Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Gavin ends up falling asleep in Peyton’s bed, and I fall asleep in his. He steals back into the bedroom at two in the morning, and despite us both being groggy and only half awake, we have quiet, lazy sex before we pass back out.
I’m unsurprised when Peyton ends up back in his bedroom at six in the morning, worming her way between us and alternating between hugging me and her dad, and then asking when it’s time to make pancakes.
I know Gavin might consider this a wash of a sleepover, but it’s another baby step in the right direction. And I’ll take every single one of those we can get.
Twenty-Three
A LITTLE PRIVATE TIME
HARLEY
On Friday Gavin picks me up at four in the afternoon for our weekend getaway. Peyton is sitting in the back seat, which is full of her things. There are blankets and pillows piled on one side, her backpack perched precariously on top. On the other side are her stuffies, including the gnome family we made earlier this week, lined up beside her, ready for the ride to Boulder.
Gavin meets me at the truck and takes my bag, setting it beside his. When his hands are free, he leans down to steal a kiss. “Just a few more hours and you’re all mine.”
“And you’re mine.”
“Damn right.” He smirks and winks, then closes the trunk and walks me around to the passenger side, opening the door and giving me his hand so I can climb in.
I twist in my seat so I can look at Peyton. “Are you excited to spend the weekend with your granny and grandpa?”
She nods. “Granny said she’s going to take me to a play.”
“That sounds like tons of fun!”
“I love plays. But you have to be very, very quiet. Because it’s not like a movie where the actors can’t hear you, and when people talk, it can be distracting.”
“And you have personal experience with that, don’t you?” Peyton has a role in every skit the school puts on during assemblies. It means she often stays after school once or twice a week for rehearsals. She loves it, though, and doesn’t mind the longer days.
On Mondays I’ll often sit in the audience and work on assignments for my class. Most people can’t handle all the noise, but I seem to be able to tune it out.
The trip to Boulder takes a little less than two hours. My palms start to sweat when we pull into Karen and Kyle’s driveway. Their house is a pretty ranch-style bungalow with a white picket fence, manicured lawn, and gardens that have been put to bed until spring.
We hardly have the vehicle in park before the front door opens, and Karen steps out onto the front porch, an apron tied around her waist. Peyton clambers out of the car and bounces up the steps, throwing her arms around Karen.
Gavin waits for me and places a hand on the small of my back, patting it once, possibly to reassure me that everything is fine. Gavin hugs Karen, and I stand back, uncertain what the protocol is. Eventually Karen turns to me and gives me what I’m guessing is her version of a warm smile. “Harley, it’s so nice to see you again.” At least it seems like she’s trying.
“You as well. Your house is beautiful.”
“We’ve lived here since we got married, almost forty years this year.”
“Oh wow. That’s amazing. My parents would have been married for nearly forty years too, if they were still here.” I cringe internally. Nothing kills a conversation quite like bringing up your dead parents. “It’s definitely something to celebrate.”
“It is.” She nods her agreement. “Why don’t we bring in all of Peyton’s things. Dinner is almost ready.”
Gavin glances at me and then Karen. “Oh, you don’t have to feed Harley and me.”
“Nonsense. There’s plenty for everyone, and the table is set for six.”
“I made a dinner reservation for Harley and me for eight tonight,” he explains.
“Oh, I didn’t realize. That’s unfortunate. I wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble if I’d known.” She drops her gaze and smooths her hands over her apron.
“We can stay for dinner,” I assure her.
“I wouldn’t want to interfere with your weekend plans.” Karen smiles, but it’s stiff.
“Not at all. We can cancel the dinner reservations. We have tomorrow night anyway.” I don’t want to start this weekend on the wrong foot, and it’s obvious that Karen has gone to a lot of trouble to make dinner for us. There must have been a communication failure if Gavin didn’t explain that we had dinner reservations tonight.
“Are you sure you don’t mind canceling?” Karen looks between me and Gavin.
“Stay for dinner! Please, Harley.” Peyton grabs hold of my arm and bounces twice excitedly.
“Of course I’m sure. We’ll get you settled in, and have dinner before we leave,” I tell Peyton.