Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I look over at Dylan who has just destroyed the meatball and is asking Justin for another one. His mouth is covered in sauce. “So how many sisters did you say you had again?” I ask him as I take my first bite of the meatball, and it has to be the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.
“Three,” he says, chewing. “Allison is the oldest girl.” He smiles. “Then the twins, Zara and Zoe.” His eyes light up when he talks about his family.
“So you’re the baby?” I ask him again, this time eating a piece of the calamari. It melts in my mouth.
“Matthew is the oldest,” he says, looking at Dylan. “The guy who called me when I was driving.” Dylan couldn’t care less what he is saying as he eats his food.
“How much older?” I ask him.
“Eighteen years,” he says, and my eyes open wide. “Were you an oops?”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Matthew and Allison are from my mom’s first marriage.”
“So your half brother and sister?” I say, and he shakes his head.
“Not to us,” he says. “My dad is their dad; doesn’t matter what blood they have.” I put my hand on his arm. “Their father cheated on my mother, and she caught him. I’ve never met the man, but I’ve been told he’s a tool.”
“Do they still keep in touch with him?” My hand remains on his arm.
“Nope. He stopped coming around when my dad came into the picture. He tried to get my mother back, but my father, well, let’s just say he squashed that idea right away,” he says, and his face lights up again. “It took one look from my dad, and he was a goner. I mean that, and my mother told him to take a hike, which made Dad want her even more.”
“Love at first sight.” I smile now and take my hand off his arm and eat another meatball. “Are your siblings married?”
“Yeah, all of them. Matthew is married to Karrie, and they have four kids.” My eyes go big. “He’s a caveman. If he could carry her around over his shoulder and pound his chest while screaming she’s mine, he probably would.” I laugh. “Allison is married to Max, and they have two kids. He is also Matthew’s ex-enemy.”
“Holy crap,” I say, mesmerized by the family.
“Oh, yeah, not only did they get married”—he starts to laugh—“but they eloped, and Matthew found out watching SportsCenter.” I put my hand to my mouth.
“One more meatball,” Dylan says, and Justin looks at me for approval.
“You sure? There is pizza and pasta coming,” I say, and he nods his head.
“So tell me more,” I ask, wanting to hear more.
“Zara was the first twin to get married to Evan Richards,” he says, then waits for my reaction after he says his name, and when I just shrug, he looks at Dylan. “Evan Richards.”
“He’s the best. He won a Stanley Cup,” he says, wiping his mouth. “Not as good as Justin, though.”
“Wait,” Justin says. He takes out his phone, and suddenly, he’s FaceTiming someone, and the man who fills the screen is hot. “Yo,” Justin says, and the man speaks up.
“Hey,” he says, and then I hear a woman’s voice yelling in the background.
“Why the hell is Justin calling you?” She now stands next to the guy, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prettier woman in my life.
“He likes me better than you,” the man says.
“Okay, listen,” Justin says. “I want you to hear what I just heard.”
The woman snatches the phone. “Oh my God, is this gossip?” she says with a squeal. “I love gossip. What is it about? Is it about Allison? Did you notice her weight gain, too? You think she’s pregnant?”
“What?” Justin asks, shocked. “I need Evan.”
“I’m here,” he says, and he comes to stand next to who must be his wife, Justin’s sister Zara.
“Dylan,” he says, pressing the button to turn the camera around. “What did you say about Evan Richards?” Dylan smiles and becomes shy. “It’s okay, buddy. He knows,” Justin says.
“I said he’s good,” Dylan says, almost hiding his smile.
“And …” Justin says.
“But you’re better,” he says.
Zara starts laughing, and Evan yells, “Bullshit!” Loudly.
“There is a kid in the room,” Zara says, and now Evan grabs the phone from her.
“I want to speak to Dylan,” he says, and Justin hands Dylan the phone.
“How old are you?” he asks Dylan.
“Eight,” Dylan says.
“What level do you play?” Evan asks him.
Zara is in the background. “Would you stop harassing the child, Evan?”
“I play forward,” Dylan says proudly.
“When I’m down in two weeks, how about we play one-on-one?” Evan says, and I hear dogs barking in the background.
“You just threw down to a child,” Zara admonishes.
“It’s on,” Dylan says, and I shake my head as he hands the phone back to Justin.