Page 127 of The Betrayal
The food is served, our glasses are full and we're all holding hands as Killian stands at the head of the table to give thanks.
“I am thankful for my found family, friends I never knew I needed or wanted, but they found me anyway. My daughters, my wife, I love you very much. More than life itself. I am thankful for our health and thankful for every good day that comes here after, and of course, I am thankful to Elijah,” and I open one eye and focus on Reese. “Because without him, I would have never made it to today, I would have never met the love of my life and I would have never been blessed with my baby girl, Celeste, and I would have definitely not have met you, all of you, so Elijah,” Killian pauses, reaches for his scotch and lifts it towards the sky. “Thank you.”
We all raise a glass and Reese wipes a stray tear along with Mateo and Liz and my heart constricts in my chest.
In this moment, all I feel is the overwhelming love from this new family I have fallen into. And for that, I am thankful. Truly thankful.
Keaton catches my gaze from across the table and my heart thumps in my chest.
And of course, I am thankful for him. Always.
Tall Dark & Handsome
Tick tock, Arizona, I am coming for you.
I’ll take them all out one by one,
But I’ll start with the one that he calls the sun.
You hurt me,
I’ll hurt you,
Tick tock, Arizona, I am coming for you.
ARIZONA
THREE MONTHS LATER
30 Weeks
Size of Babies: a Cabbage
Me
Where are you?
I text Keaton. He promised he would be here at ten a.m. It's just past and he isn't here. I pace. Not sure why I am so agitated? Hormones? Probably. The intercom buzzes and I grab my purse from the side table and open the door.
“Finally,” I roll my eyes in an exaggerated manner.
“Kid, I was two minutes past ten.”
“Still late, kid.” I jibe as I lock the penthouse behind me.
“You look as beautiful as ever,” He leans in and places a kiss on my cheek, my skin tingling. I’ve missed that.
“Who paid you to say that?” I smirk, dropping my keys into my purse as we begin to walk towards the elevator. It's a Saturday. Keaton is dressed in jeans, crew neck cream tee and a navy jacket tucked under a bomber and finishes his casual look with fresh white sneakers. Me? I'm wearing maternity jeans, a black vest top tucked into my jeans and a white flowing shirt that covers my arms and is buttoned to the top of my bump as the sides fall either side. My feet are hidden in black soft pumps and it was a struggle. They're swelling at rapid speed. I debated sandals but it's still cold. I have my large coat hung over my arm because I feel like I am cooking from the inside out.
“No one,” he stops, long fingers pushing the button of the elevator, my eyes falling and I see his tacky gold ring still firmly wrapped round his finger. We're not together. We never had the conversation. I threw my ring, he didn't follow, and I suppose we kind of fell into this weird, in between.
“You're a terrible liar, Mr Mills.”
He scoffs a laugh and steps inside the elevator as I follow.
“So,” he begins, “what is on your to get list?”
I mull over his question, my eyes greedily sweeping over him, and I feel a deep burn twist in my stomach and radiating down my thighs. He really is handsome. Sexy. Rugged. His hair styled and fluffy and I want to lock my fingers round the root. His full lips parted and his stubble working for him. It would be so easy to hit the emergency stop button and just let him have his way with me.