Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Even though he was at our house nearly every day, we hadn’t done anything else except steal a few kisses when Logan wasn’t around, but each one just made me crave more from him. Made me crave all sorts of things that were unfamiliar with a man.
But I sure as shit wanted them to become familiar.
“Knox! New shipment arrived!” Hank, one of my employees, called out, and I became aware I’d been standing there staring into space while daydreaming about Callum. I was suddenly like a lovesick teenager, and the kicker was, I didn’t care. I liked it.
I pulled my head out of my ass and got back to work. It was Friday, the night Callum was going with Josh to Richmond. We hadn’t spoken about it all week. He didn’t bring it up, and I didn’t feel like it was my place. Cal had every right to go out and have a good time. He deserved it. The guy was working like crazy and spending time with us and his mom. I’d want a night out too, but damn, it twisted up my insides.
I wanted him to have fun but to know he was only mine. Wanted everyone to know it.
Logically, I knew he was just going out for a night of dancing and wouldn’t go home with anyone. But my thoughts were all mixed up on whether I had the right to expect that when I couldn’t give him more.
Realizing I was again obsessing about Callum, I forced myself to cut that shit out and took care of what I needed to do.
Sometime later Logan called to say he got home from school, the way he was supposed to do every day, and the rest of the afternoon flew by.
It was almost six when I pulled up in front of the house and was surprised to see Callum’s car out front. Ignoring the excited jump in my pulse, I got out of the truck and went inside.
“I know it sounds confusing, but it’s really not. XY is…”
I smiled at the sound of Callum’s voice as he explained math to Logan. It felt good hearing them together, coming home to them as if we were a unit.
I walked around the corner and into the dining room.
Callum looked up, a spark in his eyes but an unsure smile on his face. “Hey. I hope it’s okay that I came over. Logan called and said he was having trouble with his math. End-of-the-year tests are soon, and he wants to do well.”
My son pushed his glasses up his nose. “And no offense, Dad, but you still suck at it.”
“Gee, thanks.” I walked over and ruffled Logan’s hair. “And of course it’s okay. You’re always welcome here, especially if it means I don’t have to try and do math,” I teased.
“So are you saying you only like me for my mathematical abilities?”
It was obvious he was being playful too, only I answered seriously. “No.”
“Of course not. He’s your best friend,” Logan added. “That’d be like me only liking Dale ’cuz he’s good at video games.”
Well, not exactly like that, but it wasn’t as if I could tell Logan that.
“How about I make us dinner while you guys finish up? I saw this add for a seasoning to make for grilled vegetables and chicken, so I got the stuff to fix it. I figured it would be a hit with Rabbit Food over there.”
Callum’s eyes darted to mine. “You saved a grilled-veggie recipe for me?”
I frowned. He sounded as if no one had ever done something so simple for him. “Of course. I gotta make this special dressing, then baste the veggies as they grill; the chicken too. Hopefully you’ll like it.” He was giving me this strange, twisted-up look I couldn’t read. “It’s fine if tonight isn’t a good time. We can do it another day. I know you have plans with Josh.”
“You have plans with Josh tonight?” Logan asked. “Is he your boyfriend?”
My chest tightened at the thought.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Callum said. “We’re just friends. Sheesh, are you trying to marry me off or something?”
“No, but if he was, I was thinking maybe you wouldn’t spend as much time with us, is all. Like you’d be busy with your own stuff,” Logan replied, and fuck, did I agonize about the same thing while also being concerned for my son, who was obviously worried about losing Callum.
“That will never happen. If I find a boyfriend one day, he’ll have to know that you guys are my friends and I spend lots of time with you.”
“Okay.” Logan nodded. “And if Dad gets a girlfriend, he’ll do the same. We heard Dale’s mom talking on the phone with a friend from out of town about how cute he is. It was gross and weird. I mean, he’s my dad.”