Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“I’ll get you one.” He sees me starting to object and glares. “It’s required that I get my girl my jersey.”
“Who said I wanted your jersey? Maybe I’m a Highsmith fan like Aiden.”
Boone smirks. “Oh, you’re totally my number one fan. It’s my name you’re screaming out in bed.”
My face flames so hot I feel a sheen of sweat on my forehead because he’s not wrong. Boone doesn’t hold back on being straight up regarding sex. I drop my head to concentrate on my food. When I look at him again, he’s still smirking, although wisely not teasing me anymore.
“One more thing,” Boone says, his smile leveling off to seriousness. “My family is coming and I want you to meet them. I know your time is limited, so I was thinking maybe after the game Tuesday night, we could all go over to Mario’s for a drink. I don’t want to interrupt your days.”
Reaching across, I touch his wrist, then slide my hand down to take his. “I’d love to meet your family. However we need to make it happen, we’ll do it.”
“I know they’d love to see Aiden if he’s up for it.”
I pull my hand back, covering my mouth while I laugh. “Are you kidding? He’d love that. You know he’s taking full credit for hooking us up?”
“He is kind of responsible, you know… cancer and all.”
I shake my head vigorously. “No, I mean he told one of the nurses the other day that he orchestrated it all, from how we met to giving us both pep talks about dating each other.”
Boone barks out a laugh. “What a ham. But you know what, let’s give it to him. Full-on credit. We’ll add a postscript on our wedding invitations thanking him.”
I laugh right along with Boone and there’s not even a single awkward moment that he just so casually mentioned wedding invitations. Not that we’ve talked about it or that it’s even a realistic expectation this early in our relationship, but it speaks solely to the fact that I think we’re both committed to a long-term future.
“How are you feeling about your dad coming home tomorrow?” Boone asks somberly.
This is the third time he’s asked the question. The initial time was a week ago when I’d gotten a positive update from Dad’s counselor that it was looking good for him to transition to outpatient. I told Boone I was really excited. The second time was just two days ago when we were lying in bed and I was fully replete and boneless from orgasms. It seems our deepest talks happened on those evenings.
I’d admitted I was nervous because I’m not prepared to handle it if Dad slips up. Things have gotten so good the last few weeks that I don’t want to have to deal with anything bad. Boone reassured me by validating my strength and reminding me that he’s by my side.
Now that my dad comes home tomorrow, I can’t say the answer is much different from the last.
“Nervous,” I say truthfully. “Obviously, happy to have him home. I miss him but more than anything, Aiden has been so sad while he’s been gone.”
“You’re going to have to let go,” Boone says. “You have no control over what happens. But if he does slip up, rehab is always there. Help is always there.” He stares deep into my eyes and speaks with deliberation. “I’m always there.”
That hits me square in the feels and my voice is hoarse with emotion. “You’re always so put together that I never feel like I can offer you much, but if you’re ever in a jam or feeling down or need me to have your back… I’m always there for you too.”
Boone smiles and pulls me across the space again to murmur against my mouth. “Guess that makes us perfect for each other then.”
CHAPTER 21
Lilly
Briskly rubbing my damp hands on my jeans, I clasp them together on my lap and check the clock behind the receptionist’s desk one more time. I’ve been waiting only about five minutes for my father, but it seems like an eternity.
I started the morning off in Boone’s bed. We’d made plans for me to stay the night with him following the cookout at Baden and Sophie’s, and once again he managed to rock my world in ways I did not think were possible. We set the alarm to wake us early and he made love to me so very sweetly, which was drastically different from the slightly rough sex we had last night. We cuddled, talked and showered. I cooked breakfast and he played his guitar for me while I whipped up bacon and eggs. I can honestly say that Boone Rivers is at his sexiest when he’s plucking at his guitar strings and singing. His voice is hoarse, smoky with a sexy purr, and I almost burned the bacon because I got distracted.