Read Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) Online

Authors: Jillian Dodd

Tags: #Romance, #Contemporary, #New Adult & College, #Contemporary Romance

Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (3 page)

BOOK: Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10)
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She starts bawling.
 


I don

t want to be pregnant and alone. We used condoms, Riley. I didn’t
want
to get pregnant. It just happened. But now that I am, I

m so happy it

s your baby. We

ll have a beautiful life together. I

ve seen the pictures here of you with your family. Please don

t abandon me. Please don

t make me go through this alone.

I sigh.

I won

t. I promise. And if your place is shitty, I

ll find you somewhere beautiful to live.

Her eyes brighten, and she throws her arms around me.

Really?


Yes, just go home now, and we

ll get things figured out this week.

Apparently, this has appeased her for the time being, because she allows me to escort her downstairs and send her home with all of her belongings.

I go back up the elevator, sit myself down on the sofa, and bury my face in my hands.
 

Pregnant?
 

What a fucking nightmare.

I take my phone out of my pocket and stare at it, knowing I need to call Ariela back.
 

But I can

t right now.
 

I don’t know what the fuck to say.
 

So I text her with a lame excuse.

Asher Vineyards

Sonoma County

ARIELA

Riley:
 
Hey, I have some business to deal with here and I’ll call you later.
 

Business?
I think.

How can leather-strap, threesome Shelby be classified as business?

Dawson

s beach house - Malibu

VANESSA


It

s time for bed,

Dawson says to the girls, who are already dressed in pajamas and in their shared bedroom.


Thanks for letting me go to the pumpkin patch with you today,

I say, giving them each a hug.


But I

m not tired!

Harlow insists, even though her eyes tell a different story.


You have a big day tomorrow,

Dawson says.

You need to get a good night

s sleep.


I

m excited to visit the school,

Ava says, looking up from her phone.
 


Who are you texting?

he asks.


Everyone.


Like who?


Mostly, I

m talking to Grandma and Fallon. Fallon is telling me all about the kids in her class. She likes a fifth grade boy named Keegan, but her friend likes him too. She says all the cute boys are in fifth grade.


You

re only in fourth grade, besides, I think you

re a little young to be worrying about that.


Daddy.

She audibly sighs and gives him a huge eye roll.

I

ve had boyfriends before.

 

He runs his hand roughly through his hair, looking stressed.


Chill out, Dad,

she says.

I won

t get serious with a boy until at least middle school.


More like college, if I have any say in it,

he mutters.


Miss Vanessa, will you tuck us in?

she asks, obviously wanting to end their boy conversation.


Sure. I

d love to.

Dawson gives each girl a kiss, tells them goodnight, and then leaves.

I tuck them into bed then read a story about a princess and a pony.

I

m ready to say goodnight when Harlow asks,

Do you want to marry my daddy?


Well, I

m not sure yet. You need to date and get to know someone before you get married.


No,

she disagrees, shaking her head.

Sometimes you meet a cute boy, and he saves you, and then after you kiss, you need to get married.


That

s how it works in princess stories and movies, but not in real life.

 


But you told Daddy you love him, and when you are in love you are supposed to get married.

 

Ava lifts her head.

How come you cried when you told Daddy you love him?

She

s been texting, and I didn

t think she was listening.


Do you know how babies are born?


I know!

Harlow raises her hand.

The baby grows in the mommy

s tummy until it’s big enough to be born.

 

Ava rolls her eyes. I have a feeling she knows more.


And it starts out small, like a seed. It

s itty bitty bitty,

Harlow continues.


I was pregnant once, but the baby died before it was born. The playroom was supposed to be for my baby when it got bigger.

Harlow launches herself at me, wrapping her little arms tightly around my waist.


I

m sorry your baby died. Is it in Heaven with my mama? Maybe she can take care of your baby there, and you can take care of us here.


Seems like your daddy does a pretty good job of taking care of you.


He does,

Ava says with a smile.

He can even braid my hair. I think talking about boys sort of freaks him out, though. He still thinks I

m a little girl.


But since Daddy came here, Grandma has been taking care of us,

Harlow interrupts.

We had to move in with Grandma after Mama died. I didn

t want to leave our house, cuz I thought she might come back. But she didn

t. Miss Vanessa, do you cry a lot?


Only when I'm sad.


Mama was sad a lot.


That’s because she had depression,

Ava says.

She had something wrong in her brain that made her feel sad even when she was happy.


I think a pony would make
me
happy!

Harlow screams, pointing to her chest.

I want Daddy to buy me one, but he said he can’t afford a pony.


That

s because Momma spent all Daddy

s money. At least that

s what Grandma said,

Ava whispers.
 

I try to hide my surprise at her comment and make a mental note to ask Dawson what she

s talking about. How could she have spent all of his money?


Ponies
are
expensive,

I reply.

And not only do you have to buy one, you have to feed it and have a place for it to live.


There

s nowhere to keep a pony here on the beach, Harlow,

Ava agrees.

Harlow

s eyes get big, and she puffs out her lower lip, looking ready to cry.

But Miss Vanessa has a barn. My pony could live with her ponies. My pony could make pony friends. Just like we

ll make new friends at our new school!

Dawson pops into the doorway.

Miss Vanessa must be reading a really long story.

Harlow stands up, bouncing on the bed.

Yay, Daddy! Miss Vanessa says my pony can live at her house and make pony friends!

I start to open my mouth to explain.


I

m not buying you a pony right now, Harlow. We have to decide if we

re even going to live here for sure. You have to see if you like the school first.

Dawson mentioning not staying is like a dagger to my heart. I realize that my happiness is resting on the girls

decision.

So, I decide to sweeten the pot.
 

I mean, a little old-fashioned bribery never hurt anyone. Right?


Tell you what, Harlow. If you end up moving to California, I will let you adopt one of my ponies.

Her eyes get huge, and she hugs me.

Yay! I get a pony! I get a pony!

Dawson gives them each a hug, tucks them in again, says goodnight, and then leads me out of their room.

Riley

s Penthouse - L.A.

RILEY

I want to call Dallas and discuss this with him, but he and RiAnne just had their own baby, and the last thing he needs to deal with is more of my drama.
 

I could call my brother, but his girls are in town and might overhear our conversation.
 

So, I press Keatyn

s number.


Hey, Riley,

she says, sounding out of breath.
 


What are you doing?


Oh, Aiden and I were walking on the beach when I heard my phone ringing up on the deck, so I ran. What

s up?


I know you just spent all weekend with me but, um, could I come over?


Sure, Marvel is making us a late dinner of that barbecued shrimp you love.

Although I

m in no mood to eat, I say,

Awesome. I

ll be right over.

BOOK: Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10)
4.99Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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