Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Everyone was there, gathered around the island, getting their food.
Ande and I fell in line.
Before I could start loading my plate, Tex was stolen from my arms by Nash.
“Hey!” I grumbled.
“Sorry, it’s just nice to hold a kid who isn’t a complete nutso.” Nash nuzzled Tex.
“Your kids aren’t that bad,” Ande lied.
Nash leveled her with a look. “They’re all like their mother. I’ve lost hope of ever getting a normal one.”
We all laughed at that.
And were still laughing about that when Folsom and Kobe came barreling into the room.
Folsom cut the line and started chatting it up with Ande.
Folsom and Kobe’s kids followed in shortly after, heading straight to the kids’ table that had already been pre-loaded with plates of food for them all.
“…daughter is freakin’ badass. She’s taking MMA lessons of all things. That’s how she learned how to do what she did to that asshole,” Folsom said to Ande.
“Who are you talking about?” Atlas asked.
“Her name is Elliette McBride. Though, from what I could tell, she’s currently trying to get that changed. She filed a petition with the court this morning,” Folsom said. “She’s the daughter of…”
Atlas’s brows rose. “Tough life.”
“Tough life, indeed,” Ande murmured.
“Sounds rather familiar,” Zip drawled from her sprawl next to her husband. “Changing my name was the best thing I ever did.”
Nash snorted.
I looked over at Nash, my gaze zeroing in on his face. “Why do you look like that?”
His lips twitched. “No reason.”
“Zip,” I said, “why is he smiling like that?”
Zip flashed us a grin. “He got a clean bill of health again today from the oncologist. He is still cancer free.”
There was a loud cheer, and then Nash laughed.
“Speaking of great news,” Simi said as she sat down on the couch next to Nash. “Coffey has some great news as well.”
“Tell us,” Val urged.
“He’s getting a Michelin Star!”
“Holy shit!” Autry crowed. “Brother, that’s fucking awesome!”
Coffey’s cheeks pinked. “It’s not a done deal…”
“It’s a done freakin’ deal,” Simi interrupted. “The rest is all paperwork. He’s won it.”
“Well, since we’re sharing great news,” Tony said from her perch on the couch. “Slone was inducted into the hall of fame. They’re officially retiring his jersey number.”
More cheers.
“That’s freakin’ fantastic, man,” I said slapping Slone on the back as I walked toward the single chair that was open next to Crimson.
“Anybody else?” Hades asked.
“Felix is getting an award next month for Doctor of the Year for Dallas Medical,” Val chirped.
Felix sighed. “It’s not that big of a deal, babe.”
“It’s a big deal,” Val disagreed.
“Agreed,” we all confirmed.
“You know,” Quinn grumbled. “You all are a bunch of overachievers. How the hell can normal people compare?”
Ande flicked him on the ear. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you just get some huge accolade from the department for saving a child’s life?”
Quinn grumbled something under his breath, causing Shayne to snort.
“Shut up,” Quinn said to her.
Shayne flipped him off. “Make me.”
“Children,” Germaine said. “For the love of all that’s holy, can’t y’all just act like normal people every once in a while?”
That had me snorting. “That’s where you’re mistaken, Ger. None of us are normal. And we probably never will be.”
Ande flicked a few olives from her salad onto my plate as she passed, then took up a seat on the floor next to Hannibal’s feet.
He scooted over, causing Coco to hiss at him.
Coco, the white tiger, that now lived in a house full of children.
Melon, who was somewhere outside enjoying the cool night breeze for once, echoed her grumble.
“Hey, speaking of cats…” Folsom said. “How would y’all feel about more? I have a friend who knows someone who just got caught illegally farming exotic pets.”
All the ladies perked up. “Oh?”
I groaned. “No more cats!”
Ande shot me a look over her plate of food. One that clearly said I wasn’t the boss of her.
“Shit,” I grumbled.
“We’re going to have more cats,” Slone grumbled.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “We are.”
And I was right.
Six weeks later, two more tiger cubs were introduced to the circus.
Along with a mini highland cow.
As my wife stood there with Tiki, the white tiger cub in her arm, she rocked my world.
“I wish Addison could’ve seen this.”
I pressed a kiss to Ande’s cheek and said, “She sees it, baby. She sees it.”
BONUS SCENE
SIMI
The family’s first Christmas in a permanent location
“What do we do?” I asked quietly.
“I guess we put up a tree or something,” Tony said, looking around awkwardly. “Do we all have to put up a tree since we live apart?”
Keene, who was just as awkwardly standing in the middle of Home Depot with us, stared.
“The Grand Duchess,” he pointed. “That one is the coolest looking.”
“I think I saw that on TikTok,” Crimson said.
“I vote we don’t all do a tree,” Hades’ lip curled. “The thought of having to get seven trees literally makes me want to break out in hives.”