Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
It takes about forty-five minutes before everyone slowly moves away from me. “You think you know someone,” Franny says, shaking her head, “and then poof, she’s a bestselling author.” I roll my lips. “Oh my God.” She gasps. “I need to read these and make sure you didn’t steal any of my good quotes.”
“Since when do you have good quotes?” Cooper asks. “Wait a minute.” He turns to me. “Am I in the book?”
“Yes,” I tell him. “I think it was in book three.” His eyes go even bigger. “I made you a pirate. Gave you an eye patch and I think a hook.” I look at Xavier, who closes his eyes. “And a peg leg. But don’t worry, you died a happy, happy death.” I try to keep the laughter out of my voice. “I think even with a smile on your face.”
Xavier buries his face in my hair to laugh. “Mom!” Cooper turns, yelling for our mom and walking away from us.
I’m about to say something when I turn and hear a little girl come in, shrieking when she sees Abigail. Her blue eyes are crystal blue and her hair is in a ponytail on the top of her head. It takes me a minute to realize who it is. I smile when I see them hug, knowing how much Abigail did for her when she was hurt a couple of years ago. It was a huge deal since her grandparents tried to sue Julia, who was her caseworker.
“Abigail,” the little girl says, running to her and hugging her around her stomach.
“Penelope,” Abigail replies, bending to kiss the little girl’s head. Abigail hugs her around her shoulder.
“I missed you so much,” Abigail says, looking up at her as if she hangs the stars. I look over to see Tristan walking into the room. His eyes light up just as much as Penelope’s do when he sees Abigail. Tristan had no idea he fathered Penelope until a letter came out with his name. The minute he got the DNA results, he’s been all in.
“You’re here,” he says to Abigail, who smiles at him.
“It was a last-minute trip,” she tells him, trying not to look at him too long before looking down at Penelope. I feel like I’m interrupting a private moment.
“You got so big,” she coos to Penelope. “Are you hungry?” The little girl nods her head. “See you guys later.” She moves away from us, her hand in Penelope’s. Tristan smiles at me, nodding before following the two of them to the kitchen.
I hear more commotion when Julia sees Penelope. Smiling, I turn back to look at Xavier. “Are you ready to go?” I ask Xavier, who just nods his head at me.
“After today, I need—” I put my hand in front of his mouth, not sure what he is going to say out loud. “Not that.” He pushes my hand away from his mouth. “I mean, I could use that.” He bends to kiss my lips. “But after I FaceTime Beatrice.”
“She’s not talking to us,” I remind him. We’ve been FaceTiming her every day since we left. She looks at the phone and then turns away, lying with her ass to us. “I’m going to have to get a lot of cookies to win her over again.” Slipping my hand in his, we walk over to my parents to say goodbye.
“What time is your meeting tomorrow?” my father asks Xavier.
“Noon,” he replies and my father nods his head.
“If you don’t mind,” my father starts, and for the first time, he looks unsure. “I’d love to come with you.” Xavier looks at him, shocked. “Figured it would be good to have support at your back.” If I could love my dad more, I would right now. I look over at Xavier, who blinks away the tears that are threatening to escape.
“I don’t know what to say.” He clears his throat, and I slip my hand in his, then I take my other hand, holding his arm and my lips to his bicep. “That would be great.”
“What’s going on here?” Max pipes up, coming to us and folding his arms over his chest.
“Nothing,” my father says, “just making plans to go visit Nico with Xavier.”
“Oh, count me in,” he says. Xavier looks at them and then at me.
“You could say no,” I mumble now to him, and Max pffts out.
“I’m his favorite,” Max gloats. “You can tell them.”
“Don’t answer that,” Michael advises, coming into the room. “Never answer any questions that either of them asks you.” He looks at Max. “Mom is looking for you.” Michael laughs. “It’s been three point five seconds, she hasn’t seen your face, and she’s worried you got yourself into trouble.”
“He’s a walking, talking trouble sign,” my father adds. “I’ll come and get you at eleven.”