Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“No.” I wasn’t going to lie to him but I tried to add a qualification that would keep him from worrying as badly as Cashel. “But I think this will help move us in the right direction. Do you want to be the one to explain to Brady’s mom that we’re not going to another family dinner?”
“Ugh.” Gareth sighed as he looked up the stairs toward their other apartment. “That sounds miserable…but going out on a double date with Brady and Jude?”
Yeah, I wasn’t sure which one would torture us more but Brady’s mom had actually tracked us down the other day. It was clear we had to get our act together and all figure out how to get along like a reasonably functional family or she was going to step in.
“Would you rather write a letter?” Cashel came up behind us, looking up the stairs too. “I’ll support your decision if that’s what you want.”
“I hate those.” Gareth looked like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to pout or pitch a fit. “I really hate those.”
Alright, double dating it was.
“It’s going to be fine. We’re going to have dinner and hang out.” And once we knew Brady wouldn’t ask us anything odd and Jude wouldn’t glare at us, then we’d know it was alright to go to family dinner.
I had to admit I was looking forward to that part, but the rest of it, well, not so much.
“We’ve been doing a lot better and it’s been a while since Jude glared at anyone.” Cashel being the calm voice of reason was fascinating, and he had a good point.
“You talking to Brady about your pup side helped a lot.” Kissing Gareth’s cheek, I tried to look confident as we heard Brady start bouncing down the stairs.
“I really think that if we move the boxes around again, we can get at least one or two more in.” Brady seemed to be doing his best to talk Jude into more toys, but even I knew he already had hoarder-levels of stuff packed away in his room. “You liked those new boxes. We could get more of those.”
It was a good try, but even Cashel and Gareth winced.
“I think we need to work out a system that if something new comes in, something old has to go out.” Jude’s logical response was met with more winces and a shocked inhale from Brady.
“Oh, that’s…I’ve been a good boy, Daddy.” Brady was wonderfully manipulative and I couldn’t tell if he was trying to get his way or actually offended.
Gareth was frowning and seemed confused too, but Cashel just raised one eyebrow like he wasn’t buying it.
“Bambi, I’m just trying to be reasonable.” Jude’s tone said he realized that wasn’t what his adorable cutie wanted to hear. “There’s only so many toys that will fit in your room.”
Brady sighed as they got closer, obviously thinking Jude was missing some kind of point. “I’ll have more room once Gareth and Cashel move in with Bates. Then I can turn their room into a playroom.”
Wait, didn’t he already have a playroom in Jude’s apartment?
What were they doing with that empty second bedroom?
Hadn’t Brady’s mom told him she’d bought out the other side this semester so Jude wouldn’t have to worry about a roommate?
It seemed like no one wanted to have to explain Brady to a new stranger at this point in their relationship.
So what were they doing?
I’d heard someone talking about it in the housing office a few weeks ago. They were a wealth of fun information and were easily bribed with coffee, but I’d actually been there to talk about my lease and when I had to be out of the dorms.
Was it supposed to be a secret?
Was someone’s birthday coming up?
“You’ve got the weirdest expression.” Gareth frowned, studying my face instead of the tail end of the toy debate. “What did they do?”
My smart cutie.
Just as Brady and Jude came down the stairs, I gave Gareth a quick kiss. “I’ll tell you later. Nothing bad.”
He knew me so well.
Cashel did too because he sighed. “Brady or his family did something weird.”
Smart men were so sexy.
But there was no time to get distracted because our friends had arrived. Well, Gareth and Cashel’s family and my interesting acquaintances. I wasn’t sure how they’d describe me yet, but I wasn’t betting on family.
Now Brady’s mother…she considered me family.
Hmm, maybe that was another reason we were driving Jude nuts?
He didn’t have the best homelife growing up.
But I wasn’t supposed to know that, so I just smiled as they came down, with Brady frowning and Jude looking frustrated.
Cashel and Gareth didn’t seem to know how to help, and I was smart enough not to want to get involved in a toy debate with a little, so it was slightly awkward until Gareth took one for the team. “I’m not sure you have room for more toys, dude. It’s just…well, your Daddy has a point.”