Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21644 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21644 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Colleen gasps.
“Twenty pounds? That’s a lot!”
I nod while digging into my sundae and nodding at her to start.
“Yeah definitely twenty, if not thirty. You’re lush and gorgeous, baby girl, and I want to keep you that way, so enjoy.”
Colleen blushes, still shaking her head with disbelief. “Do you mean that? Really?”
I lean over to kiss her, enjoying the sweet taste of her plush lips. “I absolutely do. Now, I’m serious. Enjoy yourself and let go. I want to see you happy.”
A bright gleam comes into her eyes.
“Okay, then let’s do it.”
With that, Colleen digs into her chocolate sundae, practically moaning with ecstasy as the flavors hit her palate. She literally twirls her tongue so that the chocolate syrup forms a loop and I’m tempted to kiss her just to get a taste.
But we want to enjoy the park too, so after finishing our sundaes, we stroll around hand in hand.
“You know, I remember your sister’s baby shower. How is your sister and her new baby?”
Colleen beams. “Amazing! Jade, my little niece, is the best, and I go over to visit her whenever I can. She loves her Auntie Coco.”
I smile. Images of Colleen holding a baby to her breast pop into my mind, and my breath goes short. The curvy girl would be wonderful as a mommy, and suddenly, I’m consumed with a desire to see her tummy swollen with my child. But that’s crazy because she’s only nineteen, and we only just met. So I clear my throat, trying to get rid of the frog there.
“And how’s your sister’s husband?”
“Well, Sarah’s not married,” Colleen says slowly. “She’s living with her boyfriends, and I do mean, plural boyfriends. You knew that, right? Sarah’s in a relationship with two men.”
I nod.
“Yeah, I remember. One young and one older right?”
Colleen looks down, biting her lip a little.
“Yes, and the even crazier part is that Braden and Grant are father and son. Well, not biological father and son, but Grant used to be married to Braden’s mom.”
I whistle.
“Nice.”
Colleen shoots me a sideways look.
“But you knew all that, right? And you’re okay with it?”
I stop and turn to look at her hesitant face.
“Honey, I did know, and it’s totally fine. As long as your sister is happy, nothing else matters. Hell, if she’s got two guys to help her with the baby, even better. It takes a village to raise a child, after all.”
Colleen smiles, relaxing a bit.
“I know, right? And I’ve always looked up to my sister because Sarah is proof that curvy girls can get their happily ever afters.”
I stop moving and look at my beautiful woman seriously. “What do you mean?”
Colleen takes a deep breath and meets my eyes. “Well, I guess when you’re a bigger girl like me, the world tells you all the time that you don’t deserve happiness. That you’re a wretch because of all the extra flab and fat, and that you’ll never be as good as the skinny girl next door. But my sister made it work, and her two boyfriends adore her. In fact, I think Grant and Braden want to have more babies with her.”
That’s when I stare at Colleen, gripping her shoulders with my big hands.
“Sweetheart, again, you are perfect the way you are. Don’t listen to what fashion magazines and diet gurus say. That shit is total bullshit, and I know for a fact that you’re healthy and vigorous. You couldn’t take me the way you do if you were a wilting lily.”
She smiles hesitantly.
“You mean it?”
I nod seriously, looking deep into those caramel depths.
“Absolutely, honey. Hell, we go four or five rounds sometimes, and there’s no way you could do that without a little meat on your bones. I love the way you are, and wouldn’t change you for the world.”
My girl relaxes then, a brilliant smile coming over her beautiful features.
“Thank you, Carl,” she murmurs, taking my hand once more. “I appreciate your support so much.”
“Anytime,” I growl. “If you’re feeling down, just come and find me. I’ll show you how gorgeous you are.”
With that, she giggles and we stroll a bit more through the amusement park. The sun shines brightly overhead, and children’s laughter rings sweetly in my ears as other park-goers rush by. I’ve never felt so content before holding a woman’s hand, and peace settles over me.
But then Colleen turns to me with a sideways smile.
“So do you like being a firefighter?” she asks. “Isn’t it dangerous?”
I nod.
“It can be, but most of the time we’re answering minor calls, like chest pains or shortness of breath. Of course, sometimes they’re indicators of something more serious, at which point we rush the patient to the hospital.”
Colleen nods.
Well, that’s good. I bet you’re amazing at your job, seeing how you took care of me.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that, sweetheart.”
She squeezes my hand.