Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
My inner teen couldn't help but utter a typical Ew, gross mom.
And I felt my lips twitch at that.
Warm and familiar.
"We were trying to lay low so no one saw me before you guys, so he was kind of taking care of me."
My heart squeezed at that.
At the truth of it.
At how it was the culmination of my girlhood dreams coming true.
"He's a good man, baby."
"I see that," I agreed, nodding.
"I hate the cliche of the meddling mother, but if you still find yourself interested, I think he would be a great partner."
"Plus, could you imagine your father's head exploding when he realized his girl was dating one of his men?" Aunt Lo asked, smiling wickedly.
Aunt Lo could always be counted on to enjoy all parts of a new romance. Including the drama.
She'd been the one to start slipping me romance novels as a teen. Which had only managed to further encourage my hopeless romantic dreams of a happily ever after with my girlhood crush.
"I think we are getting a little carried away with ourselves," I said. Even though carried away was exactly what I wanted to get with Vance. I tried to convince myself that it was just an itch that needed to be scratched, that I was simply holding onto a need from years ago that needed fulfilling.
"Carried away sounds fun," Aunt Lo said, giving me a knowing smile before moving off.
"Ferryn?" my mom called, voice hesitant, making me turn back to find her watching me with worried, uncertain eyes.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Can I ask something of you?" she asked.
In that moment, I was sure I would promise her anything to get that look off her face.
"Sure."
"Don't do that to us again."
"Mom..."
"I get that you are an adult now. I get that you built a life. I get that you have other obligations now. But don't do that to us again. Take off for years with no way for us to contact you. Without dropping in to let us see you."
I didn't want to make promises. I didn't want to say that I could always be here. Because my life, the nature of my work, offered no guarantees.
"As much as I can control it, Mom, I will try to be around more."
"One day, and I am not asking right now, but one day, I would like to know what that means," she told me, giving me a one-armed hug. "Where are you going to stay tonight?"
I knew what she was really asking.
Do you want to come home with us?
And, quite honestly, I wasn't sure I was ready for that.
"I was thinking maybe we could all camp out here. Like old times," I added. "That way, when word gets out to everyone else, we will already be here when they want to stop by."
"That's a great idea. Maybe we can arrange a big breakfast. See if I can get some of the girls together to help me make a big spread once they hear."
"That sounds amazing."
It did, too.
Some of my favorite memories as a girl were of hanging around while my mom and aunts—the ones who liked cooking—hung out in the kitchen, chopping, mixing stirring. They were always very open and blunt when cooking, sharing really silly or embarrassing or sexy stories.
I would always flit back and forth between the kitchen and wherever the men were congregated, usually cursing, watching the game, playing pool, being ultra manly. I always loved the contrast.
The idea that I could get to be a part of that all over again made that warm feeling move through my chest again.
"Have you picked up any cooking skills over the years?" she asked, knowing it had never been my strong suit.
"Not a one," I admitted, giving her a smile that she so readily returned. "But I am good with a knife. I can chop things for you guys."
She skimmed right over the meaning behind my knife skills with a wobbly smile. "That would be great, honey. Anything special you want?"
"Are you going to make West go and get it?"
"It never ceases to be fun to boss the younger guys around," she admitted with a conspiratory grin.
"In that case, what is the most obscure, really hard to find ingredient we can sent him on a hunt to find?"
"Oh, that's my girl," she said, eyes warm as we tried to come up with a plan.
"You're evil," Vance declared, dropping down on the couch beside me after my parents had gone off to bed. Only after my coaxing because they both looked dead on their feet from travel and the excitement of the day.
"Oh, come on, I have heard a lot of stories now about how much of a pain in the ass West can be. Someone has to give it back to him."
"Organic Seedless Strawberry Pop-tarts. They almost sound real."