Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“I do,” I whisper back to her. “Should we do chocolate chip pancakes?” I ask her, making her eyes go big, and she smirks at me as she nods her head. Side by side we make breakfast, well, she helps make the pancakes. I do the stove but she does help with setting the table. I can’t even put into words how I feel sitting down at the table with them.
After breakfast, we go out into the yard where I show her the tree house my parents bought for her. She runs toward the tree house, her hair flying behind her, yelling that it says her name on it.
Addison and I follow her, the both of us not sure what to say. “This is incredible,” Addison finally says, looking at me.
“Not as incredible as her mother,” I mumble, but I know she hears me because her cheeks get a touch pink, “or that kiss we had last night.”
She’s about to say something when Avery comes running out and grabs her hand, pulling her toward the tree house. I stand here as she shows her everything in the house. When the clouds start to roll in, Addison tells her it’s time to go. Avery isn’t the only one who groans about that. I walk them to their car and Avery pouts the whole time. “Be good and I’ll come and see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay, but don’t go in my house,” Avery tells me of her tree house and it makes me laugh.
I close the door to the car, standing in front of Addison. “Thank you for today,” she says as she wrings her hands together nervously.
“You’re more than welcome.” I try to draw it out longer. “You are also more than welcome to stay for dinner and even breakfast.” I wink at her and she just shakes her head laughing. “Did you take the check?”
“Stefano,” she groans my name and all I can do is smirk at her as I close the distance between us.
“I like hearing you say my name,” I tell her, then lean in even more, “but I love hearing you moan it more.”
She pushes my chest away as she laughs even harder. “Goodbye,” she says, opening the driver’s door.
“No kiss?” I question, right before she closes the door and the back window opens.
“I’ll kiss you,” Avery says to me, and yup, totally done for. My heart explodes in my chest as I stick my head in the window and kiss her cheek and then her neck. “That tickles.” She squeezes her neck closed.
“Call me when you get home,” I tell her and watch her drive away. I stand here until I can’t see her anymore and then go back into my house. Walking inside, I see the check still on the table and shake my head. “Stubborn woman,” I mumble before I make my way to the kitchen, put things away, and clean up before grabbing my laptop. I get lost in my work and only when my phone rings do I look up.
I see that it’s Avery FaceTiming me. “Hello,” I greet once her face fills my phone.
“Hello, Dad,” she says. She doesn’t really call me Dad or Daddy often, but when she does it warms my soul. “I’m going to bed.”
“Going to bed?” I gasp before I turn my head to see it’s after seven. “Did you eat dinner?”
“Yes, Momma made grilled cheese,” she tells me and I smile. “Momma, Dad is on the phone.”
“What phone?” I hear Addison ask from somewhere in her apartment.
“Mine,” she states, walking to her mother. I see she is getting dressed, I get a glimpse of her leg and her lace panties before she squeals and grabs the phone from Avery.
Her face fills the phone. “And this is why it’s not a good idea for a four-year-old to have a phone,” she hisses.
“I mean, she could have called me with your phone.” I make the argument, and all she does is glare at me. “Go put our girl to bed and call me back,” I tell her and she’s about to say something to me. “I like that color of lace,” I declare. All that earns me is her teeth grinding together.
“Say good night to your father.” She hands the phone to Avery.
“Good night, Father,” Avery says, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I say softly and then the phone goes dead. I wait thirty minutes before I call her number.
“Hello,” she mumbles and then I press the FaceTime button. “Why are you FaceTiming me?” she asks me but accepts and her face fills the screen.
“What are you doing?” I ask her, seeing she is on the couch.
“Homework,” she tells me. “What can I do for you?”
“Two things,” I say, holding up one finger. “One, you forgot the check.” She rolls her eyes. “And two, will you go out with me?” I just look at her. “Why don’t you just think about it?”