Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“You said that,” she finally speaks up.
“I know, but I didn’t get to do this.” Leaning back, I tilt her chin and press my lips to hers. The kiss is PG but does nothing to quell my desire for her. I nip at her bottom lip, forcing myself to pull away before I won’t be able to.
“I can’t believe you did all of this. Forrest, it’s too much.” Her lips are swollen and shining from our kiss.
“Nonsense. Come on. Let’s go check on the girls.”
Releasing her, I lace her fingers with mine.
“They don’t know,” she says, and she doesn’t need to explain. I know she’s talking about her daughters.
I nod. “Okay. You let me know when you’re ready.” Dropping her hand, I lead us outside.
“Mommy!” River and Rayne call out. “Look!” They’re sitting in their chairs I bought them. Roman is next to them, keeping a close eye on them.
“Wow,” Briar responds. “Those are cool.”
“They’re for girls,” Rayne tells us.
Briar looks up at me. “You don’t need to spoil them.”
“What makes you think it was me?” I ask, placing a hand against my chest as if I’m offended.
“Right.” She laughs. “Those chairs have you written all over them, Uncle Forty,” she teases.
Before I can tell her I’m not her uncle, Monroe and Emerson pull her away with Brogan to greet Maggie.
I’ve smiled so much today, my face hurts. It’s been incredible to have everyone here while getting to spend the day with Briar and the girls, even if I do have to share them. It’s made it even better.
“Time for gifts!” Monroe announces.
I’m sitting on a lounge chair with River and Rayne. I have one on each side, and they’re sleep soundly. The sun and swimming wore them out. Briar and Brogan both offered to take them in to lay them down, but I refused. We’re sitting under an umbrella, keeping the sun off them, and I’m just enjoying the moment.
Briar and Brogan smile and blush as they open each gift. Maddox and Lachlan got them both gift cards to a boutique in town, claiming they didn’t know what to get them. Maggie got them tumblers with their names on them that all five of the ladies gush over.
Monroe and Legend got them each a bath set. With lotions, and salts and all that stuff that I only know about because of my little sister and her best friend.
Emerson got them both some kind of wallet that they all also gushed over. It’s a woman thing, and I’m okay with that. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.
“Last one.” Emerson hands them my gifts. An envelope for each one.
I watch as they open them and grin.
“Spa Day.” Brogan holds up her envelope and waves it in the air. “Thanks, Forrest.”
“You’re welcome.” My eyes find Briar. “That comes with a day of childcare. You let me know when you ladies are going, and I’ll make sure I’m off to watch the girls.”
“Forrest,” Briar breathes.
“Don’t worry, Briar. We’ll make sure he’s supervised,” Lachlan jokes.
Everyone laughs, including Briar and me, but her eyes that are locked on mine tell a different story. She’s happy, and she’s surprised that I would offer to keep the girls. That’s fine too. She’ll understand eventually. When she’s ready to open up her heart and let me finish tearing down those walls of hers, it will all make sense to her. In the meantime, I’m going to keep showing up. I’m going to show her that my words are what's in my heart with my actions.
“Cake!” Lachlan calls out, making us laugh.
“We’re on it,” Maggie says, as she and Monroe head into the house to get the cake.
Briar comes over to me. “Thank you, Forrest. Not just for the gift, but for today.”
“You’re welcome, beautiful.”
She offers me a shy smile.
“I have another gift for you. Grab the bag behind the lounger.”
“You’ve done enough.”
“Humor me.”
“Fine.” She stands and finds the small gift bag behind the lounger, which I left before everyone arrived. “What’s this?”
“Open it.”
She reaches into the bag and pulls out an envelope. Tearing it open, she tugs out the small stack of cards. “What are these?”
“Mom coupon cards.”
“What?”
“I found coupon cards online that were blank, and well, I filled one out for mom things.” I nod and she starts sifting through them.
“Dinner, date night, babysitting, laundry, housecleaning, car wash,” she reads off some of the cards.
“Those are all things I’ll do for you. You just have to hand me a coupon and consider it done.”
She keeps flipping through the cards. When she stops, she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “Forrest, this is too much.”
“No, baby, it’s not too much.” I place my hand over hers, careful not to wake the girls. “I know it’s been you and Brogan taking care of the girls all on your own, but that’s not the case anymore. I want to be there for all of you. Girls' night, bring them to me. I’ll come to you, whatever works, but I want to do this. I enjoy spending time with them. You’ve raised two incredible tiny humans, Briar.”