Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“All the concerts you brought me to didn’t hurt either,” he said, just bursting with joy for this next phase of his life. “I love you,” he said, nodding.
“We love you too,” I told him as he finally turned and made his way back to his van, and climbed in.
“What are you doing?” I asked as Finn immediately reached for his phone, messing around for a second as our son backed out of the driveway.
“Payback,” he said, then an evil little smirk toyed at his lips as our son slammed on the brakes and glared over at us at the end of the driveway as the musical stylings of Bop Bop blasted at full from the many speakers in his van. “I’m connected to his stereo. I can blast Bop Bop from my phone no matter where he is in the country. And I plan to do it. Often.”
In the van, our boy switched the music to a different song then burst out laughing.
We all did.
And, somehow, that made it just the tiniest bit easier to watch him pull away.
“If it makes you feel any better,” our middle son said, “I plan on being a biker.”
“You will be a damn preacher, kid,” I declared. “I can’t have one kid on the road and another speeding around on a bike. And what about you?” I asked our youngest. “How do you plan on breaking my heart?”
To that, he shot me a smirk that reminded me a lot of the one his Uncle Fallon always had.
“I hate Myleo,” he declared, making my mouth fall open. Like… wide open.
He hated Myleo?
Myleo?
The musician both Carl and I adored.
The one who had once owned my guitar.
The one who Finn and I danced to at our wedding.
“You’re grounded,” I declared, getting a laugh out of him.
“We’re actually gonna go to the clubhouse,” our middle said.
“Fine fine. All my kids just leave me,” I said, reaching for my keys, and tossing them at him. “Oh, and while you’re on the way there, you should have your brother scan that code on my keychain,” I told them, trying like hell not to smile. “It’s a song your father gave me,” I added. “It exemplifies his love for me,” I added.
The boys shared a strange look but said okay as they climbed into the SUV.
They didn’t even fully pass the house before they slammed on the brakes.
The window rolled down on the passenger side.
“Gross!” our youngest called out, making Finn and I both laugh our asses off.
“Couldn’t let you have all the fun,” I declared.
“Traumatizing our sons is always fun,” Finn agreed.
“I feel like an empty-nester, even though I know those two will come back eventually.”
Though it was summer break, and I had a feeling they’d be doing a lot of sleepovers at the club.
I was trying really hard not to be too overprotective of them. They were teenagers. They were going to seek out good times. At least at the club, I knew someone would keep an eye on them. Keep them from doing anything too stupid.
“What would we do as empty-nesters?” Finn asked.
“I would love to claim we’d be out going to concerts and being crazy,” I said. “But…”
“Forensic Files reruns and Chinese sounds a hell of a lot better?”
“See? That’s why I love you. You get me.”
“Maybe if we get some energy, we can hit Jake’s.”
“Let’s not get too crazy,” I said, smiling as we made our way back inside the house.
“Some music and brownies, then,” he said.
“Only if you’re baking them.”
“Like I’d ever let you make me food,” he said, pulling me down with him on the couch, pulling my legs over his lap.
“You know what?” he asked after ordering the food.
“What?”
“I’m really fucking glad you asked me to drive you home that night.”
I wanted to say something funny, to lighten the mood.
But at the end of the day, I’d had that thought a million times over the years.
I could have asked someone else there.
I could have called a ride-share.
One tiny different decision, and my entire life would have been so much different.
No kids.
No Finn.
I couldn’t even fathom it.
“Me too,” I agreed, leaning into him. “You’re the only person in the whole world I can be alone together with.”
He pressed a kiss to the side of my head.
“Now, let’s go solve a murder, shall we?” he asked, turning on our show.
XX