Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Her eyebrows pinch together. “Get some fresh air,” she repeats to me as she turns on the water at the sink and wets the rag in her hand, before wiping down the counter beside her. “Who are you?”
I can’t help but laugh at her, because she is totally right, who am I? I remember not seeing the light once for ten days. I would go to work in the dark and leave in the dark, but things are different now. When they became different, I can’t say, well, I can, I just don’t want to admit it. “If you’re lucky, we might even invite you.”
“If I’m lucky,” she mocks my words. “I could be so lucky.”
I smirk at her as I walk back upstairs and grab my laptop. I swear, I must be working maybe a full five minutes when I hear a soft cry. I look over at the monitor on the side table and see Cici is sitting up. “Shh,” I hear Eva say, “Levi is working, and if he hears you, he’s going to come running.” I can’t help the smile that forms on my face. I put my laptop to the side of the bed, getting up and going toward them.
I come face-to-face with them when she walks out of the room. “Well, there she is,” I say, earning me a smile from Cici, her one cheek still red from lying on it. “Did you have a good nap?” She lifts her hand and slaps it down right away. “I’m going to go to work and then we can go for a walk.” She just squeals at me. “If Eva plays her cards right, she might come.”
“Go away,” Eva retorts, walking past me. “I might just take her for a walk now.”
“No, you won’t,” I reply and she ignores me, walking down the steps. “Don’t you dare.”
“I guess we’ll find out,” she tosses back, looking over at me.
“Baby, if you want to play some games—” I start to say, and the minute I say baby, her cheeks instantly light up. “We can play some games.”
“Don’t call me that.” She glares at me. “I’ve been around long enough to know you call your women that when you don’t remember their names.” She tries to pretend it doesn’t bother her, but I can feel it does. “I’m not playing games with you. This isn’t a game.”
I take a step toward the top of the stairs, staring down at both of them. “I don’t think you’ve been paying attention.” I try not to lose my shit. “I call the women whose names I don’t remember sweetheart.” I can see that she remembers. “I’ve never called anyone baby.” I don’t wait for her to answer. “I’ll be down soon.” I turn to walk away from her before walking back to her, taking Cici out of her arms, and kissing the shit out of her for pissing me off.
I walk back into the bedroom and close the door, and I don’t know why because it’s not like I’m working. No, not me, I’m in the middle of her bedroom pacing back and forth, trying to tell myself this isn’t happening. Trying to tell myself she’s my best friend and me acting on whatever this is isn’t the smart thing to do. Trying to tell myself if I do this, I risk losing her and Cici. Trying to tell myself if I don’t do this, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I look at the bed and then I look at the closed door. Instead of storming downstairs and probably ruining the best thing I have, I walk back to the bed. Sitting in it and grabbing my laptop, I’m not even working. I’m just staring at the screen, biding my time.
When it’s almost four I close my laptop, putting it on my bedside table before I walk toward the bedroom door. “And then the itsy-bitsy spider went up the spout again,” Eva sings to her and then I watch Cici clap her hands and then flap them excitedly. Eva’s eyes look up to mine. “Oh, no,” she says, “the big bad wolf is here.” She smirks at me before turning back to Cici.
“Wow, one fight and I’m a wolf,” I retort and Cici’s eyes shoot my way and her smile goes even bigger. She forgets she’s happy and then pouts and whines.
“If that isn’t a faker, I don’t know what is,” Eva notes, picking her up. “You were fine two seconds ago.”
“Come here.” I grab her out of Eva’s arms and bury my face in her neck. “I missed you.”
“Oh, please, it’s been two hours,” she chides, shaking her head. “Are you going for a walk?”
I nod my head. “We just have to figure out if we are taking a stroller or she’s going to go strapped to my chest.”