Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“We want a ride,” River tells me. She releases my leg and raises her arms in the air. Rayne watches her sister and does the same.
Damn, these two are just too cute. Bending down, I wrap an arm around each of their waists, and they latch on to me like little monkeys as I stand and carry them to the living room.
“I’m so sorry,” Briar says, trailing behind us.
“Nothing to be sorry for. I’ll give these little ladies a ride any day.” Once we’re in the living room, I bend, placing the girls back on their feet, and resume my position from earlier in front of the love seat. The girls crawl up behind me and pat the cushion next to them.
“Mommy, sit with us,” one of them says.
Briar steps around me and sits on the open seat. Legend is on the couch, with Monroe on his lap, and Maddox and Lachlan are beside them. Roman is in the recliner, sitting on the edge with his cell phone in his hand, ready to take pictures, while Emerson is on the floor with Lilly. Roman’s parents are sitting together in the oversized chair. They, too, have their cameras at the ready.
“Girls, why don’t you come and sit with me, so Forrest doesn’t have to sit on the floor?” Briar suggests. Her tone tells me it’s not really a suggestion.
“Forrest, sit with us,” one of them says. I can’t tell their voices apart just yet to know which.
I turn to look over my shoulder. “I’m fine here.”
“Pwease?” Rayne says. She juts out that little lip of hers and I’m toast. How do parents do this? How do they say no? Does Roman know what’s about to happen to him once Lilly starts talking more? He’s screwed. Fuck. We’re all screwed.
“All right,” I agree, because… pouting little lips.
I move to the love seat and smile at the twins, then their mom. Damn, she’s gorgeous. I wonder what the deal is? Where is their dad? How could any man walk away from the three of them?
“Present time!” Roman cheers and claps his hands. Lilly squeals and claps her hands just like her daddy.
Emerson places a present in front of her and helps her tear it open. It’s a new doll from Roman’s parents, from the looks of how his mom is gushing over how she had to buy it because the doll resembles Lilly. However, Lilly is more interested in the wrapping paper than the doll.
“Never fails.” Briar chuckles softly.
“What’s that?” I ask her.
She nods toward Lilly. “They always like the paper or the box that the gifts come in at that age better than the gift. These two were the same way.” She smiles fondly at her daughters.
“We wike gifts, Mommy,” River tells her.
“You do now,” Briar agrees. “When you were one like Lilly is today, you liked the wrapping paper and the bows better. I have pictures to prove it,” she says, bopping each of the girls on the nose with her index finger, making them giggle.
I have to tear my eyes away from them and focus on my niece. That’s why I’m here to celebrate her first full year of life. Not to drool over my sisters new friend.
The girls start to get restless, as does Lilly. “Why don’t we skip to cake, and Lilly can open the rest later?” Roman’s mom, Sarah, suggests.
I can see the indecision on Emerson’s face. “We get it, Em, don’t sweat it. The little tyke is worn out, and we kind of went overboard.” Everyone laughs but nods their agreement because I’m not wrong. We all spoil her rotten, and sure, no one-year-old needs this much stuff, but we can afford to do it, and I know for me, Emerson and I didn’t have this growing up, and I wanted to make sure that my niece does. Sure, Emerson and Roman, and his parents, will make sure of it, but as her uncle, her blood uncle, I felt like it was my job too.
As for the rest of the guys, well, they claim uncle status as well. They should. We’re family, regardless of blood, and Lilly is the first baby in the family. Apparently, we’re going to be spoiling all the kids born into the Everlasting Ink family. I smile at the thought. I wouldn’t want it any other way, and I know the guys feel the same.
“Are you ladies ready for some cake?” I’m asking the girls, but I love that Briar is included in that statement as well.
“Cake!” the twins cheer.
“We better go grab some before Maddox and Lachlan eat it all,” I tell them. They gasp as if that’s the worst thing they’ve ever heard in their lives, and my smile widens. “Let’s go.” I stand and offer them my hands. They quickly climb off the couch and don’t hesitate to slide their little palms in mine. “You coming, Momma?” I ask Briar.