Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
He shut that shit down so fast I still laugh my ass off when I think about it. Although he’s crazy about Kylie. That man will tear your head off for looking at his little girl wrong.
“Auntie Ven, look out,” Colten croons as he and Bruce run by and dive into the pool.
Their older brother AJ frowns at them and splashes them with water as they come back up. I shake my head. These kids are something else. I still can’t believe I have two sixteen-year-olds.
I move to sit on the edge of the pool between Kelex and Pit. Josh is holding Perseus in his arms as he’s fast asleep.
“If it isn’t Mayor Mayven,” Josh murmurs.
“Shut up,” I say and frown at him.
This has been a long-standing joke for the last sixteen years. Because of him, I’ve been the mayor of Vander for three terms and Bridge Lake for one. I can’t remember the last time someone called me Skittles.
We’ve grown up. Will is a public advocate, Josh sits as controller, and Ox is a city council member and both Lex and Shawna lead community boards. I don’t think we run Vander and Bridge Lake the way our parents and grandparents wanted us to, but we’re doing a lot of things our way.
Although, don’t get it fucked up. The savages still come out when needed. My Assholes are still assholes.
We still live life doing what makes us happy. However, I was surprised when Leo announced he’d be running for Bridge Lake’s mayoral office.
I smile as I turn and look at Josh. “You know, you still owe me ten grand,” I tease.
“For what?”
“You guys all married within five years and had kids. Where’s my money, Josh?” I say in my best Stewie voice before bursting into laughter.
“I’ll get right on that,” he snorts. “You know, you were right about something else.”
“Oh yeah, what was that?”
He turns to look me in the eyes. I see why Shawna loves his hair like this. Even with the streaks of gray, it’s still so full and lush and brings something pretty yet dangerous to his features.
“I’m looking back and realizing it was all for my good. It all came full circle,” he says, then dips to kiss Perseus’s brow.
“Yeah, I guess it did,” I say with a smile as Shawna comes and sits next to him, placing her head on his shoulder.
Laughter draws my attention back to the pool. Ox has Lex wrapped in his embrace from behind. The kids are splashing Leo. He has a huge smile on his face as he splashes them back.
It did come full circle for us all. I can’t say I’d change a thing because it shaped who we are. All this love came from what we’ve been through.
“Yo, Ethan, leave your sister alone. She said she doesn’t want to get her hair wet,” Pit calls to our youngest son.
“Thanks, Daddy,” Nina says and rolls her eyes at her little brother. “Ugh, you play too much.”
“I’ve got you, baby girl,” Pit croons. Then he looks at me. “That kid always has to take it too far.”
“Um, wonder where he gets that from?” I tap at my lip.
“His mother.”
“I wonder who this new baby will take after?” I muse, covering my stomach.
“Mayven, you know you’re fucking lying. My knees can barely handle lifting your ass and tossing you around these days. Leave them change-of-life babies to pretty boy over there.”
Kelex gives him the finger. I fall into Pit laughing. He wraps an arm around my head and kisses the top. “What would I do without that laugh?”
“You will never know.”
“That laugh makes me miss the cabin,” Josh says.
“Right, good times. You guys remember that one Christmas?” I say while looking at Leo with a smile.
Pit and Josh crack up. “Thank God it worked out. They probably wouldn’t have talked to us ever again if it hadn’t,” Josh chuckles.
“You can say that again,” Pit says through his laughter.
I smile at the memory. I still love my guys. No matter what’s going on, they’re still my Assholes for life.