Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“Sounds like a plan.” I swallowed. What would Sean say in this situation? He was the A-plus dad and honorary uncle, not me. “But…it’s okay if you have…feelings about your dad wanting to date.”
“Oh, he says he’s never dating again.” Wren tossed a small hand dramatically. “Jonas went to this speed dating thing with some nurses. Dad said he’d rather have an unmedicated appendectomy. But Dr. Dad would have wanted him to have a person. Someday.”
“Someday. When he’s ready.” I took a breath to try to ease my burning throat. Wren nodded stoically as I added, “When you’re all ready.”
“How did you know you were ready to date Sean?” Wren asked, conversational tone, completely unaware of the minefield they were wandering into.
“Um.” I tried to think of an appropriate response. “He made it hard to say no.”
“Ah.” Wren crossed the kitchen to fetch their ever-present notebook. “Neurotypical allosexual dating habits are so weird.”
“Uh. Pardon?” I took over dishing the mousse into serving dishes that would then go into the fridge.
“It’s not an insult,” Wren assured me as they scribbled away with a red pen. “I’m taking notes.”
“Ah.”
Blessedly, Sean and the two older kids chose that moment to come hustling in. Rowan was already on his phone and John was a sweaty mess, and both headed straight up the back stairs.
“Denver?” Sean glanced between me and Wren. “Wren? Why is Denver here, and why does he look so confused?”
“I called him a neurotypical allosexual. Which is accurate. You guys are dating. You kiss, and you likely have the sex—”
“Okay, that’s enough of that.” Sean turned fire-engine red as I made a strangled noise. “I like Denver able to breathe, thank you. Did you have a point, Wren?”
“I always have a point.” Wren’s tone was smug as they drew themselves up to their full, unsubstantial height. Taking the tray of small dishes from me, Wren crossed to the fridge. “And now, I have mousse.”
“Help?” Sean looked to me for answers.
“Hey, don’t ask me.” I held up my hands. “I’m only here because Wren needed plain gelatin and a lesson on double boilers.”
“Wren called you?” Sean smiled slowly.
“Yeah.”
“And you came?” His smile widened like I’d given him some treat.
“Yeah.”
“Thank you.” While Wren’s back was to us, he gave me a fast, soft kiss.
“Oh, hello!” Naturally, as soon as we kissed, the back door opened again. A tall, broad bear of a late-thirty-something dude in nursing scrubs strode in to hold out a hand. “Denver? We finally meet. I’m Jonas.”
“Hey.” My grip felt clammy. My hands, along with the rest of me, were totally uncertain as to what was happening here.
“Wren, what smells so good?” Jonas asked as Wren returned from placing the dishes in the fridge.
“Baked ziti. And there’s chocolate mousse for dessert.”
“I should leave you all to it.” I scurried toward the backdoor, but Wren gave me a stare worthy of a dictator giving orders.
“You’re staying.”
“I am?”
“Of course.” Wren nodded sharply. Jonas was already fetching plates, and I felt like I was on one of those moving sidewalks, powerless to get off. “How else am I supposed to know if this is an appropriate date meal?”
“Uh. Sean and Jonas could give their opinions—”
“They’re not chefs. Get the silverware.”
“Yes, general.” I laughed because that seemed my only alternative.
“Eureka!” Wren grinned wide, their wild hair askew and snaggle tooth smile giving them even more mad scientist vibes than usual. “That’s the nonbinary term for leader that I’ve been searching for. None of this sir or ma’am nonsense.”
“General or maybe mastermind would suit too.” Sean teased as the three adults made quick work of setting the dining room table. I supposed I was having a family meal whether I wanted it or not.
And in the end, it was a surprisingly fun, loud, chaotic meal. Sean didn’t speak much, but all three teens more than made up for his uncharacteristic lack of chattiness. As always, Wren scattered in plenty of scientific facts. Rowan did impressions of all the other leads in the play while John reported on upcoming football fundraisers, including a car wash. Apparently, the local team was notoriously bad, but John had high hopes for the fall season. I liked the way Sean and the rest of the kids encouraged him to think positively.
The baked ziti and mousse were both huge hits, and after dinner, Jonas shooed the teens upstairs for homework and waved Sean and me to the back deck so he could take charge of kitchen cleanup.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t be helping?” I asked as Sean took over one of the large Adirondack chairs on the deck.
“I offered. Jonas has a very particular method for loading the dishwasher. That and he probably wanted to offer us some alone time.” Sean shrugged and gestured to the chair next to his.
“Ah.” I lowered myself to sit, not particularly comfortable. “I suppose we could get some work in on the carriage house tonight since we’re both off.”