Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“We need a favor and no. This is a very last-minute trip, and we were sort of in the area,” I tell him. Instead of going to his office, he takes us to the break room, where surprise, Clover is making herself a smoothie.
“Did you guys meet Clover?” Xander asks.
“Sure did,” I say and give her a little finger wave.
Noah leans close to my ear. “Down, kitty.”
I should elbow him, but I don’t because my elbow is lined up with a part of his body that I love very, very much. When Clover leaves the room, I turn to him.
“I told you to change those damn sweatpants.” My eyes travel south, and while my husband isn’t hard or even sporting a semi, the outline of his penis is there and extremely noticeable.
“Sorry,” he mutters while Xander quietly chuckles to himself.
Noah and I sit at the table in the breakroom. Xander offers us water to drink and sits across from us. “I just texted Yvie, she’ll be over in a minute.”
“Doesn’t she have class?”
Xander looks at his watch. “Yeah, but she’s probably not teaching. She has so many teachers on staff now, I think she only teaches the elite classes.”
My Aunt Yvie is a dancer, who thanks to my dad and the early success of 4225 West, was able to go to dance school. After my Uncle Jimmy got shot and had to have rehab, my dad hired Xander to come to Beaumont, where he fell in love with Yvie.
“So, what’s up?” Xander asks.
Noah gets up and shuts the door, giving us some privacy. As much as I’d like to do this in his office, I don’t want to ask him to move us over there. “As you know, the accident did a lot of damage to my pelvis. I had and still have some scarring but most of it was removed back in December, in hopes I can carry a child. Up until now I haven’t been able to get pregnant and today I got my first IVF shot.”
“Congratulations.” Xander gives Noah a high-five, as if he got the shot or something.
“Anyway,” I say, getting their attention. “I’m afraid of needles, so Noah has to give me the shot, twice a day.”
“And I hate seeing her in pain,” Noah added. “Earlier, when we were in the doctor’s office, I held her and talked her through it, and she didn’t feel a thing. But I’m afraid of hurting her.”
“That’s where you come in,” I say to Xander. “We’re wondering if you wouldn’t mind coming to the house in the morning or evening to give me my shot? I would only need you to come out for one week.”
“Sure,” he said without hesitation. “Gives me an excuse to go surfing with Quinn. Count me in.”
If there wasn’t a table between us, I’d hug my uncle. “Thank you.”
“Who’s going to do the second one?”
“I’m going to beg my mother,” I tell him.
Xander laughs. “Your dad won’t do it,” he says matter-of-factly. The thing is, Xander’s not wrong. Dad’s very much like Noah and won’t do anything to hurt any of us.
“My mom’s sadistic though,” I say. “She’ll love sticking me with a needle.”
This time, Noah rolls his eyes. “Are you kidding me? Your mom wants a grandchild. She’ll do whatever she can to help you. My mom as well.”
“I know, but I still think she’ll like causing me pain. She’ll drudge up some agony I caused her back when I was a kid. I’m telling you, she’s sadistic. Mark my words.”
Noah and Xander laugh.
The door opens and in walks my pixie loving aunt, who I swear doesn’t age and always looks like she’s about to take the stage. She flutters over to us as if she has fairy wings, and gives us both a hug.
“This is a happy surprise,” she says as she sits next to Xander.
“We were in the area,” I tell her. “At our fertility appointment.”
Yvie’s eyes widen. “Am I going to be an auntie again?”
I nod, even though I’m not pregnant. “That’s the plan. Elle too.”
She covers her mouth and squeals. “This is the best news ever. Yay, thank you for sharing.”
“Well, we’re not there yet.” I tell her why we stopped by.
“Fabulous, idea. You should call Quinn and tell him you’re going to need a regular surf buddy.”
Xander holds his phone up. “Already texted him.”
“Wow,” she says, sighing. “Babies. I remember when Quinn was a newborn. Your dad didn’t know anything about a baby. He had no idea how to hold him, or feed or change him. Our mom took over, taught him everything and now he’s going to be a grandpa.”
The room went quiet and then Yvie’s mouth drops open. “Oh my, God. Your dad!” she points at Noah. “The sexy rock god grandfather.”
Noah groans.
“Oh yes, the women are going to lose their ever-loving minds when they see him holding a baby. You must make him and my brother do a calendar or something. Shirtless. Show off all their tattoos. You know JD would be up for it, too. Holy shit, that would sell like hot cakes. Imagine if we sold them here. All those women would snatch them up. As is, you can only have Harrison come in after hours to work out.”