Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 93096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“You’re adorable nervous. And yes, there will likely be wine, which it sounds like you could use.” Tucker had the audacity to laugh at Luis’s hostess gift dilemma.
He’d hoped that Tucker telling him to park at his place meant that he would get some stolen pre-dinner kisses, but apparently not, as Tucker was already locking his front door and joining Luis on his narrow porch.
“I’m not nervous.” Cranky with the lack of kisses, Luis couldn’t keep the defiant edge out of his voice.
“Really?” Tucker gave him a pointed look as he backed Luis behind a planter on the porch for a lightning-fast kiss that wasn’t nearly enough but did defuse his mood at least a little.
“Okay, maybe a little unsettled. Not nervous.” He’d spent all day telling himself that he didn’t care what impression he made on Tucker’s kids and ex, but that wasn’t precisely true. Damn it. He did want the kids to like him or at least not dislike him to the point of being a major roadblock on his quest to get more kisses before he had to leave.
“It’ll be fine.” Tucker led the way off the porch, long strides eating up sidewalk as they passed other smallish houses in similar style to Tucker’s, then rounded the corner to a street with bigger homes, spaced farther apart to allow for larger yards. Like Tucker’s, Heidi’s place had modern craftsman styling and muted northwest colors.
“Hi, Tucker!” The door swung open to reveal a pint-sized curly-haired princess, complete with tiara. “You brought your friend! Mommy says I’m not supposed to ask questions, but—”
“Angelica. How about you go find your brothers?” Heidi strode up behind Angelica to usher them into the house. No longer the skinny high school girl with messy hair Luis remembered, she wore her red hair in a sleek knot, curls tamed with an elegant clip that matched her navy dress. There were still little flashes of her younger self though—bare feet like she hadn’t been able to get rid of her heels fast enough, blue toenail polish, and same sparkling green eyes. “Come in, come in.”
“Heidi!” Luis let himself be swept up into a hug that smelled like expensive perfume but felt like a memory. “I brought cookies.”
“Fabulous. I’m so glad to see you again. I want to hear all about you now. Isaac’s making smothered pork chops and some sort of fancy potatoes.”
“Smells great,” he offered as they followed her into the great room, where she introduced him to her husband who was bustling around the kitchen. Slightly older than Heidi, he had a closely cropped fade, neatly groomed goatee, a Pistons T-shirt under an apron, and a quiet but welcoming demeanor that went a long way to putting Luis at ease. They chatted about NBA free agency and the ongoing baseball season as he finished cooking, leaving Heidi to supervise Angelica setting the table and Tucker to greet the identical teens, who made their way downstairs in a cloud of cheap aftershave and post-football-practice energy.
Weird, thinking about Tucker having kids old enough to shave and drive. They both shook his hand, and Luis quickly memorized who was wearing which color to keep them straight.
“How is the SAT review going?” Tucker asked the boys.
“Fine.” Walker, who was in a gray shirt and was the kid Tucker had been worried about, had a predictably clipped response, while his far more dramatic brother did an exaggerated shoulder roll and groan.
“Terrible. I don’t see why I should have to take it anyway. Schools should care more about what I can do on the field.”
“There’s that whole student part of student athlete,” Isaac dryly pointed out as he plated the pork chops on a large platter.
“I know. I’m just saying that Walker needs these prep classes more. Glad I’m not the one trying to get into some picky marine biology program.” Wade carried a big bowl of potatoes to the table.
“Marine biology?” Luis turned toward Walker. “That’s a nice ambition. Where are you looking? I’ve always heard great things about the Florida colleges. And I’ve had friends in some of the California programs. Those always seem to rank high in national surveys.”
“I know.” Walker shot him a withering glance. “And I’m still thinking.”
“More like Mary Anne is still thinking.” Looking back over his shoulder, Wade rolled his eyes. “You were all Long Beach this and Long Beach that until she asked you to the spring formal.”
“You wait until you get someone. You’ll see. It’s not all—”
“Guys.” Heidi held up a hand. “The food is ready.”
Luis tried to catch Tucker’s eye because he’d put money on girl problems being at least part of Walker’s recent issues, but he wasn’t sure whether the message got through in the flurry of everyone grabbing seats at the large oval table. He and Tucker ended up opposite from the boys, with Angelica squeezed in between Walker and Isaac.