Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Crew was extra fussy with Madison. River had already asked about my upgraded security system. I’d pointed out the cameras, I’d shown him the setup in my office, I’d mentioned what alarm system it was. And Blake, much like Julian, never strayed far from Joel or me.
By the time the food was done, everyone was here—well, those who could make it—and Julian had skipped over to Joel again. We’d told the kids they could eat in the living room if they wanted, but so far, they wanted to stick around.
Danny came over and threw an arm around my shoulders. “Good to see you, Daddy Jones.”
I chuckled and gave him an elbow.
“Ouch—such violence.” He sucked his teeth. “Now I don’t feel bad that Em and I fucked in your pool. Twice.”
I let out a loud laugh. As if he’d felt bad before!
“Thank you so much for letting me know, dick.” I shook my head and plated the last of the sausages. There’s an image. Steaks, sausage, hamburgers, chicken, ribs, and pork chops filled three platters, so hopefully everyone would slip into a nice food coma.
Danny and I carried the meat to the table, and Gray, Crew, and Jayden came out with the rest. Potato skins, potato salad, condiments, and bread.
It was loud as fuck with everyone busy catching up, and I kept seeking out the kids to make sure they were all right.
Children are resilient, Elliott.
As Dr. Holm had told me more than once.
I pushed through some more greetings, not wanting to be an ass, and I wished Ortega and Marisa could’ve made it too. She was thankfully making progress, but she wasn’t ready for big gatherings.
What felt like half an eternity later, I planted my ass on the grass, just off the patio, where Joel was stuffing his face and talking to Crew and Mercier. His boy, Jack, was here somewhere too. I couldn’t keep track of them all.
“Where’s Julian?” I asked Joel quietly.
My sweet man had barbecue glaze smeared around his mouth, and he waved a forkful of pork chops in the general direction of the patio. “He’s with Madison.”
“Got it.” And exhale. I could eat now.
“You’re cute as fuck, boss.”
Not now, Crew.
“I know.” I crammed half a potato skin into my mouth and chewed slowly, willing my brain to power the fuck down.
Crew grinned faintly. “When you’re ready to talk foster-care arrangements with Adrien, he’s all set.”
What the hell?
I turned to Joel.
He chuckled and nudged my shoulder with his. “I’m sorry, baby, but I know how you get. I wanted to get a head start—and I had questions.”
Mercier cleared his throat and set down his plate on the grass. “Unfortunately, I’m in no position to make promises about adoption—though, I don’t foresee any issues—but extending the foster-care situation won’t be a problem. Keith Davis is wanted for armed robbery, so even when we find him, there isn’t a chance in hell he’s regaining custody of the boys.”
I swallowed my food, and it slid down slowly, heavily, as the gravity of the moment hit me. Was this what Darius and Gray had gone through when they’d waited to hear if they could adopt their kids? I had this painful fear that my dream of permanent would crash and burn. That we’d only be granted the temporary solution.
Joel reached over and kissed my cheek. “I know it’s not the guarantee you wanted, but it’s enough for us to actually ask the boys if they’d like to live here permanently.”
Right. Yeah. He was right. That’d been my half-assed plan too. Talk to Mercier, extend the foster-care arrangement, then ask the boys what they wanted. And only then, if they wanted to stay with us, could we start fighting for adoption.
Could this actually be happening?
“I think they’ll wanna stay temporarily, at least,” I admitted.
Crew snorted softly. “With all due respect, boss, but your confidence is shit on this matter. I play Battlefield and Call of Duty with Jack and Nicky, like, two or three times a week. Trust me, he wants to live here.”
Goddammit, I should eavesdrop more often.
“What do you say?” Joel nudged me again. “All in?”
I grinned, nervousness and hope and all the fucking worries buzzing through me.
“All in.”
The last kid fell asleep around one in the morning.
Madison had crashed at the same time Julian did, a little past nine.
It was just us grunts left.
Emerson and I emptied the house of chairs so everyone could get a seat around the table, and in the meantime, Danny lowered the volume on the stereo, a few of the others filled the table with snacks and alcohol, and Gray and Ryan started a fire in the grill, mostly for the light. The two patio lights I had by the door didn’t always notice movement farther out.
It was on Joel’s list of things to take care of. He seemed to enjoy little projects around the house.