Reading Lara (#3)

Chapter 8

Three Weeks Later...

Lara Henderson-

"I think the furniture people are here," Zara says from the living room where she's standing by the window with my nephew, Christian, on her hip.

Zara and Leo flew in about two days ago along with Christian, Lacy, Lucy, Drake, and Hector. They're staying at a cabin they rented about fifteen minutes from here.

Today, Maddox and Leo took the kids while Zara, Christian, and I stayed at Maddox's to help me move all my stuff out of their boxes. Poor Christian was too young to enjoy the water park today.

"Just tell them to put everything in the empty bedroom upstairs," I call from the kitchen.

Maddox decided to begin setting up the nurseries. We have yet to discover if I'm pregnant or not, but Maddox is adamant that he knows what is growing in my belly. Secretly, I hope he's right. A miniature Maddox running around the house filters through my head and I smile.

The phone rings from the kitchen counter and I race to catch the call. I click the call button.

"Hello?"

"Uhm...yes. Is Maddox available?" A woman's soft voice asks.

"Not at the moment. May I ask who's calling?"

"I'm his mother. Can you have him call me in about an hour?"

"Of course."

"Thank you, sweetie," she says before hanging up. I end the call and dial Maddox's number.

He answers immediately. "You alright, baby?"

"Yeah. Uhm...your mother just called here. She wants you to call her back in an hour," I tell him.

"Did she say what she wanted?" He asks.

I shake my head then remember that he can't see me. "No, but what time will you be back?" I ask. I'm starting to miss him even more now.

He chuckles. "In about forty-five minutes. So, around three thirty. You miss me?"

I smile. "Maybe. What are you gonna do about it, Mr. Teller?"

He groans. "Don't get me started, Lara Sahara," he says, using my nickname from Zara. She took the liberty of telling him every possible embarrassing thing about me, including my nicknames.

"I'm gonna kill Zara for telling you my nickname."

"I think it's cute." I hear Leo talking in the background. "Baby, I gotta go."

"Okay, honey. I love you."

"I love you too, Lara Sahara."

* * *

Later That Night...

7:56 p.m.

Lara Henderson-

I pace the floor wondering where Maddox is. I'm starting to be overcome with worry. He told me he would be here almost four hours ago. Leo has already picked Zara and Christian up. He was alone except for the kids when he arrived around a quarter till four o'clock. Though he assured me Maddox would be home soon, I don't have a good feeling about his arrival.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

I hear the garage door open and close before hearing the same with the back door. Maddox's heavy footsteps travel into the living room where I've stopped pacing. I raise my eyes to see him a couple feet from me. He's wearing the same outfit he left in, his knuckles are bruised on both hands, and his face is clouded with anger.

Oh, boy.

"Maddox-," He raises a hand to stop me from speaking further.

"Do you have anything to get off your chest?" He rumbles.

"What are you talking about?" I question him, confused. Why would he ask me that?

He leans toward me. "Do you have anything to get off your chest?" He shouts.

I jump. "No," I whisper to him. I don't know why he's acting like this. Maddox has never raised his voice to me before or come home angry.

"So, you're telling me that you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about when I say that Marcus is spewing to everyone, including my parents, that you are still together with him and are pregnant with his child?"

What in the holy actual f**k?

I look him dead in the eyes and reply. "No, because I lost my virginity to you. I'm also not pregnant. I took a test today," I admit. This isn't how I wanted to tell him. I know we both wished that I were pregnant.

He pales. "What? When?"

"It doesn't matter. What matters is you believed that I would do something like that to you. And, you actually believe Marcus' lies? Marcus lied to me the entire duration of our relationship. What makes you think he wouldn't lie about that, too?" I question.

When he doesn't respond, I escape to his bedroom. I change into a pair of night shorts and a tank top before brushing my teeth. After I've counted to a hundred and rinsed out my mouth, I gather a pillow and blanket before going across the hall to the guest bedroom. I just want to slide into bed and go to sleep. I've had a long day.

* * *

I jolt awake at the feel of Maddox curling me in his arms. His legs are tangled with my own. His breath tickles my ear and the hair on the side of my head.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to you first, baby," he rasps in my ear.

I clutch his tattooed arms. "Maddox, don't."

"I'm also sorry I yelled at you. I know you wouldn't do that."

"Thank you. Now, get some sleep."

He rolls me over onto my back and hovers on top of me. His lips are lined with a smirk. "I'm not sleeping until you assure me that you forgive me," he declares.

I scoff. "Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"Well, forgiveness is not in order, Mr. Teller. Now, let me sleep. I'm very tired."

His smile drops. "I'm sorry for hurting you, baby. I'll try not to do it again. I promise," he whispers, sticking out his pinky.

I giggle, tangling my pinky with his. "Pinky promise."

He kisses me and wraps me in his arms again. Just as we are both about to drift, Maddox speaks. "By the way, my parents want to meet you."