case of wine with her, she headed over to the bakery. After ordering a baker’s dozen of pastries, she stood patiently as they were being packaged.
“February?” Stiffening at the deep sound of her name right behind her, she slowly turned around and stared at Frank. Her jackal ex-boyfriend looked exactly the same: longish dark hair and cold, flat dark eyes. They had broken up—or more, she had left him. Memories of their relationship washed through her, sour and vile ones that made her feel like less of a woman and more of an object.
He had made her feel like no one else would want her, had told her as much on several occasions, yet she stayed with him. That was, until she grew a backbone, talked to her two best friends, and dumped his ass. No way would she let him intimidate her anymore.
She was now with Charlie and couldn’t help but feel like she was worthy of someone’s love and that they were worthy of her love in return.
“Well, shit, it is you.” He eyed her up and down, and she could practically hear his condescending words even though he didn’t say anything. “Damn, Ary, in just a few months, you’ve really packed on the pounds. And that’s saying something, since you were thick to begin with.” And there was the Frank she left. She didn’t say anything, couldn’t, because she was humiliated, but also because she was furious.
Opening her mouth would only end in her saying something vile in front of a lot of unsuspecting people, children included. No, she would bite her tongue, hope her pastries were almost ready, and walk away from him.
“Ma’am?” She turned and saw the baker handing her the box filled with her baked goods. Her face heated even further at the knowledge that Frank would no doubt have a comment about that. And just like on cue, he spewed his hurtful thoughts.
“I see you’re still eating like the world’s gonna end.” He started cackling that distinctive laugh jackals had. Her face felt like it was on fire, and she snatched the box, said thank you, and started to walk away. A hand on her arm stopped her, and her heart raced.
“Damn, Ary, the least you can do is say hi to the man whose heart you broke.”
