Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Hell, I want that for me now.
With Tuesday playing with Max and Lark sitting near the pool, which has a new child safety fence installed around it, I turn back to the group in the living room where Loch has been going through the options with Liv. They’d met privately in my dad’s office for several hours until they reached a point where the family could be included.
We are Liv’s family and are all willing to do what we can to help her reach the best possible outcome.
After Liv decides to go on record and file, Loch leaves the room to call the appropriate authorities. Liv eats one of the remaining crackers from the platter on the coffee table. Food will help her think more clearly, so I’m glad she’s eaten.
My mom sits beside her on the couch, saying, “I think that’s the right decision, Liv. I’m just so sorry you’re being forced to make it in the first place.” She rubs her back. “If it helps, we’ll be there for you.”
“It does help to know that. Thank you, Delta.” The warmth in the hug she gives my mom reaches me across the room.
Her eyes latch onto mine while a small smile crosses her mouth. She gets up and comes to me. Exhaustion has gotten the better of her pretty face, and dark circles have appeared along with her eyelids hanging a little lower. I envelop her in my arms and kiss her temple. “How do you feel?”
“Numb.”
“Warranted. It’s a lot, and nothing you were prepared for when you woke up this morning.” I tilt my head to catch her gaze. “Why don’t you nap while Loch does what he needs to do?”
“What about—”
“Max is having the time of his life. He’s in good hands.”
She peers out the window, and a sweet smile appears. “He slept a lot on the ride here, so it’s good he’s getting to run around.”
Loch returns, his eyes directed on Liv. “They’ll be here in the morning. Nine o’clock.”
She looks up at me with questions in her eyes. “Max has his stuff for the night and so do we. We’ll stay here, in my room.”
Delta says, “We might have bought a few things for Max and switched up the spare room across the hall from Noah’s bedroom.”
My dad gets up from the couch and laughs. “It’s a nursery. Max is the first of hopefully many grandkids to come. It’s a better use of the space than to keep unused rooms.” The pride hitting his eyes from the thought of a whole new generation of little ones running around is one I never imagined. I wasn’t even able to broach that mindset before Max. Now I’m all for it. He says to Liv, “The three of you always have a place of your own in our home.”
A tear hits the front of my shirt right before she turns and walks to him. When they embrace, I realize how overwhelming it must be for her. Although I know she’s touched by my parents’ acceptance of her and our son and the nursery setup, just as I am, I can’t help but think this is all she ever wanted from her father.
Fuck him.
She’ll get all that and more from mine. My family is one hundred percent behind her.
If I don’t cut in now, it will be a cry fest in here, and I think we’ve had enough tears for today. I say, “How about we rest before dinner?”
Harbor gets up from the barstool where he’s been sitting in the kitchen. “We’ve got Max covered. It’s uncle time.”
Loch heads to the back door with him, adding, “It’s time to teach our nephew the rules of basketball.”
Just before the door closes, I catch Harbor saying, “I was thinking we could teach him to drive.”
“They’re not serious, right?” Liv rushes to ask me.
I’m honestly not sure. They can be sarcastic bastards, but they might not be joking. I catch her hand just as she starts for the door. “He’ll be okay and probably have the time of his life. Don’t worry, they’ll take care of him.”
She looks between the door and me a couple of times before she exhales. “You’re right.”
“Nap?”
That wipes the concern right off her face. “Yes, please.”
I should have figured she’d be more invested in exploring my room than sleep. I get it. I might do the same if I was in her childhood bedroom, so I undress and climb under the covers and watch her. Even though it’s been one hell of a day that’s taken a toll on both of us, she’s fucking gorgeous. Knowing who she is on the inside only makes our connection and the chemistry we share more potent.
So much of my life is on display that her eyes travel the walls and tops of the desk, over the shelves, and she even pokes her head in the closet. Every part of the room has been thoroughly inspected when she strips her shirt and jeans off and slips into bed next to me. Lying her head on my bare chest, she rubs the tips of her fingers over my abs. “I love seeing this part of you, babe,” she says, seemingly more awake than ever.