Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
So many details and new experiences are coming at me that I barely gain my footing before a new one occurs. Sometimes they come two or three at a time. It is a lot.
Quickly, more platters of food and people come into the room, and before I know it, everyone is seated. Lily on my left, and Seb beyond her. Lex, Jules, and Rem are across from the three of us, with Pops at the head.
My mouth falls open when I realize Seb and Rem are the two closest to the children and intend to be the ones to watch over them during the meal.
I cannot process this fact.
Men caring for toddlers.
My eyes widen, and all color must have drained from my face because Pops pats me on the hand and draws my attention away from them as he leans in for a conspiratorial whisper.
“This week, the girls cooked, so the guys have baby duty.”
I shake my head and look across to Lex, unable to believe what I’m hearing.
“Yep,” he nods, “even me.”
It feels as if I have entered a surreal, alternate reality.
As the evening rolls on, the surprises continue, making it nearly impossible to believe all of this is real.
“I would like to propose a toast.” Seb clinks his fork against his wine glass for our attention and looks around the table. Once he has it, he lifts the glass and stands. “I want to acknowledge someone very special tonight. Someone who took a risk, which I expect to pay off in droves.”
I look at Lex as I join everyone in holding my glass up. He winks at me, which causes my face to redden, feeling certain Seb is about to acknowledge me as their dinner guest.
“This person is insightful, growing in greater awareness every day, gorgeous without a doubt,” the group laughs as they look at me, “and most possibly, the smartest person at this table–which has likely gone unacknowledged for far too long.”
Now I am confused. Surely, all of those accolades could not be for me, right? I look at Lex and Seb and several others at the table to see if they understand what is going on. Lily pets my leg reassuringly, reinforcing that I am to be the focal point of the toast.
“So, without further ado, please toast…myself–yours truly, who had the keen and amazing foresight to coerce, cajole, and blackmail Lex into bringing Jude tonight.”
The entire room riotously cracks up, with Pops leaning back to rub his jostling belly, and shouts going around all over the place.
“Here, here!”
“Yes, to Seb!”
“Just brilliant, man!”
I laugh with them, enjoying their easy banter and the camaraderie, and the fact that Pops is laughing so hard he is crying and pulling out a hankie to wipe his eyes. But on the inside, I’m deeply hurt by what he said. He made Lex bring me?
Does that mean Lex didn’t want me here?
I force the thought away, not wanting to think about that. This night has been amazing. I don’t want to let my insecurities ruin it.
Maggie and Kayla are even getting in on the action as they pound their sippy cups on their table and watch us.
It is a perfect, perfect moment, and another one that rips open my heart a little more.
17
Lex
Coming up behind Jude, who is standing on the back porch, I grab her waist and lean into her. “I’m glad you are having a good time,” I whisper into the shell of her ear, feeling her body shiver. She turns in my hold and surprises the crap out of me when she plants a kiss on my lips. It’s soul-searing, warmth, and joy. Her arms snake around my neck, pulling me close, but I still feel like it’s not close enough. I don’t want there to be anything between us.
By the time we come up from the kiss, we’re both breathless. Jude’s eyes rake over my face, and a bubble of laughter falls from her lips. “Sorry, I got some lipstick on you.”
“Don’t ever be sorry for kissing me. I’ll be right back.”
I place one final kiss on her lips, then run upstairs to the bathroom before anyone can see me. God knows, my brothers would give me shit for days if they saw me with lipstick on my face. Watching her tonight. It was like watching a tennis match, an opera, and my favorite movie of all time, all at once. It was suspenseful, surprising, intense, beautiful, confusing, and heart-swelling, all together in some hardcore, blow-out-your-brain-cells sort of way. I could not have been prouder of her and was happy everyone really seemed to love her.
When I saw her crying with Maggie and Kayla on her lap, it made me wonder what her upbringing must have been like. I know it wasn’t good, but still, I would like to know more. I want her to talk to me, share everything with me. I want to take her pain away, want to bring her into my arms, and hold onto her forever.