Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“How did you know anyway?” Roan demands.
“Dude. You’re fucking blind if you can’t see how in love those two are.”
Roan sweeps his concerned stare over the both of us. Whatever he must see reflected back at him makes him smile. “You two look like shit.”
I stick my tongue out at him and Jordy flips him off.
“Children,” Garrett chides. “How are you both feeling? How’s your foot, Roux?”
I blink in confusion.
“Still feeling the effects of the morphine, I see. When they ween you off the good stuff, let me know then,” Garrett says with a smirk. “That was quite a nasty burn on your foot.”
Roan sets his coffee down and walks over to me. He strokes my hair out of my face and places my old glasses on my face since my newer pair probably got destroyed in the fire. All of their faces sharpen into view.
“Is it all really over?” I ask my brother.
He smiles. “Yeah, Roux.”
“When do I get to see my nephew?”
Garrett approaches the bed. “Samantha is working out all the legalities to transfer guardianship. It might be a few days, especially since Roan has been dealing with the Feds and worrying about you two, but Sebban will be home soon.”
“Why are you always helping us?” I ask Garrett.
He frowns at my question. “I lost my family once because I was an asshole. I have much to atone for. My family needs me, and now their family has grown to include Roan and Jordy and you. I’m doing what I can to show them I’m a changed man.”
It’s too late for his ex-wife considering Kelsey loves Mike, but it’s not too late for his children.
“Can you save Charlotte too?” I ask, my bottom lip wobbling.
Garrett’s face darkens. “I’m working on it, sweetheart.”
I won’t let Roan know because he’s not been a Garrett fan the past four years or Hollis because of everything his father did to him, but I like Garrett. I think people can change if they want to. And Garrett reminds me of my own dad. Not always good with words or people, but protective when it counts.
“I’m tired,” I say with a sigh.
“Close your eyes, Little Hoodlum,” Jordy grunts out. “I’ll be here when you wake up. I’ll always be here when you wake up from here on out.”
Roan doesn’t kill him, which makes my heart soar.
I close my eyes and pass out, knowing the people I love are always watching out for me.
A week later…
Snoring wakes me up and it takes me a second to get used to the sweaty body clinging to me.
Sebban.
A smile tugs at my lips as I rake my fingers through his dark hair. Having a three-and-a-half-year-old living with us has taken some getting used to. To say we’re all on top of each other is an understatement.
For some reason, in this stressful transition for Sebban, he’s chosen me to cling to. Roan seems hurt, but I know it’s because the poor little guy lost his mother. I’m another dark-haired woman, and I think he just gravitates toward me for that reason. As a result, I’ve been sharing my bed with him so he won’t cry at night.
“Momma,” he cries out, jolting awake.
My heart breaks for him. I’m thankful he’s so young and doesn’t fully comprehend his loss yet. The social worker said it was best if we distract him rather than trying to explain what happened.
“Dadda Roan will make pancakes if we ask nicely,” I tell him, tickling his stomach.
He squeals, rolling away. I manage to wrangle him over to me to change him out of his diaper and into new clothes. He’s not potty-trained yet, so it’s something we’ll have to work on with him.
Once I have him dressed, I take his hand and walk him into the living room. All three guys are at the table drinking coffee. Jordy still looks a little worse for the wear, but no matter how beat up he is, he’ll always be handsome to me.
And my savior.
I smile at him and then lift a brow at Roan. “Where are the pancakes?”
“Pancake,” Sebban agrees.
Roan’s smile is so cute as he reaches a hand out to his son. Sometimes, like now, Sebban shies away from him. I know it hurts Roan, but he’s determined.
“Want to help me make them?” Roan asks, squatting in front of Sebban and pushing a lock of hair out of his eyes.
Sebban nods and reaches for him. Roan’s eyes flash with joy as he scoops up Sebban like he weighs nothing. My nephew squeals with laughter. He carries Sebban into the kitchen and sets him on the counter. Patiently, he tells Sebban all about pancake making. Like pouring water into the canister and shaking it is actual rocket science.
“I do it,” Sebban tells him.
Roan hands him the canister and Sebban shakes it up, happy as can be at helping. I peel my gaze from them and sit in Roan’s vacated chair. Hollis has a goofy smile on his face as he watches his husband be a daddy. It really is heartwarming.