An Unfinished Memory (Oil Knights Book 3) by Marie Johnston

Author:Marie Johnston [Johnston, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LE Publishing
Published: 2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Sutton

The weather was perfect for an early September evening. With the sun still high in the sky and the garage on Cody and Tova’s house blocking the wind, I should’ve been salivating for the good food lining the picnic table.

I might’ve been facing Aggie and Vienne, but my focus was on a certain pair of broad shoulders standing next to Cody and Ansen at the grill.

I wasn’t supposed to be here. I told him I would stay away so he could enjoy his night with his family. Yet I was parked next to his sister, with his youngest niece propped against my shoulder, her little puffs of air ruffling the strands of hair hanging out of my ponytail.

The dress I almost wore was tucked safely in my closet. With that time of the month making my abdomen achy, I was more comfortable with the counter pressure of my Wranglers. I also didn’t want to appear like I was trying to capture Wilder’s attention.

We both knew what happened the last two times I’d worn that dress.

“Whenever you’re tired of being a bed, I can take her,” Aggie said.

Vienne grinned at me. “Auntie Sutton isn’t letting go of Ro anytime soon.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve had baby time.” I wasn’t close to my sister, but I’d babysat for Petra when Honey would leave for competitions. Honey’s husband would go with her, our parents too, and I’d be on auntie duty for an entire week.

I’d been in college, but I’d study ahead so I could have uninterrupted time with Petra. Those weeks had been both harrowing and reaffirming. Stressful days with a baby when I had no prior kid experience and busy when she started to walk and open drawers and doors. The dreams I’d had after those days… I’d meet the perfect man, we’d have a tiny, cute baby with teeny, little fingers and a round button nose. We’d be a perfect little family who stayed together. The three of us. Maybe the four of us. Five? I wasn’t sure what the future would bring.

When I got into vet school in Colorado Springs, my babysitting weeks were over, and Petra had started her own lessons by then. Soon, I was the forgotten aunt. But then I’d met Wilder, and he’d offered me everything.

My PCOS and I couldn’t fulfill the baby part of the bargain. Wilder couldn’t fulfill the present-husband part. So here I was, holding a niece who was actually my ex-husband’s relative. Single and plagued with painful cramps that reminded me why I couldn’t make babies.

Fucking PCOS.

Were my OTC pain meds wearing off already?

The dull ache in my gut was growing stronger with each heartbeat. If I didn’t get on top of the pain, I was going to get nauseous.

Periods like this almost made me wish for the days before I started on my new medicine when my periods weren’t so regular or heinous.

No. That time of whatever month my body chose would still be heinous. I had to see what else I had on hand for pain relief.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.