Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
The glance he shoots me when he hears my voice is ripe with apprehension. The closer it gets to the baby’s birth, the more worried he’s become.
I’m on my feet to greet him with an embrace because I know he needs it. He texted me an hour ago to tell me that Callie’s due date is fast approaching, and he’s not convinced he has everything they need to care for Hailey. He can’t see it, but his concern is misplaced since they have more baby gear than anyone expecting quadruplets would need.
The nursery in their apartment is overflowing with blankets, clothing, and five baby monitors are at the ready.
He pats the middle of my back, whispering gruffly, “I need you to be honest with me. Am I a good man, Decky?”
I let the nickname slide and take a breath on a heavy swallow. “You’re the best man I know.”
He steps back to look at my face. “Don’t bullshit me.”
I pat his left cheek. “I’m not, Saint. You’re a good man. You’re going to be a great dad.”
“I won’t give her the world,” he says. “I want her to learn the value of hard work.”
“Give her a few years before you put the kid to work,” I joke, motioning for him to sit.
He does, in the chair next to mine. “I can’t drink.”
I point at the glass of clear liquid I’ve nursing for the past thirty minutes while I waited for him to arrive at the restaurant. “It’s soda water for me. I’ll get you one too.”
“Good.” He nods briskly. “Ava is at my place in case the baby decides tonight is the night.”
I motion for the waiter. “I’ll get you the water, and we can order, so you can head home early.”
His gaze scans the interior of Axel NY. I chose this restaurant because my brother likes it, and his fiancée asked me to spend some one-on-one time with him. Callie wanted some time to pull together a surprise for Sean, so I happily agreed to do my part.
The plan is for me to have him back at the apartment ninety minutes from now.
“How’s Abby?” he asks as the waiter approaches us.
I put that on hold to order us both a steak with grilled vegetables. I request lightly dressed salads on the side because Sean is all about getting his daily greens.
“Soda water, too,” Sean adds as the waiter is ready to step away. “In a very tall glass.”
The waiter chuckles. “No problem, sir.”
“Inventory control did a great job today,” I say to my brother. “You have to admit it.”
“They didn’t.” He shakes his head. “They still suck, and I know what you’re doing, Declan. Don’t change the subject. How’s Abby?”
“Fine.”
“Fine,” he repeats with narrowed eyes. “What the hell is that?”
“An answer to your question.”
That pulls a bark of laughter from him. “Is she your girlfriend yet?”
“No,” I answer without thinking. “Well, maybe?”
Unbuttoning his suit jacket, he leans back in his chair. “Maybe? Are you seeing other people or not?”
I wait to answer because the waiter is on the approach again. He places a tall glass of soda water in front of Sean. “Here you are, sir. There’s more where that came from.”
Sean jerks a thumb in my direction. “Sweet talk him. He’s paying.”
The waiter laughs and takes off again toward another table.
“Who said I’m paying?”
My brother raises an eyebrow. “You invited me, so this is on you.”
“It’s always on me,” I point out.
“Respect your elder’s desire to pay.” Sean tosses air quotes around that. “It’s a thing.”
“It’s not.” I mimic his movements with my own air quotes. “It wouldn’t kill you to open your wallet occasionally.”
He chases away the suggestion with a wave of his hand. “Explain this maybe situation with Abby.”
I drink from my glass but instantly wish I had ordered something stronger. “We agreed not to sleep with other people.”
Sean sits up straighter. “This has to be a first for you.”
He’s right. It is.
I nod. “I guess so.”
“He says like he’s not fucking crazy about the woman.” He laughs. “You’re falling hard and fast, Decky. You’re going to be married within the year.”
I shake my head. “You’re going to be married within the year. That’s the plan, right?”
“I wanted it to be before the baby arrived.” He sighs. “Calliope insisted on waiting, so I agreed, but man, I wish she was my wife.”
“It’ll happen when the time is right,” I say. “From where I’m sitting, it’s all coming together for you.”
He drops his gaze to the table before he levels it back on my face. “All I want is to be a good dad and a great husband. I want to be the man they both deserve.”
“You are.” I nod. “I’ve watched you mature into a man I’m proud of. Stetson would tell you the same if he was here, and you already know how Mom and Dad feel about you.”