Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
“Okay, you ready for that haircut?” I asked Eli, watching as he chased the girls around the kitchen, the black cape around his shoulders billowing behind him.
“I need to devour these children first,” he hissed, making the girls squeal with delight.
“Sorry, bud,” I joked as the girls ran to me and hid behind my legs, giggling. “I like these ones too much. You’ll have to make do with a string cheese.”
“Already am,” Eli replied smugly, pulling a half-eaten string cheese from beneath the cape.
Forrest and Lu played with the girls while I ushered Eli back to the chair and got started on his hair. He was easy. Same thing every time. After years of him coming over to get his hair cut, I could’ve done the trim in my sleep.
“You guys got any plans for Valentine’s Day?” Eli asked around a mouthful of cheese.
“Very funny.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Me and Lu are keepin’ the kids.”
“Forrest, too,” I reminded him, flicking the back of his ear. “I would’ve asked Josiah and Ephraim, but it sounds like they’ve got dates.”
“Probably the same date,” he snickered.
“I don’t want to hear that shit,” I groaned. The guys were only a few years younger than Mark and I, but I still couldn’t see them as anything other than pesky little brothers. Hearing about their escapades was nausea inducing.
“You know, you really only need one of us to watch the kids,” Eli muttered, grunting as I tipped his head to the side. “I’m pretty sure you don’t need all three of us. One of us is a doctor.”
“Tell me that after you’ve had the three of them overnight,” I replied ominously. “We’ve been planning this for a month, you guys better be back in time.”
“We’ll be back.”
“You’re cutting it pretty damn close.”
Eli shrugged. “Easy job. Security for some singer?” He gestured like he was jacking off and I couldn’t help but snort with laughter.
“You’re disgusting,” Lu called from the other side of the kitchen.
“Look who’s wide awake and ready to party,” Mark announced as he carried baby Forrest into the kitchen. None of our kids had gotten their first big haircuts, I’d only trimmed the girls’ hair and once cut a piece of candy out of Meg’s, but looking at our son’s almost perfectly shaped mullet I thought that might need to change.
“Hey, bubs,” I called out as he lurched toward me. “Give me just a second to finish Uncle Eli’s hair.”
“All set for tonight?” Mark asked Lu.
“Good to go,” she replied, boosting Olive onto her back. “Wilson’s been in contact with the manager and the boys are already scoping out the venue and hotel.”
“Easy money,” Eli said, scrubbing at his head and neck as I pulled off the cape.
“Shit, boy,” Forrest snapped. “Don’t say that.”
“We’re gonna be in Portland,” Eli shot back. “Not some third world country.”
“Rule still applies, idiot,” Lu said in exasperation.
“Idiot,” Meg sang. “Idiot. Idiot.”
Lu grimaced as she met my stare. “Whoops.”
“It happens.” I waved her off.
“We’ll be back day after tomorrow,” Mark reminded me, handing over the baby.
“You better be.”
“Do you think I’d miss out on hotel sex with my woman?” He grinned. “Never.”
“That’s your humerus,” Forrest said, somewhere behind me. “There’s actually two bones in there, your ulna and your radius.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Olive was sitting on the kitchen counter, pointing at her arm.
“You think she’ll be a doctor?” Mark asked, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Do you remember when Meg cut open her knee and Olive started dry heaving?” I reminded him dryly, leaning back against his chest. “I highly doubt she’ll be a doctor.”
“I’m gonna scoot,” Eli announced, stretching his arms over his head with a growl. “Grab my stuff and meet you losers up north.”
“Don’t forget the comms,” Forrest, Mark, and Lu all said at once.
Eli huffed. “I know I’m supposed to be bringin’ somethin’ with me,” he mused, shooting me a wink. “But I can’t remember what. Ah, well, I’m sure it’s not important.”
Mark’s chest shook with laughter as Eli strode out of the room.
“I know we all love him and shit,” Lu griped, rolling her eyes. “But if he forgets the equipment, I’m going to break both his legs.”
“He won’t,” Forrest replied to Lu. He looked back at Olive. “That’s your patella.”
“What time do you have to leave?” I asked quietly, letting Mark sway our bodies from side to side as baby Forrest laid his head on my shoulder.
“An hour,” he murmured, kissing my neck. “You know, we’ve got these babysitters already here…”
“Dream on.” I smiled as Meg got bored with Lu and headed over to Forrest.
Of course, the minute her sister was interested, Olive was tired of the game and hopped off the counter, stumbling a little as her bare feet hit the linoleum. Barely looking, Forrest reached out to steady her.