Page 31 of Blaze

Shortcake?

Eyeing the card I whisper, “That is one horrible nickname.”

He hums, then murmurs, “Well, that’s the nickname you’ve got, baby. Open the card, I’m right here.”

Now baby?

Is he forgetting that he’s taken? Because it feels like he’s forgotten, I mean, the woman was hoping to be pregnant for crying out loud.

“Blaze,” I sigh, but he cuts me off and says, “Linc,” and my eyes tear up.

Clark and Trick were right, he’s claiming me. Him leaving that shirt I happen to wear every night for bed is him claiming me.

“I’m broken,” I choke, and he squeezes me tighter around the waist.

He replies, “So am I, but maybe we can fix each other.”

“You claimed someone else right before we met,” I remind him, and he sighs.

“I’m going to explain all that to you, I fucking promise, but know this, I’m not with El, so if anything puts your mind at ease, remember that,” he says before he kisses my neck, then demands softly, “Open it, I’ll be right here.”

He’s not with her.

Yet she was at the hospital thinking she was pregnant.

God, my head is so messed up.

Blaze, wait, crap, Linc, squeezes me again in reassurance and whispers, “You’re not the other woman. I promise you, me and El were never like that, open the card and tomorrow we can talk after you’ve finished work, come on, baby, open the card…”

I nod, and he guides us to the couch and takes a seat, pulling me down on him, and I lean over and grab the white envelope first and open it.

I pull a card out and pass it to Linc, knowing he’ll keep it safe – which says a lot, especially after only a month of knowing him.

He smiles and gets his wallet out of his jeans, putting it inside before putting it back in his jeans, and I pull out the letter.

“Dear Miss Newton,

Happy twenty-fifth birthday.

If you were not aware, your parents had placed all of their valuable assets into a trust on your behalf, along with the sale of the three properties that they owned. This includes any vehicles as per written in their will, which you were not to gain access to until you hit twenty-five due to your sister's obscene spending habits.

Attached to this letter is a card in your name and your name only, with the amount holding, $1,806,060.92, wait what?”

I suck in a breath as I eye the number, not believing it as Linc mutters, “Fucking hell.”

I continue to read, “This amount is to be kept discrete from your sister, and for you to spend how you wish.

I’m sorry for your loss once again, and I’m sorry your sister didn’t do what she should have in order to receive half of this amount, taking care of you without you going into the foster system.

Attached to the letter is a pre-written birthday card from your parents in case they weren’t alive to see this day.

Again, Happy Birthday, Blair. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely… Oh my god, Linc, what, I…”

I blink as I look at the figure again.

Over a million dollars, I have, holy.