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I wag my finger at her. “Oh no, you don’t. Tell me where we’re going this instant or I’m going home.”
Aspen giggles as she threads her arm through mine. “I admire how you think you can take the four of us on while you’re pregnant. Delusional but admirable all the same.”
“Where’s my phone?” I mutter. “I need to call the police.”
“Don’t worry. Lyric’s waiting for us.”
My brow wrinkles. “Lyric? Why is your fiancé waiting for us?” My eyes widen. “Is this a surprise wedding?” I glance down at my outfit. “Is this why you made me wear a dress?” The dress is reminiscent of a muumuu but at least I’m not wearing the stained sweatpants and t-shirt I had on when they invaded my home thirty minutes ago.
“I am not having a surprise wedding, unlike some people.”
Ashlyn shrugs. “I wasn’t surprised. I knew why we were flying to Vegas the whole time.”
“You need to plan your wedding party before Mom loses her mind,” I remind her.
“I’m safe. I should probably thank you for getting pregnant when you did. Mom’s too excited with the idea of her first grandchild coming into the world to be very angry at me for eloping.”
I rub my hand over my belly. Too bad the baby’s dad isn’t excited about the idea of having his first child and upped and left town without so much as a goodbye. He said his leaving wasn’t a goodbye but what else am I supposed to believe?
I haven’t heard a peep from him in a week. Not one message asking how I’m doing or how the baby’s doing. He probably already found a new woman in New York City. A fancy woman to match his fancy new job.
We slow as we reach my dream home Cole and I viewed. I can’t help but imagine myself lazing on the front swing while the baby crawls on the porch and the puppy runs around the yard. I notice the lawn’s been mowed and the rose bushes have been trimmed.
“I guess someone bought my house.”
I wasn’t holding my breath hoping I could somehow figure out how to afford this place, but my heart still squeezes when I realize this place will never be my home.
“Let’s keep going to wherever it is we’re going.”
When no one responds to my statement, I glance over my shoulder and realize my sisters are slinking away. What the hell?
“What are you doing?” I shout my question to Aspen who’s dashing around the corner of the house to the backyard. She gives me a thumbs-up but doesn’t stop.
Someone clears his throat and I whirl around to find Cole standing before me. My hands fist on my hips. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in New York?”
“I’m right where I want to be.”
He takes my hand and draws me forward. I plant my feet. I’m not going anywhere with the man who runs out on me at the first hurdle.
“You can walk on your own two feet or I’m carrying you.”
“Carrying me? Have you missed how large I am?” I indicate my belly.
He smiles. “No, I have not.” He kneels in front of me to cradle my stomach. “Hey, baby girl. Have you missed me?” The baby kicks in response to his voice. “I’ve missed you too, baby girl.” He kisses my belly before standing and holding out his hand to me.
I stare at it for a long second before reaching forward. I’m probably being a fool, but I can’t seem to resist this man. He clamps down on my hand as if he doesn’t ever want to let me go. Stop those fanciful thoughts, Ellery. You know better.
We walk up the steps to the porch, and he opens the front door. I yank on his hand. “I told you. We can’t afford this house,” I hiss. “I don’t want to view it again. Besides, I think someone already bought it.”
“Someone did,” he says as he tugs me inside. “Welcome home, Ellie girl and baby girl.”
“Little Freedom,” I grunt to annoy him, but then I scan the interior and forget all about annoying him.
The house doesn’t resemble the place we viewed a few weeks ago. It’s no longer an empty shell with all the furniture filling it. The living room has a corner sofa, in front of which is an entertainment center with an obnoxious sized television. In the dining room, there’s an oversized farm table. Making things even weirder, it’s currently covered with an array of food.
Cole wraps his arms around me from behind and props his chin on my shoulder. “What do you think of your new home?”
New home? What’s he talking about? “It’s gorgeous, but—”
