Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Hey, babe,” he answers, holding his phone up to his face. “What are you doing?”
“Uncle Ry! Is my daddy there?” Blakely asks.
Ryder chuckles. “Yeah, munchkin, your daddy is here. We’re all here.” He turns his phone and pans it around the fire, and we all wave at our niece.
“You know that fire’s hot. You better be careful,” she warns.
That earns her a laugh from all of us. “We know, Blakely. We’re being careful,” Ryder tells her patiently. “What are you doing?”
“We’re having girls’ weekend. We’re doing our makeup, and our hair, and our nails, and baking, and watching girl movies. The baby boys are here, but Mommy says that’s okay. Because they’re not men yet. When they’re older, they’ll go with you and Daddy and Grampa and all my uncles. I got lots of uncles.”
I’m smiling so big. This damn kid, she’s the absolute best and never fails to put a smile on my face.
“Sounds like you’re having a great time.”
“The best. Oh, and baby Ada and her mommy, Stella, are here too. They’re not Kincaids, but they’re girls, so that makes it okay,” she rambles on.
My ears perk up at the mention of Stella and Ada. I texted her a few times during the week. She knew I was going camping this weekend, but she didn’t mention joining girls’ night with my family. It must have taken Jordyn all week to convince her to go.
“That’s cool,” Ryder says with all the enthusiasm our eight-year-old niece expects from her uncles. We have most definitely spoiled her rotten, and not a single one of us has regrets. I feel confident that I can speak for my brothers on that topic.
“Can you give the phone to Aunt Jordyn?” Ryder asks her.
“Okay, Uncle Ry. Love you. I need to call my daddy.” She hands the phone off to Jordyn, and Declan grins as his phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket to talk to his family.
It’s as if a domino effect has taken place. All of my brothers, hell, even my dad, are on their phones, checking on their significant others.
“I gotta piss,” Merrick says, standing and ambling off to do just that.
I debate for a hot second before pulling my phone out and texting Stella.
Me: What are you ladies into tonight?
Stella: You know it’s girls’ night.
Me: Didn’t know you were there though.
Me: Not until Blakely told us.
Stella: It was last minute. Jordyn was refusing to take no for an answer.
Me: Having fun?
Stella: I am actually—lots of fun. You have a great family, Maverick.
Me: I won’t debate this.
Me: How’s Ada? Any more steps?
Stella: She’s perfect. No, just a few here and there. Not as many as last weekend when she was trying to get to you. I think she might be crushing on you.
Me: Tell her I’m single.
Stella: Robbing the cradle, Kincaid?
I laugh out loud, unable to hide it, gaining the eyes of my brothers, who quickly dismiss me and go back to talking to their wives and kids.
Me: Nah, Bug and I are best buds.
Stella: I’m watching you, Kincaid.
Me: Good thing we’re friends then. You can keep an extra close eye on me.
Stella: Why are you blowing up my phone? Aren’t you supposed to be doing manly camping things?
Me: My brothers and my dad are all checking on their wives and kids.
Stella: Merrick?
Me: You got a thing for my brother, Stel?
Stella: Nope. But last I heard, you two were still single and had no kids that you’re aware of. Something you need to tell me, Kincaid?
Me: Kid free.
Me: Merrick is taking a piss.
Stella: So eloquent.
Me: Fine. Merrick is using the restroom. By restroom, I mean he’s finding a tree to hide behind to offer some relief to his full bladder.
Me: Better?
Stella: Wise ass.
Me: Aw, Stel, you like my ass?
She sends back a string of laughing emoji. I bite down on my cheek to hide my smile. The last thing I need is more commentary from my brothers. I already had one outburst of laughter. Another will send them on high alert. I need to school my features and wrap this up before they notice.
Stella: Behave, Mav. Have fun, but behave.
Me: Yes, ma’am.
Me: Tell Ada we have another ice cream date as soon as I get home.
Stella: When do you get home?
Me: We’re leaving tomorrow morning, so we should be home by noon. Pick you girls up at six? Dinner and ice cream?
Stella: You don’t have to keep taking us out. What’s your excuse this time?
Me: Can a guy not want to hang out with his best friends?
Stella: Best friends?
Me: Yep. See you at six.
Stella: Maverick!
Me: Spotty service, Stel. I gotta go.
I hide my grin as I slide my phone into my pocket. Who says spotty service with text messages? Oh, well, she’ll know why I said it. I know she’s not going to text me again. She knows that regardless of what she says or how she tries to talk me out of it, I’ll be at her grandparents’ place tomorrow at six to pick them up. She knows that I’m lying about spotty service. Serves her right. I told her I wasn’t going to let her run from this friendship. That’s a promise I intend to keep.