Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 122966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“Um, dumb it down for me?” Elise asked.
“See it as a transferal of my teaching license,” I summed up, handing Grace her cup. “Can you say thank you, Grace?”
“Tank!”
I chuckled and sat back once more. Elise still appeared unsure, so I elaborated. “It’s nothing to worry about, hon. People do it every day. I’m just saying it doesn’t happen overnight, but it’ll be finished by the time I start.”
Elise was practically vibrating on my lap. “You’ll be in California my last year of school. You’ll be with me—we’ll be able to see each other often.”
“Yes.” I touched her cheek.
“Oh my God.” She threw her arms around my neck and squeezed me tightly, her body trembling. “Best news ever.” She sniffled.
I hugged her back and kissed her shoulder.
“Gah! I don’t know what to do with myself.” She released me, only to lift my arm and sink her teeth into my flesh. “I have to bite you.” It came out muffled.
I laughed as I braced myself for her energetic outburst, but the pain wasn’t too bad.
Grace cocked her head, and I swore she even raised an eyebrow, whether it was intentional or not, and I couldn’t help but crack up harder.
I reached forward and wiped her mouth. “What’s Elise doing to Daddy?”
“Lee ba-ba-mm-ba Dada-tuck,” she rambled curiously.
“Ouch.” I winced and gripped Elise’s chin. “I think that’s enough, you biter.”
She grinned sheepishly and released my arm. “I’m just happy.”
“Me too.” I chuckled and eyed the teeth mark on my arm.
“You don’t get it.” She grabbed my face and kissed me, her lips curving into a gorgeous smile. “You’re finally mine, Mister. This here between us, it’s real. We’re doing this. Right?”
“All of it.” I smiled into another kiss, feeling ridiculously overjoyed by her eagerness and her declaration. “So, now can I finally take you out on a date?”
She giggled and kissed her way down my neck where she buried her face. “Yes, please.”
“Good.” I wasn’t going to count her birthday dinner later this evening. At this rate, we might end up staying in, because the rain was picking up, and I could hear thunder rolling in the distance.
“Wait,” she said and straightened. “Are you going to rent out your house while you’re in California?”
I rubbed her leg, hoping she’d processed the previous news enough now. “I’m actually putting it on the market within the next couple weeks.”
“What? Why—nooo.” Her face fell. “You can’t do that! I love this place. You have real air conditioning, and this is where I play house with you and pretend we’re a family.”
Oh Christ. She was too sweet. “We can do that at the next house too.” I smiled softly and touched her cheek. Maybe she didn’t even pay attention to the dreams she revealed in her casual honesty—talk about playing house and so on—but I sure did, and each glimpse into the future she’d imagined made me happier. “I can’t really afford this area anymore,” I admitted. “Grace will need her own room soon, and the traveling is going to cost me a bit before I start working again.”
Even then, it was going to set me back somewhat. Rents in the Bay Area were outrageous, and I wasn’t going to make a fortune working at a public school.
“Oh.” Pipsqueak bit her lip and peered down between us.
“It’s not a bad thing, sweetheart.” I lifted her chin. “Selling this house will not only allow me to afford this coming year, but I’ll be able to buy a bigger house a few neighborhoods east of here. Just before you came home, I saw a four-bedroom for sale on the other side of Emsworth.” It was the road that went through most of the residential neighborhoods in Downtown, creating a perimeter around the center and the marina. In short, living within the Emsworth was a lot pricier. “It cost less than what I paid for this one when I moved in.”
“Oh,” she repeated, squinting. “It’s nice there too.”
“It is, isn’t it?” I threaded our fingers together on her thigh and gave her hand a squeeze. “I’d have a much bigger kitchen there, too.”
The corners of her mouth twisted up ever so slightly, but she kept her gaze on our hands. “What would you do with a big kitchen?”
I smirked faintly. “I have no idea. If only I knew someone who could turn it into her personal laboratory.”
It was getting increasingly difficult for her to maintain a blank expression, I could tell.
“I’m going to need a lot of help, you know.” I leaned in and kissed her jaw. In my periphery, I watched Grace pour her lemonade into her food. A delicious combination, I was sure.
“What kind of help?” Elise did a poor job of sounding indifferent.
I smiled against her skin. “Some basic stuff. What colors on the walls, where to put the couch, if there should be a theme in the bedroom, probably some new furniture…”