Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Burgers and chicken on the grill,” I said, and he nodded in approval. “Mia is bringing her famous baked beans, and Mom dropped off her awesome pasta salad last night to store in the fridge. Guess it needs to marinate.”
“Sounds good.” When he looked over at me, he could somehow tell something was on my mind besides the obvious. “What is it?”
“Nothing. I was thinking about what Mom said to me when she was leaving.” He eyed me curiously. “That she’d be late to the barbecue because she had another cookout she’d be attending at her apartment, in the pool area, apparently.”
“Bonnie’s been keeping herself busy, eh?” he said with a smile. “She makes the rounds pretty easily.”
“Right? She’s always been outgoing,” I mused, then remembered how stifled she’d become over the years with my father, hiding further inside her shell as the years went by. “Oh, and she asked if she could bring a friend.”
“A friend, huh?”
I steeled my reaction. “Has she said anything?” About a friend?
“Just that she’s having a blast,” he replied with a questioning look. “She’s gonna meet people, Jake, and probably date.”
My stomach sloshed. “Of course. I just didn’t think it would be so soon.”
“Soon?” His eyebrows drew together. “Hasn’t it been years?”
I cleared my throat. “Suppose it has.”
And now I felt guilty for all the nights I tried keeping her busy while she lived with me—not that she didn’t find stuff to do all on her own—when maybe she’d just been trying to make me happy.
“Hey, you okay? Do you want to talk—”
“No.” I shook my head and reached for the cutting board. “We need to get cracking before everyone shows up.”
We set to work, chopping tomatoes, onions, and lettuce for the burgers, and I was glad to give my hands something to do and also to give myself a moment to think. Things seemed to be moving along at lightning speed—for everyone, apparently—so Seth’s idea of playing it by ear made sense, but I didn’t want him to feel like he was giving me an out.
Before I could finish that thought, the doorbell rang. Tucker walked in with Lauren, and Mia wasn’t far behind with her cute baby girl, Poppy.
I placed my hand on Seth’s shoulder and squeezed. “You guys, uh, remember Seth?”
“Of course,” Tucker said, seeming momentarily nervous himself before he introduced Lauren, and Mia offered each of us a wave and a smile while her daughter cooed in her arms.
Seth was immediately drawn to Poppy. “I can hold her if you need to unpack your side dish and whatever else.”
“Oh, you’re a doll,” she replied, and somehow I knew they’d become fast friends.
Seth carefully took Poppy in his arms, like a natural, and she stared up at him with big green eyes. Seeing how gentle he was with her did something to my chest, made me wonder what I did to deserve someone so caring and kindhearted.
“You’re staring,” Seth whispered. “And I want to kiss you right now. But instead, you need to get your guests some drinks.”
Shit. I snapped out of it, offering Tucker a beer, Lauren a glass of wine, and Mia one of Seth’s apple ciders, which I had an inkling she might like.
I realized I felt more at ease now that people had shown up and nobody was acting strange. It was only me who was feeling out of sorts.
Seth led Mia and the baby outside and helped set a blanket on the grass with a bunch of toys from Mia’s bag that Poppy could easily grasp, while I stayed inside to continue prepping.
Then I heard a squeal outside and noticed that Dane and Jesse had entered through the side yard to greet Seth, followed by Brett and Tad, who looked curiously at Jesse as he spoke animatedly with Seth. My stomach constricted, wondering what they were thinking of the guy I was falling for—damn, had I just admitted that to myself?—while my protective instinct turned up a notch.
Seth can take care of himself, I reminded myself.
I was so lost in watching them that I was startled when Mark, Bree, and Hailey swept through the kitchen. I offered them drinks, and then Bree followed Hailey out the door as soon as she spotted Poppy on the grass outside.
“You doing all right?” Mark asked in a cautious voice as he cracked open his beer.
“Yeah.” I swallowed, wanting to say so many things but unable to read him right then. “How about you?”
“Good, we’re good.” He took a breath. “Listen, I’m sorry if I sort of freaked the other night. I just had no idea. But damn, I want you to be happy, Jake. With whoever you choose to be with.”
“Fuck, thanks.” I felt my shoulders unwind. “That means a lot.”
He stared out the window to the patio. “And Seth seems like a good guy.”