Chapter 62
Chapter Sixty-Two
Mila
Staring at my hand as we drive down the interstate, I’m struck by how surreal everything feels.
A year ago, I was spending every waking moment at Twin Roasts with Mara, working every day.
Then Cora met Atlas, and everything changed.
Without her, I don’t know if Kash and I would have met.
I mean sure, I have tattoos, and I’d heard of their shop, but I’m not exactly covered in ink.
I wouldn’t have a husband and baby on the way, and he’d likely still be fooling around with Bri or some other woman.
Glancing at Kash, I take a moment to study him.
His eyes are trained on the road, and we’re about an hour from home.
His hair rests loosely on the side, tattoos on display under his short-sleeved T-shirt.
He opted for joggers this morning because of the drive, and I can’t say I’m the least bit sad about it seeing the way they fit over his body.
Even when he’s doing something as mundane as driving, Kash is a work of art.
“If you keep looking at me like that, Wife, we’re going to be making a pit stop,” he drawls, not taking his eyes off the road. “I can feel you over there, eye-fucking me.”
Shaking my head, I give him a confused look. “You mean I’m not allowed to appreciate what a sexy man my husband is?”
Laughing, he gives me a quick, heated expression. “You can appreciate all you want but just know that I reward appreciation. Very well.”
Squeezing my thighs together, I think of all the ways he showed appreciation over our long weekend together.
I was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, and Kash took me home, then Thursday morning we left for our trip.
He proposed that evening and after explaining his thought process behind my ring, I didn’t want to wait. I couldn’t.
When I lay on that cabin floor, and Jake was hurting me, deep down I was more afraid of what would become of Kash if something happened to me, than I was of dying.
He was so young when he lost his father, and his mom couldn’t handle it, so she left him as well.
He spent years becoming closed off from real intimacy, not letting himself get close to anyone.
I can’t imagine what would happen to him if I were gone, and he finally opened up to someone, like he had for me.
The universe wouldn’t be that cruel, right?
I wouldn’t change anything about Kash, even his past. All of those years he spent lost made him into the man he is now, and he’s an amazing man. He has so much love to give, and I have no doubts he’s going to be an amazing father and husband.
Moving my hand to the center console, Kash silently accepts my request, laying his hand on mine. Twining our fingers together, I press my lips to his skin and smile. “So, about that reward?”
Shaking his head with a smile, Kash puts on a signal and heads for the nearest exit. I guess we’re getting home later than he hoped for after all.
Pulling into our apartment complex, I’m tired and sore, but part of that is my own doing.
We ended up taking a thirty-minute detour after getting off that exit.
Kash drove around for a few minutes, found a large shopping center, slamming into a stall at the back of the parking lot.
I barely had time to take my seatbelt off before I was yanked across the console and onto his lap.
Fortunately, it was dark, and Kash’s SUV has tinted windows, so I don’t think anyone saw us.
I wouldn’t care if they had. They’d be jealous because Kash is all mine.
He helps me out of his car, slowly sliding me down his frame. “Welcome home, Mr. Malone,” I quip, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him. I hope our child gets his height because it stinks being short.
Kissing me deeply for a moment, Kash pulls back and presses his lips against my forehead. “This isn’t our home, baby. This is just an in-between.”
Stepping back, I want to ask him what he means, but his phone rings, cutting me off. Pulling it out from his pocket, he looks at the screen, then answers, “Hey, Seth. What’s up?”
Opening the back of the SUV, I start to grab a bag, but Kash’s hand stops me. Giving me a ‘are you seriously grabbing our luggage’ look, he shakes his head, then nods with whatever Seth is saying.
It’s almost nine o’clock. Our little detour made us late, and I have to use the bathroom in the worst way. Pointing to the apartment, I do a little dance, so he understands, then he hands me his keys.
Smiling, I grab my bag and pull out my phone. After thinking about it on the way home, I want to have everyone over for a big dinner to share our news. Cora picks up on the second ring.
“Hey, Mils. How was your trip?”
“It was amazing, Cora.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her now, but as I fight with the lock, I reign it in. “We went to the beach and did some other stuff.”
“I bet you did other stuff.” She snickers.
The lock gives way and I swing the door open. Turning around, Kash is still on the phone and grabbing our stuff, so I leave the door open for him.
“Hush. Has there been any word on Bri?”
Cora’s quiet for a moment, then sighs. “I don’t know if you really want to know, Mila.”
Freezing in the entryway, I lean against the wall. “Did they find her?”
“No. She’s still out there somewhere. You need to be careful, Mils. You and Kash both. It’s a good thing she doesn’t know where his new place is.” Cora goes quiet for a moment, then softly adds, “She’s not stable, Mila.”
Nodding even though she can’t see me, I take a deep breath and sigh. Kash explained how he tried to get her treatment, but she seems beyond help. It’s so sad. “Thanks, Cora. I can’t believe Bri is doing all of this. Like, what happened to her that made her so crazy?”
Heading for the bathroom, I’m about to hang up on Cora so I can yell at my new husband when pain explodes against my side. I fall to the ground with a cry and drop my phone. Footsteps approach, and I pull my legs up to cover my stomach. Please let Baby Sprout be okay.
“Well, that’s not very sweet of you, Mila.”
Looking up, a tall woman with dark hair is standing above me with a raised bat, a saccharine smile on her face.
“Bri” is the only word I get out before everything goes dark.