Free Fugitive: A Bad Boy Romance (Northbridge Nights Book 2) by Jackie Wang Page B

equilibrium we’d achieved in the past few years.
    “Rachelle, everyone wants—expects a grandchild by next year,” Mom stated. “We want—”
    I cut Mom short, my chest growing tight. “What about what I want? What Rob wants?” I fumed. “We're going to be the ones raising the child. You and Dad live too far away and Rob's parents live on the other side of the world.”
    Mom swallowed hard. “Just saying, Rachelle. Don't make us wait too long.”
    “We'll discuss it when the time is right,” I finally said. I downed the rest of my champagne and sprang for the dance floor. Anything to avoid further discussions with my mom. After scouting my fiancé, I tapped his shoulder and asked for the next dance. His entire face lit up. “I knew you’d come around,” he murmured, pulling me up against him. After a few songs, I realized that Rob was a really good dancer. Better than I expected. But his touch didn’t set fire to my skin the way Kieran’s did. Not that I should be comparing…
    Twenty minutes later, I could no longer keep up with Rob. “Let’s go home, babe. I’m exhausted,” I said.
    Rob wrapped his arm around my waist and nodded. “Okay.” We made our farewells before driving home.
    Later that night, while we were lying in bed, I asked Rob, “Do you want kids?” I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation now. It’d just never really come up. I was always on birth control, and Rob never mentioned trying to get pregnant. But with the wedding happening in five days, I needed to know we were on the same page.
    Rob shifted towards me. I could feel his breath hot against my neck; it was oppressive and sticky. “Of course I do, baby. Imagine how cute our children would be.” Rob nuzzled my cheek with the tip of his nose and kissed me. “A baby with your gorgeous eyes and my handsome smile.”
    “When?”
    “The sooner the better,” Rob said. “Everyone's been—”
    “That's just it,” I said. “Do you think we're ready? I mean, forget about what everyone else says. Do you think we're capable of raising a baby?”
    Rob propped himself up on his elbow. “What do you mean, Rach? Of course we are. We have our own place, we're getting married and I’ve got a solid, well-paying job. We're young and well off. I don't see—”
    “I'm only twenty-five, Rob. I—I don't think I could handle the stress of working full-time and taking care of a baby.”
    “But you won't be working,” Rob stated, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “Your full-time job will be to raise our kids.”
    At that, I sprang up in bed, stiff as a board. “What do you mean? I don't want to be a stay-at-home mom.”
    Rob brushed his fingers along my arm and I clenched my jaw. “You'd make the perfect housewife. You'll love it. My mom stayed at home with me and I had a very blessed childhood. You and the kids won't have to worry about anything. I make enough to support all of us.”
    “You're not hearing me, Rob. I want to advance my career. Get my law degree. Have a job and contribute to society.”
    Rob sighed. “A woman's greatest contribution to society is raising happy, healthy children.” His voice was thin and exasperated. “You know that.”
    No. No, I didn’t ‘know’ that. Had I known this was how he felt about my role in the family, I would’ve had this discussion a long time ago. Six years ago. I’d just assumed. Assumed we were on the same page; that we wanted all the same things. And that where we differed, Rob would be the one to acquiesce.
    I swung my legs off the side of the bed and stood up. “Do you have any idea how misogynistic you sound?”
    Before he could answer, I stormed off into the living room and crashed on the couch. Hugging the cushion tight against my chest, I bit into it, trying to muffle my frustration.
    Everyone just assumed we’d have kids right away. Rob assumed I’d just get pregnant and stay home forever. That I’d give up everything to raise kids