Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“Eventually, yeah,” I agree, and she starts to open her mouth to say something but stops when Olivia hops her way into the living room.
“Hi, Mommy.” She goes to Anna, and I watch the two of them embrace. I can’t say that Anna was good for me or that we get along, but I will admit she is a great mom to our daughter. Even with the drama that seems to constantly swirl around us, she puts Olivia first, and that’s something I’m grateful for.
“Did you have a good time with your dad this week?” Anna asks her, taking the purple glitter backpack she’s holding.
“I always have fun with Daddy.” Olivia looks at me and rolls her eyes, making me wonder what the hell I’m in for when she hits her teen years.
“Did you see Grandma and Grandpa?”
“Yes, and Grandma got me a new tea set for when I’m at her house.”
“That’s fun.” If I didn’t know, I’d think her smile was fake, but it’s not. Anna doesn’t have any kind of relationship with her parents—something she hates but is too stubborn to change, so she has always pushed for Olivia to have a relationship with her grandparents. It doesn’t hurt that any time she needs something, my mom and dad are there, regardless of the fact that they don’t get along. “Are you ready to go? We need to stop at the grocery store on the way home.”
Instead of answering, Olivia turns toward me, and the moment she’s close, I pick her up, and she wraps her arms around my neck, giving me a tight squeeze. “I love you, Daddy.” She leans back to look at me. “Will you come to my birthday party at school?”
“Will you let me eat some of your cupcakes?”
“You can have one.”
“How about two?”
“Okay, two.” She gives in as her cute little nose scrunches.
Smiling, I kiss her cheek, then place her on her feet, meeting her mom’s gaze. “Let me know what I need to bring for that.”
“I’ll send you a text.”
Lifting my chin, I walk the two of them to the door, giving Olivia one more hug. I stand in the doorway as they load into Anna’s car and smile at Olivia when she makes a funny face at me through the back window. Once they back out of the driveway, I walk inside my small two-bedroom house and go through the living room, picking up the coloring books, toys, and other randomness Olivia dragged out of her bedroom over the last week and put it all away. I do a sweep for dishes, shoving them in the dishwasher, then half-ass fold the laundry that’s piled up, not even bothering to put it away. When the house is somewhat back to normal, I pack a bag and head to the gym where I’m meeting Colton for a workout before I go to Aria’s place for dinner and to spend the night.
When I arrive at the gym fifteen minutes later, I park next to Colton’s truck, shut down the engine, and get out, grabbing my water bottle. I head towards the building and scan the room when I get inside, noticing Colton at the weights, with his eyes on one of the smaller rooms in the back and a frown on his face.
“What’s going on?” I greet him, taking off my hoodie, and he turns to me, shaking his head.
“Gia’s got it in her head she needs to lose her baby weight, so she dragged Aria here to take one of the spin classes today.”
“What?” I look at the room and spot Aria on a stationary bike, wearing a pair of tight leggings and a cut-off shirt that’s hanging off one shoulder, with Gia at her side and a few other men and women scattered around the room. My jaw twitches when I see the guy next to her turn and smile at her, saying something I can’t hear. The male instructor in front of the class encourages them to stand and squat as they spin like he is. Watching Aria’s ass as she follows along, I look around, noticing a few of the other guys working out are watching what’s going on as well.
“You look how I feel,” Colton says, and I drag my eyes off Aria’s ass and glare at him. “Welcome to the world of jealousy.” He starts to lift the weights he’s holding, and I pick up two fifty-pound dumbbells and follow suit. I want to deny that I’m jealous, but fuck me he’s not wrong, and the emotion is completely foreign to me, making me feel itchy and on edge.
“How do you deal with that shit all the time?”
“Jealousy?” he asks, and I grunt. “Swallow it down and get over it. I also know Gia is oblivious to men when they are coming on to her, and she’s mine, so that helps,” he says, then raises a brow. “Is Aria yours?”