Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
I had a feeling Elsie would be easier to get on board, because it was clear she liked being close to her son and grandson. Furthermore, Ben was protective of her—and judging by the stories he’d shared, he wanted to look out for her since she’d given up the rest of the family to be there for him.
I got it.
I also got that I was thinking so far into the future that I should be terrified, but this was what Ben had been talking about. He always needed to think ahead for Alvin’s sake. So I was gonna do the same thing.
“Are you gonna finish that, Dad?” Alvin pointed his fork to Ben’s leftover hot fudge brownie.
Ben rumbled a laugh and looped an arm around Alvin’s neck. “No, you go ahead. I’m full.” He kissed the side of his boy’s head before sliding the plate closer to him.
I’d done that for Chip too, pretending I was full so a happy kid could increase his sugar intake. ’Cause kids could never get enough sugar or something.
It was sort of doing it for me, to be honest. Watching Ben be a dad was not only hot as fuck, but heartwarming. And that was so unlike me to even notice. I mean, kids…? I hadn’t bothered getting to know Bella until she could form words. Babies were fucking useless—and way too fragile. I always worried I’d drop them. We had a few parents working here, and every now and then, they brought their newborn in…
I suspected Sandy was next. His wife was about to pop.
“I should be getting yous home soon,” Ben said. “I’ve received my gifts, so you’re no good to me anymore.”
Alvin laughed. “You’re joking, I can tell!”
I grinned.
Elsie shook her head in amusement, though I could spot something that ran way deeper. She was happy to see her son happy.
He was happy about those gifts too. He had a gift card from Elsie, along with stern instructions to buy a new trimmer, which he’d apparently mentioned thinking about buying. And from Alvin, a key ring that said Best Dad in the World and a bag of salty licorice imported from Denmark.
Every person had their flaws. Ben had two. The Sox and his love for salty licorice.
“He used to buy a bag every Friday after work when I was little,” Alvin had told me.
It’d prompted Ben to rank Northern European countries according to their licorice skills. His favorite kind came from Denmark, then Sweden followed, and Norway, Germany… I forgot the rest.
My old man liked that shit too. It was foul. And Armas, our weekend security guard, had inherited that like from his Finnish family or whatever. There was something seriously wrong with people from Northern Europe.
What kind of words were Heksehyl Haxvral anyway? It sounded like something you choked out before you barfed.
The second or third time Elsie yawned—all subtle behind her hand—Ben quirked a smile and asked, “You ready to go, Ma?”
She smiled back. “It’s all this food. I feel like I need a nap.”
“Yeah, me too.” Ben flicked me a quick glance as he finished his coffee.
Oh, I wouldn’t turn down a nap with him. I’d even keep my hands over the covers, figuratively speaking.
Unfortunately… “Some of us gotta get back to work.” I yawned too, triggered by Elsie.
“But you’re not working too late, are you?” Ben asked.
I shook my head. “Just a couple more hours.”
He inclined his head. “That’ll give me time to bring these two home and then take Pippen out.”
It was a plan.
He nodded back toward the bar next. “Mind getting me the check?”
Was he serious? “On your birthday?”
He gave me a look. “I invited yous here, genius. I’m fuckin’ payin’.”
Jesus Christ. I slid out of the booth. “Fine, but we’re gonna fight about this later. There are limits, man.”
He winked. “Can’t wait.”
Jagoff.
Trace followed us outside the bar, and I didn’t give a fuck anymore. I dipped down and kissed him as my ma put on her scarf.
Who had I been kidding anyway? She already knew. Hell, even Alvin had asked if Trace was my boyfriend.
Now, that was a weird fucking word.
Boyfriend.
He was much more than that.
“I’ll see you later.” I cupped his cheek and kissed him once more.
He smiled and slid his fingers underneath one of my suspenders. “This is good progress. So open and official.”
“Right?” I matched his grin, one part relieved, one part fucking dazed.
This kind of happiness didn’t exist in my world.
“Dad? I thought you said you didn’t know if he was your boyfriend.”
Thanks, son.
Trace laughed under his breath and eased back. “I’ll let you deal with that. Drive safe.” He offered a two-finger salute to Ma and Alvin. “Looking forward to the next dinner, you two.”
“It was wonderful meeting you, Trace,” Ma said.
“Bye!” Alvin waved.
I chuckled and draped an arm around Alvin’s shoulders, steering him down the sidewalk. “Let’s get you home to your fish and videos, small fry.”