From the First by Alexa Padgett

Author:Alexa Padgett
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781945090141
Publisher: Alexa Padgett

13

Evie

When Paige asked for Kai to come back to my place with us, I didn’t have the heart to tell her no—not after the last week she’d spent with Lydia and George. Now, she was finally asleep, cuddled into the blanket-covered couch cushions, clutching the tattered ear of the stuffed bunny I’d given her.

Kai placed his finger to those oh-so-kissable lips and nodded toward my bedroom. The look I gave him must have shown my confusion because Kai grabbed my hand. Once inside the room, he closed the door behind him, leaning against it. I opened my mouth, trying to think of something to say, something to calm my frantically beating heart.

“I know you’re pissed at me for how I handled everything before, and you’re right to be.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and waited. This week had been a nightmare. While I’d managed to secure the thirty-seven subjects for my research, I hadn’t had time to contact my committee member here at Northern to pull together another group of potential subjects. I was running out of time to complete the experiment, let alone compile the data.

“Sue said she’d give us the opportunity to adopt Paige if we get married.”

I turned away, unable to look into those pleading blue-brown eyes. “I can’t deal with this, Kai.”

“By Monday afternoon, we need a house and a marriage license.”

There was no way he’d just said that to me. Sure, I’d daydreamed about Kai wanting me enough to propose a real marriage in a grape arbor or by the sound. When I really let my imagination go, I considered what our babies would look like.

“I’m serious. I don’t have time for your spontaneity.”

Because his words . . . no, this moment wasn’t any of that. This was surreal. The hurt would come. But, like a fresh, deep cut, my body hadn’t yet accustomed itself to the pain slithering from my heart up to my mind.

He waited for me to speak. What could I possibly say to his delusions?

“Why bring this up again? Sue shut us down and you dropped me faster than a hot potato.”

“Because us married is the only way we can keep Paige away from another Lydia and George. I can’t believe the bruises on her,” he said.

Neither could I. “But why?” The frustration of the last two weeks bubbled up into that word so it came out as more of a growl.

“To prove we’re stable enough to adopt her.”

“Stable?” I laughed. “We’re not stable. You don’t even like me.”

“We can adopt Paige, both of us, and make sure she’s cared for. I have the money but not the time. At least not for the next six or more months. You’re still looking for a job and its summer, which makes the timing perfect. I’ll buy us a house. You and Paige can live there, you can hang out this summer, take her to her counseling appointments between interviews. Then, when Paige starts kindergarten, you can start your new job. I’ll be back in early December, so it’s not even that long, really.

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