Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
His lips twitched slightly, and he scrubbed a hand over his mouth.
He agreed with me. I knew that much. Our girl was wild.
“I had a total dad moment in the car with Colby,” I said. “He called lesbians carpet munchers, and I went on a rant about cursing and what’s too offensive to say around kids—or never at all.”
He snorted softly and eyed me a little. “This from the guy whose favorite word is cunt.”
I scratched my nose. “Never said I was perfect. But I don’t say that in front of the kids.”
“Mm.” He nodded once and then released a sigh and rubbed at his shoulder. “We should get some sleep.”
Probably. I didn’t know if I could, though. I was too tired, which sounded insane, but it was true. I could get so tired sometimes that all I could do was sit and stare unseeingly at the TV. Or at a wall.
“We’ll be lucky if we get three hours,” he said and rose with grunt. Old-man grunt.
“You’re too young to sound that old, hon,” I said.
He scoffed and grabbed the mugs, and he took them to the sink. “Fuck off.”
I grinned.
“You know where the guest room is,” he said, flicking off the lights above the island. Under the cabinets too.
My grin was gone. Fuck the guest room. I hated that room.
I’d never spent a night in it, but West had. When our problems bled from one day into another.
It’d crushed me every time we’d fought, and he’d ended up down here for the night.
“If you wanna change, I think there’s a box of your old clothes in the back of that closet,” he mentioned.
Okay, good to know.
I got to my feet too, and I stretched my arms over my head. “I don’t think any of it would fit.” I yawned and relaxed my stance again. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I have bulging biceps these days.”
At least in my dreams. They had grown more pronounced, just not enough for me to up my shirt sizes.
West tilted his head at me, and he had a hand on the light switch by the doorway. “Huh. I can’t tell.”
What the fuck?
I stared at him.
He smirked faintly and nodded for me to get out of the kitchen. “Go to bed, juicehead.”
The fuckin’ audacity.
“Wow,” I whispered to myself and stalked out. “He hits where it hurts.”
He chuckled behind me. “If it makes you feel any better, I did notice your abs when you practically shoved them in my face.”
“You mean the day you showed up unannounced at my house?” I threw him a look over my shoulder.
“Yes, that day.”
I spun around and lifted my hoodie. “These abs?”
Oh, he was liking the eye rolls today. “Goodnight, Alfie.”
I smiled. “Night, West.”
CHAPTER 10
West Scott
Yeah, I thought I’d heard the garage door.
I yawned for the hundredth time this morning and opened the front door.
“Or you can get your shit together,” I heard Colby say. “Go to Dublin and work your ass off. Get sober.”
I stopped on the stoop, unable to help myself.
“No, I’ll be staying with Mr. O’Dwyer until we figure things out,” he said next.
Mr. O’Dwyer.
First of all, his name was still Scott. Second of all, Alfie hated being called sir and mister.
“Yeah, aight. Bye.”
Fair enough, not too much to eavesdrop on there.
I stepped out of the shadows and onto the path leading to the driveway, and I cleared my throat to alert the boy to my presence.
He spun around next to Alfie’s SUV.
“Good morning, Colby,” I said. “Did you sleep all right?”
“Uh, yeah. That’s one comfy-ass bed, sir.” He squinted for the sun. “Is the boss up yet?”
“Ah, no. I’m letting him sleep in,” I replied. “But there’s breakfast on the terrace if you’re interested. I’m sure Alfie will be up soon enough.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah, I could eat.” He hesitated for a beat, so I nodded at the door and held it open for him. That lit a fire under his ass, and he hurried over. “Thanks. I don’t wanna overstep, and if the boss has plans—”
“I assure you, he has no plans for the next couple of hours, and you have to eat.” I took the lead through the kitchen. “Do you drink coffee? Otherwise, there’s juice outside.”
“Juice is nice. Damn, so is this house.”
“Thank you.” I glanced back at him, and he was taking it all in. “Speaking of, there’s no overstepping here. Make yourself comfortable. Including calling Alfie by his name.”
I stopped at a cabinet to grab an extra plate and bowl, and then a spoon from the top drawer.
“Okay…” He’d probably stick to sir and boss for a while.
I smiled to myself and slid open the doors to the terrace. Colby reminded me a little of Alfie. Not in appearance—Colby’s hair was a much lighter brown, and he was shorter and scrawnier too. Pale green eyes, a scar on his chin, softer features. But how he fumbled with his words and seemed a little rough around the edges was so Alfie. Like Alfie had told me last night. Or this morning.