Page 29 of Kingston
From the other side of the diner, I could hear Iris giggling with Quinn as she helped her deliver food to a customer.
“Please, I’m begging you, Diet Coke!”
Laughing, I turned, but I stopped with a frown when I saw the girl leaning against the counter.It was the blonde with the unusual eyes.“Did you drop the first one?”I asked, pouring her another to-go cup.
She lifted a brow at me.“I’m going with no?”
“O…kay” I snickered, slapping the lid on the new cup.“Maybe savor this one.”
“No promises.”She snatched up the cup and a straw, placing a five on the counter.“You’re a lifesaver.”
Before I could respond, she was rushing out the door.Taking the cash, I gave it to the waitress working the counter, letting her have the tip.Money was no longer a worry for me and would never be something I had to stress over again.
With the death of Charlie Johnson came a new life for me.Kingston didn’t just give me peace that day he’d let me drive an ice pick into my ex’s evil heart.He handed me a new identity and a bank account that had my name on it.All of the Johnson fortune was now mine and Iris’s.
Not that my man let me use that money often.He was a possessive asshole most of the time.Kingston provided a good life, and I honestly didn’t want to touch Charlie’s blood money.It could sit in those accounts for Iris and her future, for all I cared.I made a nice profit from selling my muffins every morning.
Picking up our three glasses, I walked to the back booth that Kingston had dubbed ours.Getting comfortable, I sat back and waited.When Kingston walked out of the kitchen a few minutes later, he had our plates in hand.
“Princess, get that tush over here and eat,” he commanded Iris.
“Daddy!”she squealed, running straight for him.
Placing our food on the table, he swooped down to get her.She threw her arms around him, squeezing with all her might.“Daddy, you’re all scratchy,” she complained, rubbing a hand over the stubble on his jaw.
“Mommy likes the stubble, so the stubble stays.”He sat her down on one side of the booth then took his place beside me.Brushing a kiss on my lips, he gave me a cocky grin.“You got something to tell me, babe?”
“I love you.”
“Love you back.”His hand dropped to my belly.“Anything else you want to tell me.”
I covered his hand, my heart suddenly pounding with excitement.Flinching was the last thing I did these days.At least when it came to Kingston.That instinctive reaction still lingered with others, though, but I was working on my PTSD.Group therapy and one-on-one sessions with the staff at Sanctuary helped me more and more every week to work through my past trauma.Charlie’s evil didn’t get to rule my new happiness.
Swallowing the emotions in my throat, I leaned in closer and whispered, “I’m pregnant.All three tests were positive.”
“Heck yeah!”he whooped, grabbing the back of my head to hold me in place for his kiss.When he pulled back, his green eyes glowed with happy tears.“You’re my best life, Demi.”