Abrupt Changes: A Second Chance Romance (O-Town Book 3) by Karen Renee (comprehension books .TXT) 📕

Rae’s melancholy vibe, which I attributed to Angela’s absence.

Angela had been extradited to Florida the day we arrived. Paul had texted me to let me know.

Now, we were back at my place, and our discussion was disintegrating.

My eyes were closed, and the sound of my slow exhale kept my temper in check, but barely.

Raegan’s voice sounded cautious, as it should. “Clint, I know you think this is a bad idea—”

My eyes flew open. “Think? I fucking know this is a bad idea, Rae! Nothing good will come of it.”

Her lips pursed and she turned away. When she turned around, I knew she’d come up with some other argument.

“I just want answers, Clint.”

“To what?” I asked throwing my good arm out. I was done with the sling, but I still had to be careful.

Her eyes flared. “Where I went wrong, Clint! I want to hear it from her.”

I sighed. “Mi corazón, she isn’t going to give you that.”

“You don’t know that.”

I paused so we might both calm down. “Raegan, I know you won’t believe this, but she is fucked in the head. And when people get that way, they aren’t going to have answers that will make any sense to you or me.”

“We were friends for so long, Clint. Like Mom pointed out, she stood up for me at my wedding! How does that take such a drastic turn?”

I took a deep breath to keep hold of my temper. “As slick as your ex-husband could be, Rae, it isn’t hard to believe he manipulated her.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Trey wasn’t slick.”

I gave her a look calling bullshit. Then I added, “That’s not how Penny tells it.”

“What?”

“She told me about him. Told me she never trusted him, and she was glad you were separated, though she never wanted you to face divorce, since it’s not a quick process.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “You and Mom talked about Trey?”

I nodded.

“Well, he wasn’t slick.”

My head cocked to the side. “Funny, she said he hit on you the same day we ended. How could you even give him the time of day?”

Her eyes bulged. “You ripped my heart out that afternoon, Clint!”

“So, all broken-hearted, you go out that night?”

She pointed a finger at me. “You sent me a text with your flight details, only to follow it up with ‘Meant for Mamá. My bad.’ That’s the last damn thing you said to me, and it shredded me more, even though I thought your words about exchanging the ring had done the job thoroughly!”

My jaw clenched during her tirade. I bit out, “So, he sees you’re vulnerable, puts on the charm, and hits on you.”

I watched her throat bob with her swallow. “He didn’t hit on me.”

“No? What about having dinner at a hole-in-the-wall Indian place you wouldn’t know about?”

Her mouth dropped open. “Mom didn’t know about that.”

“Wynnie was there for this conversation.”

Her hands went to her hips. “Well, don’t you just know everything.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know everything Rae, but can’t you see how conniving he was? Angela must’ve fallen for his manipulative shit, and she went so fuckin’ far as to pay for your murder. Now, you think she’s going to have answers for you?”

“Fine. You’re right,” she said and headed toward my bedroom.

I grabbed her hand as she passed by and laid us both down on the couch with her on top. “Don’t run off from a fight with me, mamita.”

She was breathing hard through her nose. “I need to cool off, Clint.”

“You don’t,” I said, just before I yanked her to me for a passionate kiss.

Our tongues tangled for three seconds before she jerked her mouth away. “I am not having sex with you right now, Clint Ramsey.”

I grinned. We hadn’t had angry sex in a long time. My injury meant she had to be on top, but I could work with that. I squeezed her neck. “Why not? Your period’s over, you stopped taking your pills. Hell, you could be ovulating right now. I love you, even if we’re fighting about the most asinine thing possible.”

“I’m not conceiving your child while we’re arguing.”

I laughed. “We’re not arguing anymore.”

“We were,” she argued.

I leaned forward, brushing her lips with mine. “Whatever. You can’t argue with me if we’re kissing.”

Epilogue

Do You Want a Surprise?

Raegan

FOUR YEARS LATER...

I sat in the examination room, waiting on my OB-GYN and waiting for Clint. My nerves were frazzled, even though Mom kept telling me I should be old hat at this pregnancy business. On one hand, she was right, but on the other hand, it was my third pregnancy and I was determined it would be the last. Clint was determined for us to be a family of six, but he wasn’t the one racing for the toilet at all hours with a three-year-old and an eighteen-month-old under foot.

Outside the door, I heard Dr. Wilkinson’s distinctive voice and just before the door opened, I heard my husband’s voice, too.

“Well, you’ll find out today, Mr. Ramsey,” Dr. Wilkinson said striding into the room.

I squinted at my doctor. “We’ll find out what today?”

She smiled at me. “You’re having an ultrasound today, didn’t you know?”

“Her pregnancy brain has been on overdrive this time around,” Clint shared.

“That’s not entirely accurate. This is the first pregnancy with two little ones already demanding our time.”

Dr. Wilkinson chuckled. “Your wife is right. Two children in the mix makes pregnancy more challenging.”

She asked me some questions about how I was feeling and gently prodded my belly. “No examination today. Your labs all look normal. I’ll be back in after the ultrasound tech has completed her scans. Should be status quo, though, so no worries.”

Once the doctor had left, Clint squeezed my hand. “Why do you look so worried, mi reina?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know, Clint. All kinds of bad thoughts have been hitting me lately. I worry about carrying this child to term. I worry about my job security. I mean, I’ve worked there four years and I’ve taken maternity