Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Hi there. How was your evening?”
“It’s looking up. I hear there was a taco feast.”
“Caleb’s going to make me go broke,” she confirms, but Caleb just shakes his head.
“We’re loaded,” he informs me, not concerned in the least as London passes me a bottle of water.
“How do you know?” I ask.
“None of my friends have a house this big,” he replies with a quick shrug, making me laugh. “Okay, the deal was that I have to go to bed without a fuss in exchange for date night, so I’m gonna go get ready for bed.”
London raises an eyebrow. “Are you sick? Are you sure you’re my son and not an imposter?”
“I’m not an imposter.”
“Say something that only Caleb knows.”
He wrinkles his nose. “I have a mole right on my butt.”
The water I just drank sprays out of my mouth in surprise, and that sends Caleb into another fit of giggles.
“It’s true,” he says, still laughing at me. “Okay, see you later.”
He waves and runs up the stairs to his bedroom.
“He’s a nut.”
London sighs, and the smile on her face fades as she wipes down the countertop.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing at all.” She stops and looks over at me. “I think I’m just tired.”
“I’ll finish this,” I offer. “Go up and take care of him.”
“I’ll take you up on that.” She stops in front of me and passes me the wet rag, then kisses me before walking to the stairs. “Thanks.”
I don’t mind cleaning up the rest of the kitchen. I even make sure that Caleb’s lunch is ready for tomorrow, and then I set out some snacks for London and me to pick on this evening while we work.
But when she comes down thirty minutes later, looking dead on her feet, I put the snacks away and take her hand in mine.
“We’re not working tonight,” I inform her.
“We’re not?”
“No, ma’am. You’re exhausted. We’re going upstairs, and you’re going to get comfortable, and I’ll rub your feet for a while.”
She doesn’t argue. Silently, we climb the stairs and walk down the hall, past Caleb’s room, to hers.
London closes the double doors so we have some privacy, and I walk into her bathroom to start her a shower.
“Have you ever noticed that you’re always bathing me?” she asks with a sleepy smile.
“It’s relaxing,” I reply and kiss the top of her head. “Get cozy.”
With her in the shower, I toss some pillows onto the couch, along with a blanket, and twenty minutes later, she walks out, looking soft and fresh in a tank and some sweatpants. I lead her to the couch and get her settled in, pull her foot into my lap, and begin to rub.
“I’m sorry,” she says, and my gaze whips up to hers.
“For what?”
“A lot of things.” She wiggles back into the pillows, getting more comfortable. “Mostly, I’m sorry that we can’t spend more time together. I really do wish that you could stay here with me.”
“London, have you thought about us talking with Caleb? He’s a smart kid. We could have an honest conversation with him and see where he’s at with the situation.”
“You’re not wrong.” She yawns hugely. “Sorry. I think you’re right. We should do that.”
“Or, now that I think about it, maybe I should do that. Man-to-man.”
That brings a sparkle to her eye. “That would probably make him feel really important.”
“He is important. I’ll do that this week.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t you come over tomorrow night and help us trim the Christmas trees? You can find a moment to talk to him then.”
“The sooner the better works for me, because I don’t want to be away from you any longer than I have to be.”
Her eyes soften as I switch feet.
“But I’m not just going to ask his permission to stay the night now and then.”
Her eyebrow lifts, waiting for me to continue.
“I want to move in permanently, babe. How do you feel about that?”
She blinks slowly, taking some time to think it over, and finally, just when I think she’s going to tell me to take a hike, she says, “Yeah. Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”
Her eyes are so heavy, but they’re happy, too.
“One more thing before you fall asleep,” I continue. “I want to apologize for the other night.”
She frowns and tilts her head to the side in question.
“I don’t want you to ever think that I would be unfaithful to you. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. I know we already moved past this, but it’s still bothering me, and I want you to know that it won’t happen again. I’ll be aware of it now, if I’m ever in a similar situation.”
“Thanks for that,” she says. “I’m not sorry that I got upset. My only regret is that I didn’t tell her to take her badly manicured hands off my man.”