Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
I knew Cashel had told Gareth earlier that he thought Jude was shy, but I had a feeling it was more about not knowing the social conventions around finding your partner's best friends hot—and sub or pup or just human cutie—Gareth was smoking.
And having the time of his life trying to lick Brady’s face as the little squealed and attempted to escape.
“He does and he likes playing with you.” With the wedding talk behind us, I relaxed again when Brady sent the ball flying, obviously deciding that was the best way to distract the puppy since no one was going to his rescue.
I thought they were too cute to even think about stopping the chaos, and it just kept getting better because Brady threw himself into everything he did…including playing with his new puppy best friend who was currently trying to dig the ball out from under the table.
Brady couldn’t be ignored and decided to take the game in a new direction. “My turn. I’m the puppy.”
As Cashel rescued the ball and tossed it toward the living room, the very talkative almost-puppy went scrambling through the apartment on all fours, making everyone laugh and me sigh with relief.
“Good save, Uncle Bates.” Cashel couldn’t help teasing me as I shrugged sheepishly.
“It was an accident.” But cars and toys would make for a memorable wedding…and it wasn’t like Brady’s family would’ve had an issue with it.
Jude couldn’t seem to decide if he was going to laugh or throw something at me. “You’re worse than his family.”
“Aww, thank you.” They were some of the most fascinating people I’d ever seen. “I’m glad I fit right in.”
That got a scoff from the confusing Daddy. “His mother loves you and is giving both of us grief that you haven’t come to a family dinner yet.”
I was not the problem with that nonsense.
“We will do our best to make the next one.” Especially now that we knew we could all be in the same room without making Brady’s mother want to chase after us with a wooden spoon. “I heard good things about Christmas.”
Slumping back against the couch, Jude studied me. “How?”
That was easy.
“Brady really does talk to himself a lot.” More than any of them seemed to realize. “And he used to do it a lot more before you guys got together.”
Jude was good for Brady but bad for my informational needs.
“He also used to make loops around the building when he was figuring things out or on the phone with his family after class.” I shrugged as Jude chuckled, finally getting the picture. “Now that he has you, that’s stopped. A Daddy is clearly better than pacing when it comes to wearing out a little.”
Shaking his head, Jude smiled as Brady and Gareth landed in a puddle of limbs in the living room both clearly needing a moment to breathe and maybe some water. “Come here. You look like you need a cuddle and a drink.”
Jude hadn’t been nearly as specific as he thought he’d been because the two cuties untangled themselves just long enough to wiggle over and crash into him. They both seemed to think his lap was a wonderful place to take a quick rest and curled up together with Jude’s thighs as their pillows. “That’s not what I meant.”
Neither of them was listening, but as they closed their eyes and tried to catch their breath, Brady reached up and patted his Daddy’s chest. Jude frowned but he didn’t complain. The dramatic Daddy just started to run his hands over their heads. “It’s too late to take a nap.”
If he wasn’t careful, he was going to lose that battle.
But since I didn’t want Gareth taking a nap this late either, I stood up and headed toward the kitchen. It was time for cookies and water at the very least. “I have a surprise, but if they fall asleep, I guess we’ll have to eat all the cookies.”
That got movement and whines coming from the living room, but complaints meant they weren’t asleep, so I’d take it.
Cashel shook his head but clearly approved of whatever he saw because he rose and came into the kitchen with me. “I’ll get them something to drink.”
Kissing his cheek, I nodded and got out the dough so I could put it on the already-prepared tray. It’d seemed a bit silly to preheat the oven earlier but now I was glad it was all ready and wouldn’t take long to have done. “Thank you.”
Giving me a smile, he called out to the living room. “Brady, do you want milk or water?”
“Water like the puppy.” Chaos seemed to come from the living room for a few seconds before a laugh led to silence. “Puppies drink water.”
So he was still a talking puppy?
“Alright.” Trying not to laugh, Cashel went over to the cabinet and sifted through the cups aiming to pick out the best ones for puppies.