Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 41016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Jay groaned, leaning into Peter’s touch as he stifled a yawn. “But it’s so fun to watch other grown-ass men hop around like a cat on a hot tin roof. And someday Matt and Aaron are going to be parents too. It’s best for them to get the realistic version. Though you probably won’t get it today. The twins have been awake since five a.m. I bet they’ll sleep the whole time we’re gone.”
“We won’t be long. We just have to put in an appearance at this barbecue. Two hours tops,” Peter promised.
“Are you kidding? After all that time away, Aaron’s been dying to be on babysitting duty,” I assured them. “We don’t mind at all.”
Jay bit his bottom lip and cast a quick glance in Aaron’s direction before whispering, “Is he okay? I mean…he seems much happier now that he’s home, but sometimes I think he puts on a show so I don’t worry about him. And that just makes me worry more.”
I followed Jay’s gaze, smiling when Aaron danced his way across the lawn, shaking two bottles over his head.
“He’s great. Honestly. The job situation still gets him down. He used to be respectfully intimidated by his boss, but I think Marsha just pisses him off now.” I kissed Holly’s pudgy fingers while she babbled in my arms. “I’m sure he’s told you all that.”
“Yes, and I told him he needs a new job. He’s well connected and fabulous in all the right ways for someone in his industry. He’d get snapped up in heartbeat.” Jay snapped for emphasis.
He was right. But Aaron already had a lot on his mind at the moment. Adding a job search might be too much.
“Look what I have!” Aaron chuckled when Henry raced to his side.
He scooped up the toddler and joined us, handing the princess her bottle before cradling Henry in his arms. I sat up to give Holly room to crawl into my lap and snuggle close. I have to admit, it kind of melted my heart. I grinned at Aaron in a “Check this out. I’m pretty good at this uncle stuff” way.
Our eyes met and held for a moment. And boom…out of nowhere, a sharp wave of longing hit me hard enough that I should have freaked out on the spot. It happened every so often, but not quite this intense. I liked the idea of our lives mirroring Peter’s and Jay’s. Bottles, nap times, teething, toys everywhere, exhaustion, and yes…joy.
Not now. But soon.
“Oh, you two are so ready to be daddies,” Jay drawled in his soft Southern twang.
“House first,” Aaron said, running his fingers through Henry’s curls as he fed him. “We saw an awful one before we came here. Bad feng shui.”
“And green carpet,” I interjected, letting Holly wrap her tiny fist around my finger.
Peter made a yikes face. “Ew. How many places have you looked at so far?”
“I’ve lost count,” Aaron replied.
“I haven’t. Ten thousand,” I corrected. “At least.”
Aaron rolled his eyes but conceded, “It feels like it. I thought it would be easier to find something once we narrowed our search, but not so much. I’m secretly hoping we love the house we’re looking at next week. Supposedly, it’s near my parents, but I don’t think I’ll mention that to my mom. If they think we’re interested in their neighborhood, they’ll start searching for us.”
“Well, your parents would be happy. They always hoped you’d move closer to home,” Jay commented idly.
I wiped the milky slime from Holly’s mouth and steadied her bottle when it slipped from her hands. “They did?”
“Yes, and it sounded like the worst thing in the world when I was in my twenties, but now…it might be nice.” Aaron gave a careless shrug, then narrowed his eyes at Jay and lowered his voice. “Stop stalling. We can take it from here.”
“Okay, but…I should tell you, Holly hasn’t been herself today. I think she’s teething.”
“That’s okay. I’ve dealt with teething babies. Go on.” Aaron tilted his head meaningfully.
“Are you sure? There may be tears.” Jay warned in a hushed tone, kissing his son’s forehead before slowly getting to his feet.
“We can handle it.”
Famous last words.
As their dads predicted, the twins broke into simultaneous hysterics when Jay and Peter left, but Aaron was calm and collected. He brought a pile of books to the blanket outside and read to them while I did handstands and somersaults as sideline entertainment. I fed them alphabet cookie bites when Aaron wasn’t looking too.
I doubted he was fooled. Aaron had a sixth sense where kids were concerned. He called it “uncle experience” honed from years of hanging out with his sisters’ children. He seemed to know when to be silly and when to be the adult in the room, which I wasn’t so great at.
“Put your hands on your head…like this. And put your cookie in your hair. Oops. I mean, in your mouth. Like this.” I made a production of chomping on a cookie and showing my empty hands like I’d done a magic trick.