Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 79749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
"What if it's a girl puppy?" Jersey asks, having decided to join us.
"I'll name a girl puppy... Felix!" Eli says excitedly.
I glare at Jersey. He knows what the hell he's doing. The man won't leave it alone, and I'm already in hot water with Aspen as it is for even working toward finding out if a puppy was a possibility for Eli. To the child, he sees that effort as a guarantee that I'll make it happen, and because of that, I know I have to.
Aspen has mentioned more than once that I'm spoiling him, but I can't help it. I've already spent his entire life away from him. I don't want him to ever want for a single thing, especially not after what he's been through. A puppy? A couple of toys from Target? I'm not going to make him a deviant in society's eyes. He's a kid. He should have toys and outlets for fun. There isn't a single thing we had brought back here to the cabin. As far as anyone in their previous lives is concerned, Aspen and Eli Gaines—soon to be Aspen and Eli Parsons if she answers the question I plan to ask her later the right way—are dead, right along with their dear leader Damien.
They're both starting over literally and figuratively, and that includes toys, clothes, and all personal belongings.
Plus, what boy doesn't need a dog? Secondly, it was mentioned by a licensed professional that a dog is a great companion for a boy who suffered a trauma, and Eli has been through many.
Jersey grins at me, and I can tell he's goading Eli on just to piss me off, but he's good with my son. Aspen mentioned earlier that she thinks Jersey's been through some stuff, and her guess is that he lost some people very close to him, but I don't know the man enough to get in the middle of his shit. If he wants to talk about his past, I'm here to listen, but until then, it's none of my business.
"Jericho," Eli whispers when we open the door and step into the pool area.
The humidity in the air sticks to me, making my clothes cling to my skin. I'm glad Aspen is taking a little longer to get ready because I need to be in the water before I see her come out in her bathing suit. If I'm standing on the side of the pool, everyone in here is going to become very aware of the effect that woman has on my body. It's why we sit apart from each other when we're in the same room as Eli. Just the warmth of her body next to mine gets me riled up.
Eli calling me Jericho makes my skin itch, but I know he isn't doing it to hurt me on purpose. Maybe one of these days I'll be daddy to him, but until then, Jericho works.
"I think it's not a good time," he says, his hand immediately reaching out for mine as his feet stop in their tracks.
"This is a great time," I say. "You remember Lark and Casper, right? Hey, guys! How's the water?"
"Feels great," Casper says, lifting handfuls of it and pouring it over the top of his head.
"Eli? Is that you?"
I blow out a sigh of relief at the sound of Caitlyn's voice.
"Miss Caitlyn!" he says, releasing my hand and shuffle-walking as quickly toward her as he can without anyone being able to consider it running because there's a rule about that near the pool.
Caitlyn smiles before crouching low to get the hug he has to offer. I dart my eyes to Casper and Lark to make sure they aren't eye fucking her in her very appropriate one-piece bathing suit.
"I was hoping you'd join us for a swim. Have you met my friends Casper and Lark?"
"What the fuck is she doing here?" Jersey growls, his hand on my forearm, stopping me before I can join Caitlyn and Eli.
"Caitlyn?" I ask, already annoyed because the two of them are too far away and getting ready to get in the pool for me to hear what their conversation is about.
"That's her real name?"
"Real name?" I growl, pulling my arm away from him aggressively before getting my temper under control.