Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“Jenny,” Prescott says, and oh shit. I was worried about Prescott’s parents. I didn’t have time to obsess over a sibling showing up. At least, not for a while. Kit gave me the impression Prescott’s parents would beat his brothers or sister.
“How broken are you?” she asks.
He waves her off. “Nothing’s gonna keep me down.”
“Good. Here, take your nephew.” She hands him the baby.
“I can take him.” Kit steps forward.
“I’m fine,” Prescott says and expertly cradles the sleeping baby.
The two kids at our ankles run around, making noise and causing chaos. They kind of remind me of Peyton and me when we were younger.
“Do you want me to take those two down to the cafeteria for some Jell-O?” I ask.
“That would be great. Could you?” But then Jenny’s eyes meet mine. “Wait, who are you?”
I smile while a chorus of “He’s Brady” fills the room.
“Well, you’re not a SEAL, I can tell that. How do you know …” Her gaze flicks between Prescott and me. “Oh. Sure.” She turns to her brother. “Can I trust him?”
“I assume,” Prescott says. “I don’t know how good he is with kids though.”
“I’m a sports agent. My clients are like children. If that helps.”
Jenny relents. “Fine. I have another one if those two go missing.”
Everyone stops and stares at her.
“I’m kidding.”
Okay, she’s not as scary as I thought she was. I kneel down to the kids’ level and ask, “Who wants Jell-O?”
They scream.
“Lance. Liam! Take it down a decibel,” Jenny says.
“I got this,” I say confidently. Inside, I’m shitting myself.
I take their little hands and walk them out of the room, but as soon as we’re out, one of them breaks loose and makes a run for it. Picking the other up and popping him on my hip, I run after the escapee, and by the time I wrangle both of them into the cafeteria, order them red Jell-O, and then have to reorder it in green instead, they’re peaceful as they eat.
Kids are tiring, and I’ve maybe endured a whole five minutes so far. Once they’re finished, I make sure to hold Runner McGhee’s hand tightly while I put the containers in the trash. That’s when the other one takes off.
I send up a silent apology to my dads because I’m sure this is karmic justice at work. There’s a reason our uncles called us Destruction One and Two when Peyton and I were kids. We were just like Lance and Liam.
Note to self: never have kids.
When I finally manage to get both of them back to Prescott’s room, I’m hoping it will be emptier than before, but no. His teammates are gone but replaced with two new people.
People who make me even more nervous than his SEAL teammates.
“My boys,” Prescott’s mom cries out and takes the kids off my hands.
I’ve only had one conversation with Abbey, and I already know this could go one of two ways: it’ll either be an embarrassing shitshow or a humiliating clusterfuck. Either way, I’m screwed.
I plaster on a smile and try to make it look natural. Kinda feels like I’m staring at them with wide eyes and gritted teeth. Not creepy at all. Nope.
Prescott’s mom doesn’t pay me any mind while she hugs Lance and Liam, but then she moves back to Pres. “Now, where were we? Where are you hurt? What can I do?”
“Mom,” Prescott whines.
She turns to Kit. “What can I do? You look like you haven’t eaten in days. I’m going to go get food.” That’s when she sets her attention on me. “You too, Brady. You need to eat.”
“You … You know Brady?” Prescott asks.
“We had a lovely conversation on the phone, and I was right. He is cute.”
And I’m bright red. Me. The guy with the most embarrassing family in the world is blushing.
Great first impression.
Awesome.
“Brady, come with me to get these men some food. They have muscles they need to fuel.”
“I’ll go with you, Abbey,” Kit says and sends me a “you’re welcome” face.
“No, no—”
“I’m not going to let you scare Brady away on the first day of meeting him.” Kit winks and directs her toward the door. “Besides, he just took the kids down there.” He steers her out of the room.
Prescott’s dad adds, “I should go with them to prevent the interrogation.”
“Interrogation?” I find my voice.
“About why we’ve only recently learned of your existence,” he says and leaves to catch up.
“Me too.” Jenny disappears as well, and then it’s just Prescott and me.
“I’m sorry about them,” he says.
“That’s usually my line when people meet my family.”
Prescott reaches for my hand that’s resting on his bed beside him. “You’re here.”
“You’re here.” I reach for him and take the seat Kit was sleeping on earlier.
“Like I said, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
I squeeze his hand. “I mean, you seem more aware than you have been. You’ve been in and out of it since we got here.”