Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 30747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Tage chuckled quietly as he squeezed my fingers. “It sounds like we better get in the kitchen. Would you like some help washing your hands?”
I blinked at his question. I was obviously capable of doing it myself, but I was intrigued by the offer. And since I was dipping my toes into the little world, I answered, “Yes, please.”
Tage led me out of the room and down a short hallway. We stepped into a bathroom and when he flipped on the light, I saw that it was decorated with a rainbow shower curtain and brightly colored towels.
I laughed and pointed at the soap dispenser on the sink, which was in the shape of a rubber ducky. “Look!”
“Just like you,” he smiled. Tage stepped behind me and my pulse quickened when he wrapped his arms around my waist. “Let’s get these hands nice and clean.”
He turned on the tap and tested the water’s temperature before placing my hands beneath the warm stream. After pumping a few blobs of soap into his palms, Tage worked it into a lather and placed it on my skin. He scrubbed the fronts and backs of my hands, between my fingers, and beneath my nails.
“I can tell you’re a doctor,” I teased, and his warm laughter vibrated against my back. I never wanted him to move, but he soon rinsed my hands clean, turned off the tap, and took a step back to grab a towel.
Tage patted my skin dry until every last drop of water disappeared. “There you go; all clean.” I thanked him with a smile and he asked, “Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving!” My eyes drifted down onto my round belly and I corrected, “Well, no, I’m obviously not starving.” All of my life, I’d always been heavy, and a little uncomfortable in my skin. Dalton was built much leaner than I was, and he accused me of lying around and stuffing my face all day while he was at work, but that wasn’t the case. No matter what I ate, or what I did, my shape didn’t change, which was disheartening.
Tage lifted my chin so that I was looking up into his eyes when he told me, “Your body is beautiful.” No one had ever said that to me. The words made my chest buzz with happiness. My cheeks blushed hard, and he smiled as he traced his finger across my skin. “Come on, let’s go feed that hungry tummy.”
He took my hand and led me through the apartment and into the kitchen, where Joey was sitting at a wooden table, practically drooling over the plate of food in front of him.
“There you are!” he exclaimed when we entered the room. “Daddy made my favorite - spaghetti and meatballs! Do you like it too?”
“I love it.” I blushed again when Tage pulled out a chair for me and helped me sit into it.
“I thought you might want to make Andy’s plate for him,” Ian said to Tage with a nod towards the stovetop, where all of the food waited.
“Thank you.” He prepared my food and I smiled when he served it to me; the spaghetti was chopped into tiny bite-size pieces, and the meatballs were cut into fours. It was resting on a blue plastic plate. “How does that look?”
“It looks great, thank you.” I turned to Ian and added, “And thank you for cooking. It smells delicious.”
“You’re so welcome. And you’re free to join us for dinner any time you like.” Ian’s words made my chest buzz again as Joey cheered. So this is what friendship feels like. It was the best dang feeling in the world.
Tage placed his own plate (which was white porcelain and matched Ian’s) on the tabletop and sat in the empty chair next to me. He winked at me and grabbed his fork as I picked up my red plastic spoon.
“Watch this,” Joey said as he circled his fork into his pasta, lifting up a large pile. He stuffed it into his mouth and sucked hard, sending the noodles flopping against his cheeks and nose.
I laughed at his silliness, but I was glad that Tage cut up my pasta; I preferred to stay neat and clean. I scooped a bite onto my spoon and hummed happily at the sweet flavor of the sauce.
“Ooh, and check this out!” It was as if Joey wanted to show me all of his tricks as he leaned forward and wrapped his lips around his straw. He drank and I watched as milk rose up the plastic, swirling through the curls and bends of his crazy straw. “Isn’t that cool?” he asked once he was done with his sip. I beamed and nodded quickly. It was cool.
“I’m so sorry, duckling,” Tage said as he stood up, “I forgot to get you anything to drink.” I was confused when he added, “I’m a little out of practice,” but I was grateful when he returned to the table with a cup of milk for me, plus my very own crazy straw to drink with.