Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
“No, it wouldn’t mean that you couldn’t come in and get a snuggle with your dad. But he might take you back to your room and cuddle with you in your bed.”
“Would you cuddle with me?”
“Of course, if you wanted me to.”
“Okay. Then I think it would be fun for you to sleep over. Sometimes Claire and I have sleepovers, but now that she has hockey practice, it makes it harder.” She drags her toes along the ground, slowing herself down.
“Hockey practice can be early in the morning,” I agree. “Speaking of Claire, should we stop at the bakery and pick up something yummy for dessert?”
“Oh yes! We should go to Whimsy’s, they have all the best desserts.” She hops off the swing and waits for me to hop off mine. Then she slips her hand in mine. “I really like that we all get to go to Claire’s tonight. It makes it feel almost like a weekend instead of a weekday.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” I agree.
“Her mom is really nice. I like her a lot,” Peyton says.
“I like her a lot too.” I squeeze her hand.
Peyton looks up at me. “You know what would be really great?”
“What’s that?”
“If one day you became my mom.”
My heart stutters in my chest, then swells. I’m scared to let that hope take root, but the seed is already planted.
Half an hour later, Peyton and I pull into Lynn and Ian’s driveway. I’m surprised to find Gavin and Ian already there, with takeout pizza. Gavin gives me a kiss on the cheek and hugs Peyton, who promptly runs off in search of Claire.
The next few minutes are a flurry of activity as we get the girls to help us set the table. We sit down to dinner, and the girls tell us all about their day and the things that happened on the playground at recess. Once they’re done, they excuse themselves to go play while we finish up and enjoy adult conversation and a glass of wine.
Gavin stretches his arm across the back of my chair, thumb brushing the nape of my neck, causing a wave of goose bumps to flash along my arms. I lean into him, enjoying the innocent affection.
The conversation is light and easy, and despite the fact that Ian, Lynn, and Gavin have a long history of friendship, I feel like I’m part of things. Like this relationship exists outside of just him and me and Peyton.
And that little seed of hope that Peyton planted at the park starts to sprout. I hope it’s not too soon to let it grow in my heart.
Twenty-Two
TEST RUN
HARLEY
The weekend following the conversation about me sleeping over, we give it a test run. I’m a little uncertain as to how it’s going to go. Peyton is excited, and so is Gavin, but I’m not entirely convinced it’s going to be one of those situations where everything runs smoothly.
We dress up, as seems to be a pretty regular occurrence these days, and Peyton makes ponytail horns in Gavin’s hair, but he draws the line at glitter hairspray when they keep popping out. We order pizza for dinner, and at seven we all put on our pajamas—modest ones, obviously—make popcorn, and cue up a movie with Peyton seated between the two of us on the couch. At bedtime we read her stories together and say good night, and I promise chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.
And then it’s just Gavin and I.
I’m not naive enough to believe that Peyton is going to go to bed without a fight tonight. We’re changing the routine, doing something different. The holidays will be upon us soon enough, and there will be family events and probably more sleepovers. So we want to see how this is going to work in familiar surroundings.
“These pajamas are killing me,” he mutters as we walk quietly down the hall, back to the living room.
I glance down at my outfit. I’m wearing leggings and a long, oversized nightshirt. I even have a sports bra on. “This is the opposite of sexy,” I reply as I start to make the right into the living room.
“Whoa, where are you going?” He grabs my wrist and nods in the direction of his bedroom.
I laugh and pat him on the chest. “I appreciate your enthusiasm and your desire to get me out of these super sexy jammies, but this is not the last we’ve seen of Peyton.”
“Bedtime is done. She’ll be asleep in ten minutes.”
“I still think we should wait it out for a bit.” I pull him toward the couch.
He follows grudgingly.
And, as predicted, it doesn’t take long for Peyton to come down the hall, stuffed bunny tucked under her arm, telling us she’s afraid of the monsters in the closet. Gavin takes her back to her room. While I wait for him to return, I check my phone and find a message from Avery.