Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Tomorrow, the subs were getting their acceptance letters to the Academy, including information on dress code. Thank fuck I was a coach, because otherwise I’d have to dig through Dean’s closet for appropriate clothes.
“I hope someone’s filming.” I reached for my wine and threw a couple grapes into my mouth. “I don’t wanna miss anything.”
“We should film Gael when he gets his letter.” Dean grinned.
“Fuck, absolutely. I’ll keep him busy till you come home from work.” I’d already told Reese to use my address for Gael’s letter.
Dean smiled and leaned in, and I kissed him.
“In the spirit of full honesty, I love the sound of that. Till I get home from work.”
Fuck me. He really was coming around. It was impossible to kill my smile, and I bet we looked as cheesy as I wanted us to be. We brushed our lips together again, and I took a deep breath and just…fucking loved the moment.
“Also, before I forget,” Gael yawned. “Can I go with Cam after work next week? We’re gonna buy pasta makers, and he needs new swimwear for their cruise in a few weeks.”
I’d heard about the cruise. Colt and Lucas had let me know there was still time to join, and I was sorely tempted, but…maybe it would be too soon, and I wasn’t sure Dean could take time off work.
“What day are you heading out with Cam?” I glanced at him in the rearview and grinned to myself. He’d had such a big day that he was about to fall asleep.
“Um, we were thinking Tuesday, ’cause we know Kit doesn’t work then, and we wanna ask him to tag along.” Gael leaned against the window and closed his eyes. “Today was so awesome.”
I reached across the center console and grabbed Dean’s hand, and he gave mine a squeeze.
“Tuesday sounds great,” I answered.
Dean glanced back at our boy, his expression pensive, though he didn’t say anything.
A vacation together could wait. Now that we were all on the same page, it would do us some good to settle into new routines, finding a balance between the sleepovers I’d grown addicted to and accepting that they had their own places. Plus, they worked in town. Maybe I’d suggest we stay at Dean’s condo soon.
“I want to give him a credit card,” Dean said quietly. “Do you think it’s too soon?”
I side-eyed him. “You’re thinkin’ about the pasta maker?”
He nodded. “I don’t want him to pay for things he’ll use when he’s serving us.”
It was a good idea. I hadn’t thought that far myself; I’d assumed we’d give him cash for shit he bought that would undoubtedly end up at my house, but a credit card was better. We wouldn’t have to make sure he always had money, in case he stumbled upon something.
“We can discuss it with him tomorrow,” I replied, switching on the turn signal. “If he’s uncomfortable with it, we’ll settle for cash for now.”
I flicked another glance in the rearview. Sweet boy, if he wasn’t asleep, he was mere seconds away.
“Speaking of things that might be too soon…” I slowed down as our exit came up. “You hear about the cruise they’re all going on in April?” Well, technically, they set sail at the very end of March.
He narrowed his eyes, thinking, then nodded slowly. “Yes, Walker and Macklin are going.”
That didn’t surprise me.
“I’m afraid it would be difficult for me to get away from work,” Dean replied. “But if you and Gael—”
“Hey—” I frowned and shook my head. “No. While I think it’s important we create our own connections—you and me, you and Gael, me and him—I’d prefer if we took our vacations together.”
He grabbed my hand again and kissed it. “No argument from me. Maybe we can do something else? I can’t be gone four or five days, but I do have a cabin of my own, you know. We could go up there that weekend.”
Oh hell, I’d forgotten about that. I’d never been there, of course, but he’d shared a story once how he’d written one of his first books there. If I remembered correctly, the cabin was in Pennsylvania.
I could think of worse things than cozying it up with Dean and Gael for a whole weekend.
I checked the time as I carried my laptop over to the kitchen table. Okay, good. Lunchtime on the West Coast. I was done with my own work, so now I could continue not buying the bullshit Caleb was selling—until Gael and Dean came home.
I poured myself a cup of coffee too.
Once I was seated, General trailed into the kitchen, stretched out a bit, and then went over to his water bowl.
You better tolerate dogs one day, friend.
It was becoming clear that I was the minority in our triad. To be fair, Dean and Gael both liked dogs as well, but they were currently owned by a cat.