Chapter 32
Chapter 52
Leah
I
67%
I’m beginning to doubt my ability to get pregnant again. It’s been three months of trying, and still no positive test. I stare down at the latest one while I’m sitting inside the bathroom, willing that second line to appear, but it never shows.
“Goddamn it!” I growl as I throw away the stick, but although I und angry, all I want to do is cry.
I want a family and so does Caleb, but if I can’t get pregnant, whe then? Will he leave me? I know there’s nothing wrong with Caleb’s sperm. Unlike me, he wasn’t scared to test himself when we decided we would try, so it’s most likely me, which isn’t a good thing. Caleb is rich and hot. Hell, his voice alone can make women follow him to bed–me not being able to conceive might make him replace me.
“Leah?” I heard Caleb shout at me from outside the bathroom. He must be in the hallway. “Are you almost ready to hit the beach, or do you need some more time in there? Now that I think about it, we can stay at home. Do you umm need more paper, or are you good?”
Oh my god, does he think I have an upset stomach or something Because that’s not the case! I just secretly do pregnancy tests every morning. It’s become an obsession to pee on those sticks.
“No, I’m okay!” I shout back and get up to wash my hands.
When I step out into the hallway, Caleb is already there and waiting for me outside. He is leaning against the wall, looking
lessly handsome in his dark swim trunks and white T–shirt The short sleeves hug his tanned biceps in the right places, and I gulp at the sight.
How did I ever score such a hottie?
While I’m standing there, gaping up at my tall boyfriend like a goldfish, Caleb tilts his head. “Are you okay?” he asks, smirking slightly when he realizes I’m checking him out. “You look a little red. Any chance you might be coming down with something?”
all- I force
With my whole face flushing red, I quickly say, “No, no, I’m fine! Just a bit flushed from the hot bathroom, that’s all.” a bright smile. “I’m ready for the beach whenever you are!”
Caleb studies me for a moment longer, his smirk growing, but he doesn’t continue to tease me. “Alright, beautiful, let’s get going then. I’ve got the cooler packed with drinks and snacks in the car already”
Without waiting for my response, he takes my hand in his larger one. He acts like we are in a hurry, which makes it easy to stop focusing on the negative pregnancy test and instead focus on what’s important: my partner,
And what a partner he is. Caleb is funny, charismatic, rich and just downright amazing. We have such a good time driving to the beach. Caleb is an expert in making me laugh, and by the time we arrive and find a spot to spread out our towels, my spirits have lifted considerably.
After I’ve stripped down my biking, Caleb watches me with darkening eyes.
Pride swells in my chest. “Like what you see?”
His lips curl. “I do, actually.”
“Shame you can’t touch, only look.”
1/4
Exclusive Profile
Ad–Fre
Feb
Chapter 52
“Only look?”
“I have a boyfriend”
He snorts in amusement. “You little shit”
Before I can get a chance to escape from my brute of a boyfriend, he pulls me close, I giggle like a madwornan but fall silent when he plants a heated kiss on my lips.
“You are so damn sexy,” he murmurs against my mouth. “I’m the luckiest man on this beach.”
“Mmm, I
uld say the same about you, handsome,” I purr, running my hands over Caleb’s defined chest. “Now, let’s go cool off in that inviting water before we get too carried away out here in public.”
I flash him a flirty wink before sauntering towards the sparkling waves, putting an extra sway in my hips. When I turn around. I’m hoping to find Caleb looking at me, but he is busy talking to two random women who must have approached him the second they saw him alone.
I pause in my tracks, my stomach twisting with jealousy as I watch Caleb chat with them. They look like models: tall and leggy with shiny hair blowing in the sea breeze. The exact opposite of my short, curvy frame.
One of them throws her head back, laughing flirtatiously at something Caleb said. He grins in response, his stance relaxed and confident. My heart sinks. Does he realize how handsome and charismatic he is? That he could have any woman he wants? So what the hell is he doing with someone like me, especially if I can’t get pregnant?
Before I can spiral down the rabbit hole of self–doubt, I feel strong arms wrap around me from behind. Caleb pulls me back against his firm chest and nuzzles my neck.
“Hey beautiful, I thought we were going swimming together?” he murmurs, his breath tickling my ear.
I lean into his embrace, already feeling my worries start to melt away in his presence. “We are. I was just waiting for you to finish your conversation.”
“Those ladies? They just wanted to know if this stretch of beach was good for surfing. I told them I had no idea since I only have eyes for the gorgeous mermaid in front of me.”
