Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Gray couldn’t stop laughing.
“I’m serious,” Darius went on. “I love our nieces and nephews—but Jesus fucking Christ. There’s too much of my siblings in those little shits. If it’s not Grace summoning her inner Elise to tell me what I’m doing wrong, it’s one of the Ryan Juniors who want me to watch them jump off the roof of a car.”
Gray wiped at his eyes, his shoulders trembling, and spotted Justin coming over. “Little ears inbound.” The boy had already finished his lollipop.
“I wanna know what’s funny!”
“Daddy,” Gray replied, still grinning. “He said you, your brother, and your sister are aliens. Can you believe that?”
Justin made a noise and gaped up at Darius. “I’m not an alien. You’re silly, Daddy! My skin isn’t green.”
“Oh yeah? How should I know? I need proof.” Darius swooped up the boy and immediately dug his nose under Justin’s windbreaker to expose his tummy. “Maybe your belly’s green.”
Justin squirmed and giggled uncontrollably in between Darius’s growling noises.
Gray smiled at the display, then glanced over at Avery and the girls again. Cass’s nose was a little red, and it was time they stopped horsing around in a parking lot that was slowly growing more crowded.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Okay, I have the tickets for our honeymoon, baby.
Shit.
Just a few years ago, I was so sure I’d spend the rest of my life alone, going from one unattached string to another when I had to scratch an itch. Now, here I am, not just ready to spend my life with a person but to share everything, crave their presence, need them like air.
An hour or so later, Gray declared himself done with Darius’s gifts. Coho Bar & Grill was open just for their party at this hour, but Adam and Alessia were going all out on the service. The bar was packed with sliders, fries, buffalo wings, and other snacks. The kids got to roam free with Adam and Alessia’s son, and the grown-ups could hate on Case being in charge of the music all they wanted, but it didn’t stop them from singing along to the tunes. Adam, Ryan, Case, Madigan, and even Avery—who was a bit more reserved by nature—belted out the lyrics to 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” right around the time Darius was finishing up his project too.
The kids laughed at their singing dads.
Gray popped a couple fries in his mouth and took pictures.
Abel filmed.
Lincoln watched with his brows lifted while Nova-Lyn devoured a serving of mac and cheese on his lap.
“What are they doing?!” JJ yelled.
Gray laughed.
Ryan ran over and picked up the boy. “Come sing with Daddy. Ooooh-ooohh.”
This was the perfect continuation of what’d started at the crafts store. Gray felt so damn good. The place was as cozy as always—as far as steakhouses went—and everyone was happy.
When they’d arrived, the best men in charge had split the dining area in two, using two room dividers they must’ve dropped off here earlier. Then they’d divided the kids into two groups too, with one being put in charge to assist Gray, and the other to assist Darius.
Gray had gathered around a couple pushed-together tables with Ace, Abby, Grace, Haley, Ryder, and Cass to decorate three picture frames and put together the Jar O’ Excuses. Alessia’s staff would be cleaning glitter off the floor for weeks to come.
The kids had had a blast, though. While Gray had written little notes of excuses that Darius could use to stay at home, to get out of social gatherings, the little ones hadn’t held back with stickers and other decorations. The picture frames were color explosions and would likely outshine any drawing Darius put in there, and the pink tin jar…well, it was just very visible. From space.
“Five minutes left on the timer, brother!” Ryan called.
Gray couldn’t see Darius behind the screen, but he did hear Justin go, “You can’t show that finger! It’s bad!”
“Uncle Ryan started it,” was Darius’s excuse. “Help Daddy glue these into place instead.”
Gray grinned and shook his head.
Then Abel handed him an apple cider. “Cheers, buddy.”
“Fuck yeah.” Gray clinked his bottle to Abel’s and took a swig. Ahh, ice-cold and delicious. His favorite brand of tipsiness came from hard cider, and Washington knew apples. “Darius, you’re driving later!”
At the second sip of the cider, Gray began to really look forward to tomorrow. The kids would be at Mom and Aiden’s house for the day—and the night—and Gray and Darius would be able to let go and have some adult fun. Presumably after the oldsters had injured themselves on the ice.
“There’s no way they’re beating us tomorrow, is there?” Gray already knew the answer, but he wanted Abel’s two cents.
“Christ no.” Abel chuckled and eyed the other men. “As long as Shay can stand on a pair of skates, we’ll manage.”
Gray nodded with a dip of his chin. “So we have some obvious positions. Gabriel in the cage, you on the left wing—but you should move up front. You and Gideon will be the offense. Shay and I can pick up the slack and multitask between assisting you guys and defending the goal.”