Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
She steps back and sits down at the table next to Kinsley. “Lachlan didn’t mean to scare you, sweetie. He was worried the fruit would make you sick.”
Kinsley nods in understanding. “It’s okay. But can I eat it? It’s really good.”
Everyone laughs, and Quinn nods back. “Yes, you can eat it.” She glances up at Kiara and Kevin, who are standing next to the table. “Sorry about all that. Kinsley is allergic to raw fruits.”
“We’re just glad she’s okay,” Kiara says. “One of the guests did call nine-one-one, but she’s called them back to let them know it was a misunderstanding. All the pastries that have fruit inside have been baked with the fruit in them.” She turns her attention to Kinsley. “Are you ready for a fun day at the festival?”
“Yep!” Kinsley exclaims, already over what happened. I sit back down, but I can’t eat or speak or think. I’m still freaking the fuck out. I have no clue how Quinn manages to let Kinsley out of her sight for even a second.
As if she can hear the chaos in my head, Quinn looks over to me and smiles softly. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Parent.”
Quinn chuckles. “One minute, one hour, one day at a time.”
“I would put her in a bubble and never let her out,” I admit half-jokingly, which has Quinn throwing her head back in laughter.
“You’ll make a wonderful father one day,” she says, patting my arm.
Thankfully, the rest of the day goes more smoothly than breakfast. We pick out a couple of pumpkins and decorate them, get lost in the hay maze, where I’m able to sneak a few kisses with Quinn. Kinsley gets her face painted like a princess, and fills her belly with every kind of junk food imaginable. All too soon, it’s time to head home. Kinsley sleeps the entire drive to my place, where Quinn gets out and kisses me goodbye before getting behind the wheel to head home. I text Jax to give him a heads up, and he lets me know everything of theirs is out and the house is ready for the girls.
Quinn calls me a little while later to let me know Jax and Willow moved out. She cries over how generous and kind they are and curses me—jokingly—for knowing about their plan the entire time. When Kinsley calls for her to tuck her into bed, we say goodnight.
Later that night, as I’m lying in bed, I wish I were with Quinn and Kinsley. Declan is over at his girlfriend’s place, so my house is quiet. I want to be on the couch with Quinn cuddling into my side, in bed with her, stealing all the blankets. I want to wake up and have breakfast with the two of them. The more time I spend with them, the more I miss them when I’m not with them. I fall asleep trying to think of a way to make Quinn—and Kinsley—mine, sooner rather than later.
Eighteen
Quinn
“I can’t believe after all these years we still can’t keep a receptionist around longer than a couple months.” I laugh as Jase complains of another temp not working out at Forbidden Ink.
“The only one who stuck around was Evan.” Celeste cackles. “And that’s only because I hired him.”
“Yeah, because he’s a tattooist!” Jase laughs, wrapping his arm around his wife.
We’re sitting in the backyard of my townhouse under a tent that’s been erected for Kinsley’s birthday party. There are several kids from her class, as well as all of her cousins, running around and playing. There’s a bounce house and a blowup slide, along with a new swing set. Earlier, they hit the piñata shaped as a Troll that Jax tied to a tree, and fought over the candy like they were participating in the Hunger Games. Now it’s time for cake, but I can’t seem to locate Kinsley—or Lachlan—anywhere. A little while ago, she asked to show him her new swing set, but I don’t see them over in that area anymore.
“Any chance you can work at the shop in the afternoons this week?” Jase begs. “Skyla and Celeste both switched on and off last week. We have a few people coming in to interview this week.”
“Of course,” I tell him. “The only thing I have this week are the shoots Monday and Tuesday for Leblanc, and a wedding shoot Friday.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” Jase says, leaning over and giving me a kiss on my cheek.
“You know I love the shop.”
“Plus, it now has Lachlan there.” Willow waggles her eyebrows playfully.
“You and Lachlan?” Olivia gasps. “Isn’t he a bit…young?” At her words, my face feels like it’s being set on fire. While my family knows about Lachlan and me, and have seemed to accept it, Celeste’s friends, Olivia and Giselle, didn’t know. I know it’s stupid to keep us a secret, but I’m still getting used to the age difference myself, and when you look at us, you can clearly tell there is one.