Caleb punctuates his point by trailing kisses along my bare shoulder. I can’t help but smile, my earlier insecurities feeling incredibly silly now. He always knows just what to say.
I turn in his arms and drape mine around his neck. “Well then, I guess you better take this mermaid for a dip before she dries out in this heat.”
“As you wish,” he winks before scooping me up bridal style, making me squeal and giggle as he charges towards the waves with me in his strong arms.
The cool, salty water is a refreshing shock as Caleb playfully tosses me in. I surface, sputtering and laughing, my previous anxiety washed away by the ocean and my attentive, loving man. We splash and swim, stealing kisses as we both the gentle
waves.
Out here in the sparkling sea, wrapped up in each other, it’s easyno let my worries drift away with the tide. But once we are back on the beach and I hear a group of women talk, my insecurities come rushing back.
“Oh my god, that guy is so hot and ripped!” They mean Caleb. Their eyes have left him for a second.
”
He really is, but that woman he is with… She is pretty curvy, isn’t she?”
Exclusive Profile
Chapter 52
“Maybe she is pregnant?”
haven’t lost all of my pregnancy i
Even though their words hurt, I understand their confusion. 1 st and if I had our daughter with us, people would know why I’m bigger.
But now that she is gone. I just look soft and rounded next to Caleb’s chiseled physique
And I’m such a weakling because their careless comments reopen the wound of losing our baby. Suddenly, I’m fighting tears and have to turn away so Caleb doesn’t see how affected I am by the strangers‘ gossip.
I busy myself spreading out our beach towels and unpacking the cooler, trying to steady my breathing and blink back the moisture in my eyes. Caleb flops down beside me, his skin glistening with salt water. He reaches for a bottle of water and takes a long swig.
“Whew, that swim really worked up my appetite! You hungry, babe? I packed some of those sandwiches you
I force a smile, not meeting his eyes. “Maybe in a bit. I think I just want to lay out and relax for now,”
Caleb studies me, a small furrow forming between his brows. “Everything okay, Leah? You seem a little off
I wave a dismissive hand. “I’m fine, just a bit tired from the sun and swimming.”
He doesn’t look entirely convinced but nods. “Alright. You rest then.”
leb stretches out on his towel, and I do the same on mine, hoping my mind will stop being so loud.
But I’m not that lucky.
like.
My brain is a miserable place, and as soon as I lay on my blanket, I start thinking about those women’s comments once again. And then, like an unwanted package coming with the mail silent tears drip down my eyes, hidden behind my oversized sunglasses.
After a while, Caleb’s even breathing tells me he’s dozed off. I risk a glance at him, my heart clenching at his peaceful expression.
Would he leave me if I’m unable to have babies?
Fuck, I hope not. Caleb is my everything–I love him so much it hurts sometimes. The thought of losing him makes me fe physically ill.
More tears gather in my eyes, and I roll my eyes at myself. I need to get a grip and decide to head towards the public restrooms to take care of my tears.
Caleb doesn’t come with me, and I’m grateful for that. I don’t want him to see me break down, which I do in the privacy of the restroom stall. Everything I’ve bottled up comes out: I cry for our lost baby, for my body that feels like it’s failing me, f the crushing fear that Caleb will realize I’m not good enough for hi
I don’t know how long I stay in the restroom stall before I work up the courage to leave. Once I do, I splash some cool wate on my blotchy cheeks at the sink and meet my own red–rimmed eyes in the mirror.
“Get it together, Leah,” I whisper to my reflection. “Caleb loves you. Those horrible thoughts are just your grief and insecurity talking.
With a fortifying breath, I square my shoulders and start heading back to our spot on the beach, pasting on a brave face. I walk over the sand, smiling when I spot Caleb, but before I can reach him, a guy grabs my shoulder.
3/4
20 501, FED
Chapter 32
Startled, I turn around to find a tall and broad–shouldered surfer grinning at me.
“Hello there, gorgeous,” he drawls in a Southern accent, his voice making me feel more uncomfortable than ever. “What’s at fine thing like you doing walking all alone? Boyfriend not taking good care of you?”
I bristle at his presumptuous tone. “Not that it’s any of your business, but my boyfriend is right over there.” I point towards where Caleb is still napping on our towels.
The guy glances in that direction and scoll’s. “What, that pretty loy? Nah, you guys aren’t a couple
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he grins. “That guy over there is too pretty, so do you want to know what I think?”
My eyes narrow. “No, why don’t you enlighten me?”
He laughs. “Such a feisty little thing you are,” his eyes rake me up and down again. You have a good mouth on you, and I can’t wait to put it to good use.”
What does he mean by that?!
