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The sounds of Kylie rummaging around the bathroom fill the cab of my truck. I try not to imagine what she looks like as she strips down to get in the tub. It makes me feel like a creep. I focus on the road, keeping an eye on my surroundings in case I see a cop car up ahead.

Kylie hums. “I feel like a whale.”

“You’re more like a human submarine right now.”

She giggles at that. “It’s weird that I finally look pregnant.”

It’s only been a few weeks since I saw her, and yet it feels like it’s been months. “Have you felt the baby move?”

“Not yet.”

“I still can’t believe you don’t want to find out if they’re a boy or girl.”

“I like the idea of being surprised.”

“Do you have any names short-listed?”

“Not yet. None have felt right. I might not decide until I meet my little Peanut.”

“That’s fair. You wouldn’t want to name him Leopold and he comes out looking like a Leonard.”

Kylie starts to belly laugh. “Leopold and Leonard? Really, Gray?”

“What? They’re solid names.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m almost to the airport, Ladybug. Will you text me your hotel information?”

“Yeah. Thank you, Gray.”

“There’s nothing to thank me for. I’ll be there soon, okay?”

“Love you.”

“I love you too.” She’ll never know how much I mean those words.

CHAPTER 5

Grayson

My eyes are gritty, and I feel like a zombie when we land in Seattle. I rub the heels of my hands over my eyelids, trying to wake myself up a bit. The lights were blinding when the flight attendants turned them on, but it helped me shake off the haze of sleep.

I barely made it through security in time to get on the flight. They were about ten minutes away from closing the doors. The gate agent even said, “That was close.” My adrenaline was pumping hard by then. I was shocked that I managed to fall asleep after takeoff.

Since I only have my backpack, I’m off the plane and headed out to the rideshare pickup spot. The GPS says it’ll take us about half an hour to get to the hotel. It’s going on two in the morning now, and I’m dead on my feet, but the thought of seeing Kylie so soon keeps me moving.

I hate that it’s come to this. I hate that I’ve only seen her in panic mode these last few visits. Maybe this time, I’ll be able to convince her to come back to Pine Creek Falls with me. Maybe this is the time she’ll finally stay.

I guess it’ll depend on how badly Chris screwed up. I thought his absence during Kylie’s hospital stay would be the nail in the coffin, but like usual, she had an excuse for him. She’s too nice. She always sees the good in people, and I have a feeling that finally bit her in the ass.

The rideshare driver drops me off in front of the hotel with barely a grunt of goodbye. I can’t blame him. I almost don’t have the energy to walk into the lobby—though as I step over the threshold, my eyebrows steadily rise. This place is high-class. My worn jeans and dirty cowboy boots scream that I don’t belong here.

I don’t give a fuck, but it’s still a little weird.

“I’m here to pick up a key,” I say to the front desk person, ignoring her pinched face as I give her my name. She slides the card over to me, and I’m walking to the elevator a minute later. My energy is fading the closer I get to the room. I’m going to crash hard the second I’m horizontal.

A snort of laughter escapes when I finally get a look at the opulence of the room Kylie booked. I’m dying to know how much this set Douche Face back. He deserves it after all the shit he’s put Kylie through over the years.