Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 188002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 940(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 940(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
“I’ll figure it out somehow. Ways to fit you guys into my schedule. I promise. I can do this.”
“We’ll take it one day at a time. I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed. I know you’re not going to be instant family man.”
“I know but after spending the day with both of you... fuck. It’s like I stepped through a door into a whole new world all of a sudden. And it’s scary as hell but I like it. Reece told me that once I actually saw her everything would change and damn, he was right.”
I sit on the floor with my back leaning against the bed and Archie immediately crawls onto my lap. “I like hearing you so happy,” I say softly. “And I’m so relieved you two got along so great.”
“It’s odd. I feel like I’ve always known her. Do you think that’s a parent thing? Like an instinct?”
I let out a lighthearted laugh. “Yeah, I think it just might be that.”
“I know I just spent the whole damn day with you but I miss you. I’m not gonna be good at not touching you. I’m not going to grope you in front of her or anything, but you know how I am with you, babe. I need to be able to touch you and kiss you or I’ll go crazy.”
“All right,” I relent, smiling from ear to ear. “Tomorrow we can touch a little more in front of her if you keep it clean.”
His sexy, deep laugh floats through the line. “I’m never gonna be clean, baby. But I’ll do my best.”
I don’t think I’d have him any other way.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lyric has been leaning over the back of the couch next to Archie, staring out the front window for half an hour waiting for Blue to arrive.
“He’s here!” she yells. “Can I let him in?”
“Of course.” I’m amused with how she runs to the front door and throws it open. I’m compelled to do the same since it’s been years since he’s come to my home, only this time I’m not going to let him leave to run an errand. I might even tie him to the bed.
Blue’s standing in the doorway with a bouquet of flowers in one hand, a big teddy bear tucked under his arm, a tray of coffees in his other hand, and a brown paper bag under his other arm.
“You look like a pack mule!” I say, running over to take the drinks and the brown bag from him as he steps inside.
“This is for you.” He hands the bear to Lyric, then extends the flowers to me. “And these are for you.”
“I love bears!” Lyric announces. “And Mom is always saying she never gets flowers like all the ladies at her office do.”
Blue leans down to plant a kiss on my heated cheek. “I’m glad no one is sending you flowers,” he whispers.
“They’re beautiful,” I reply. “Did you find the house okay?”
“Yeah, no problems at all.” He sweeps his gaze across the living room. “This is nice. You always have the nicest colors. All my walls are white.”
“We learned in art class that white is the absence of color,” Lyric says, and Blue nods.
“I’d agree with that.”
“I’m going to put my brightly colored flowers in a vase. You two want to come in the kitchen?”
“I actually showed up with the bagels this time,” he jokes as he follows me.
I throw a mock glare at him as I retrieve a vase from the cabinet under the sink. “Very funny. I was actually just thinking that I may have to find a creative way to detain you so you can’t disappear again.”
A hint of wickedness glints in his eyes. “Lookin’ forward to that,” he says under his breath as he removes the drinks from the tray.
“I hope you like hot cocoa?” he asks, putting one of the cups in front of Lyric, who’s already sitting at the table picking out a bagel.
“I do!”
“And I hope you still like vanilla soy latte with a dash of cinnamon?” His eyebrow tweaks up as he hands one of the cups to me.
“I can’t believe you remembered.”
He takes the empty seat at the table, the one no one has ever sat in before. “I remember everything about you.”
“Will you remember everything about me?” Lyric asks, breaking through the silent conversation Blue and I were having with our eyes locked onto each other.
“I will from now on,” Blue vows.
“I have a present for you. I made it myself. Can I go get it, Mom?”
“Sure.”
Blue puts his hand on my thigh under the table as Lyric runs to her room and comes back with a photo album with a big black ribbon wrapped around it. I helped her put it together, but it was all her idea to give him an album full of pictures of her, me, Acorn, and Archie. She also added a few short poems she’s written. She has a strong creative spirit that seems to be getting stronger as she grows up.