Page 23 of Waiting for Her

“You’re not curious at all?”

“Of course I’m curious, but the anticipation makes it even better, don’t you think?”

He laughs softly, those questions still lingering in his eyes.

“What about Brendan?”

The second that name leaves his lips, my hackles rise and I push myself off the table and gather myself before turning back to him.

“What about him?” I bite out, hating the attitude, but just the thought of that asshole makes me want to break something.

“Aren’t you afraid he’ll come back and demand custody? Aren’t you afraid he’ll take your kid away from you?”

I shake my head because that is the last thing on my mind. I know my child will be safe from that piece of shit for the rest of their life.

“I made sure that would never happen,” I state matter-of-factly, and when Max stands still, needing more of an explanation, I sigh, sitting down on the chair in the corner and gesturing for him to take the seat next to me.

“How can you be so confident that he won’t come back and try and ruin everything you’ve tried to build?”

“After I got that text from him that night at Drew’s place, I was so pissed.”

He nods, remembering the night well.

“I even called Brendan after you went back inside and begged him to come back, trying to make him be the father I wanted for my child, but he told me point blank that he didn’t want anything to do with me or his child.” I stop, watching as the anger radiates off his features.

“Him telling you he wants nothing to do with his child now means nothing for the future, baby. He could change his mind.”

That’s true, but I’m smarter than he thinks and I smile.

“I know. That’s why I talked to my lawyer. I have a signed legal document that strips him of all parental rights.”

Max’s eyes widen and I smirk, knowing I made the right decision.

“And he was okay with that?”

I laugh coldly because he doesn’t know Brendan. “Of course he was. The jackass was smiling the whole time we were in my lawyer’s office.”

I swear Max mutters that he’s a piece of shit and I don’t correct him. Because that’s the truth.

“I’m so fucking proud of you,” Max whispers before taking my lips in a kiss that leaves me breathless. “I love you and I love this baby with everything inside me.”

“I know, I love you too,” I whisper, believing for the first time that my dream might actually come true after all.

Max

A month of planning, scheduling, and secret texts has led to today. I enlisted the help of every single woman I know, including Kate and Hannah, to get this done on time, and we barely made it.

Are you doing it today? Drew texts as I putter around the kitchen making Addison breakfast.

I take out some bread, place it in the toaster and get the butter. This is all she can seem to keep down these last few mornings, so I don’t want to give her anything else just in case this is one of her bad days.

Yes, I’m doing it today. I text back, smiling as the nerves turn into giddy excitement as I think over every detail of my plans.

As the toast pops out and I gently butter it, the creaking of the floorboards above me signal that my girl is finally awake and making her way downstairs. I smile as I fill a glass with orange juice, something she’s been craving a lot lately, and something she’s been craving her whole pregnancy apparently.

“Max?” she calls from up the stairs as I jog down the hall to meet her.

The second her face comes into view I know she had a rough night.

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