Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
“Pretty sure it was sex that made you gain fifty pounds,” Marshall jokes and she reaches around me to smack his arm.
“Seriously though, this is the third one in three weeks. Not that I’m complaining.”
I lift a shoulder and lean into Kane who pulls me into his side. He always does that when I lean into him, he just seems to know I need his heat and energy in that moment. “It’s the only way they can really see Connie and get her doing shit. We aren’t allowed to introduce sleepovers at her grandparents or even unsupervised visits. It’s strict and crazy but we’re following the rules.”
“Yeah, it’s not worth the risk,” Poppy agrees, smiling at West who almost falls off the back of the quad as Connie takes a turn in the field by the house just a bit too sharp.
“Losing your balance, old man?” I shout with my hands cupped around my mouth. He flips me the bird and points in the direction Connie needs to go.
She returns to us a minute later, sweaty under the helmet with a huge grin on her face. “That was awesome!”
“She’s almost ready for a solo ride,” West announces and Kane high fives Connie while I scowl at the two of them.
“Don’t be tellin’ her that,” Felicia admonishes and yanks on his beard before I get the chance to.
I sit in the lounge chair when Kane takes over the food and I’m equal parts surprised and absolutely fucking elated when Connie comes and plonks herself on my lap, hair damp from the heat, cheeks rosy, arms freckled and covered in sun lotion. She leans back against my chest and I tickle her arm kind of like Kane does to me when I need to unwind.
“I guess because you and Kane were so young when you had me, that nobody else you know really has any kids,” she says softly as she looks around us all.
I wrap my arms around her waist and lock them across her stomach. She’s so dainty and tall. Just like I was at her age. “You miss havin’ friends to play with?”
“Makes sense, what with her growing up in a place with a hundred other girls.” Felicia clicks her fingers. “Tell you what, how about I call my friend Jamie and see if she’ll bring her kids next time?”
“Okay.”
They share a smile and Connie nudges her way to a comfier position.
“Are you happy?” I ask her, resting my chin on her head.
“Yeah. Just really warm.”
I laugh a little. “Me too.”
“Want me to get off your lap?”
“Nope. You can stay right here forever.”
Epilogue
“Oh my God you are such a little brat but you are just so cute!” Our fourteen-year old daughter says to our two-year old son who just jumped on her lap and started scrubbing at her makeup with a wet wipe. His daddy told him to.
“Bryant,” I admonish weakly because I don’t mean it. Connie should not be wearing as much makeup as she is. I get that she’s experimenting, but I didn’t realize gothic clown was a look.
Kane chuckles and yanks me into his body as Connie drops Bryant on the soft rug and exits the room grumbling about how she’s got to fix her face. He toddles along after her, adoring her like he always has and hopefully always will.
“Show me your panties,” Kane whispers in my ear and pushes his hands into the back of my jeans to grip my rear. He bites my neck and kisses my lips until I’m breathless. “Think we’ve got time for a quickie in the restroom?”
“No,” I answer, giggling as he holds me tighter and grinds against me harder. “You need to stop. Connie’s date will be here soon.”
Kane wouldn’t agree to her going on a date until the boy’s dad, Arnold, said he’d be supervising from a few rows back. Since Arnold and Kane are friends, Kane reluctantly put his trust in the man. Connie is just happy to be going out with a boy.
“I don’t get it. I was not bothered about boys at her age,” I whisper when my mind takes me back there.
Kane’s eyes darken. “If I recall, at her age you were making out on the patch with my friend.”
I giggle and sigh dreamily for added effect. “Oh yeah.”
“Oh yeah? Why the fuck you sayin’ oh yeah like that?”
Fluttering my lashes I place my hand on my chest. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Immy,” he warns, his eyes sparking with that familiar jealousy I just love to put there. Which isn’t hard to do. Especially when he sees the kind of men I tattoo. Though he never gives me hell for it, he just fucks me so hard my eyes spin.
“Oh come on, it was years ago and it was my first kiss.”
He growls and yanks me back to him again. “You shouldn’t be able to remember your first kiss that wasn’t with me.”