Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Okay, but what about Stefano?”
“What about him?” He stands there looking at me as he puts on a white shirt.
“Well, do we tell him about us?” I ask and he stares at me.
“Do you not want to tell him about us?” he counters and puts his hands on his hips. “Do you want to lie and pretend we aren’t together?” He tries to hide his hurt.
“No.” I shake my head. “Of course not.”
“Good,” he says, going to grab Cici. “Now, go change and meet me downstairs.”
“Don’t tell him anything until I get there,” I tell him and he just nods at me. It takes me less than ten seconds to slide on a pair of gray lounge pants and matching T-shirt. I pin my hair up on top of my head, rushing downstairs.
“What did I miss?” I ask when I walk into the kitchen and see Addison, Stefano, and Audrey are sitting on the stools. Cici is in her chair as she eats some blueberries that Levi must have given her.
“I just ordered food,” Levi replies to me as he leans against the counter beside Cici’s chair.
“So.” I walk over to grab my coffee from the side table in the living room. “This is a nice surprise,” I say and feel like I’m going to throw up. Why am I so nervous?
“So,” Stefano starts, leaning back in his chair, “what’s the story with you two?”
He looks at me, then at Levi, then back to me. Levi’s eyes come to mine before he speaks. “We’re together,” he says officially. He thinks ripping the Band-Aid off is better than slowly easing into it. Stefano just looks at him now. “We live together,” he continues. “We share a life. We are raising Cici together.” He smiles at me. “Anything you want to add into that?”
“I think you got it covered,” I say, walking to stand beside him. He puts his arms around my waist. “Do you guys have any questions?”
“You bet the fuck I do,” Stefano grumbles.
“Stefano,” Addison says, “perhaps you should—” He looks over at her with a glare. “If you think that look scares me, think again.” She gives him the same look. “I’m not Avery and you can’t cut off my Wi-Fi.”
“Addy,” he says to her.
“No, you dragged us all this way without telling them. Then you storm into their house and are going to give them the third degree.” She shakes her head. “Ethan trusted you to take care of Audrey and all you’ve done is show her—”
“Um, sorry,” Audrey cuts in, “but I’m used to family squabbles.”
“Nonetheless,” Addison says, “you said you would take her here and show her around.”
“Are you going to be moving here?” I ask, happy to take the spotlight off us even for a minute.
“I am,” Audrey confirms. “I accepted a position at Cottrell Group. It’s a hedge fund company that started off on the West Coast, Ida and Ernie Cottrell have branched out to the East Coast. From what they said, their son is taking over for them. It’s starting at an entry level, replacing his PA who is retiring.” She shrugs. “I’m in school at night to get my CPA license, so I figure working for a couple of bankers would be a good idea.”
“That’s exciting,” I say. “If you need anything while you are here, I’ll give you my number.”
“Thank you.” She smiles. “That would be good since I know no one here.” She looks at Stefano. “Which is why my parents asked Harlow, who then asked Sofia, who mentioned it to—”
“That’s a whole lot of people,” I joke with her.
“You have no idea,” she remarks and Addison now laughs.
“My in-laws have what is called the phone chain.” She rubs her belly. “And private planes, you know, just in case they want to pop in for dinner.”
“My uncle trained with the Navy SEALs for fun.” Audrey looks over at her.
“My uncle,” Stefano adds, “pretty sure he got us all microchipped.” He laughs, then turns to us when he sees me lean into Levi. “Are you really sure about this?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say without missing a beat.
“I think I always knew I’d end up with her,” Levi admits and I look up at him. “Which is maybe why I was so scared to take a shot with her.”
“You wanted to take a shot with me?” I ask as he smiles at me.
“Have you seen yourself?” One of his hands comes up to cup my cheek. “I was just—”
“He was banging everyone else out of his system,” Stefano blurts, thinking he’s going to joke about that when Addison hits his arm. “What? I’m just saying. You don’t think she knows he’s had sex with a million people?”
“It’s not a million,” Levi refutes and I just tilt my head. “Wow, you weren’t Mother Teresa either.”