Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
I grab a spoon and swipe a small amount of batter from the mixing bowl onto it, then hand it to her. Addie pops it into her mouth, and the look of awe and wonder on her face at having tried brownie batter for the first time is so adorable that I have to snap a picture.
“More, more!” She thrusts the spoon my way. “Pease,” she adds.
“Okay, one more,” I tell her, swiping a tiny bit more and handing it to her.
She pops it back in her mouth and grins, in chocolate heaven.
“I think someone likes chocolate,” I say to Ryder with a wink. “Like father, like daughter.”
Ryder chuckles. “Great. Soon, I’ll be fighting over those addictive brownies with another person. At this rate, I’m going to have to bribe you to make me my own batch.”
“Dramatic much?”
I take the spoon from Addie and drop it into the sink with the bowl and spatula that Violet licked clean before running back into the living room to watch another show. Addie wiggles around, and Ryder sets her on the floor so she can toddle back to Violet.
“You and Violet should join us,” Ryder says, coming up next to me at the sink.
“What?”
I start rinsing the dishes and fill the dishwasher.
“To see the baby,” he clarifies. “Ana asks about you all the time. I’m sure she’d love to see you. When she found out that you were living in your car, she felt horrible for not knowing.”
“I don’t want anyone’s pity,” I murmur, focusing intently on the dirty dishes.
“Nobody’s pitying you,” he says. “It’s called caring. There’s a difference.”
When I don’t say anything back, he tries again. “Come with us to their house. It’ll be fun. They’re hanging out by the pool, so Violet can go swimming. And you said you were dying to meet the baby.”
“I don’t want to crash.”
“You wouldn’t be. But if it’ll make you feel better, I can text them and make sure they’re up for two more people.”
“That’d put them on the spot,” I argue, shaking my head even though I’d love to see the new baby. I mean, who doesn’t love holding a newborn and sniffing their newborn scent? “No, we’ll stay here. Maybe another time.”
“All right.” Ryder sighs. “But if you change your mind, text me. I can come get you guys anytime. They don’t live far.”
“Thank you, but we’ll be fine here. Promise.”
I pour the soap into the dishwasher, close it, and press Start. “The brownies will be ready in about thirty minutes.”
While they’re baking, I throw in a load of laundry and then run up to my room to get my suit on since I already know Violet will beg me to join her. I’m grabbing my suit from the drawer when my phone goes off with an incoming text. Since Ryder’s the only one who knows and uses my number—since he’s the one who bought me the phone after hiring me and I can’t contact my mom in case her phone is somehow being monitored by Brian—I glance at it, expecting to see a text from Ryder.
Instead, I find a message from Unknown.
Hey, Kira! It’s Ana. Ryder gave me your number after he called Julian to let him know he’ll be over soon and said you and Violet aren’t coming. Then, when I asked him to please invite you, he said you would think he conspired it and it was a pity invite—which, by the way, is ridiculous. So, now, I’m texting you to let you know that I’m inviting you to come over with him. I thought it was a given since you and Violet live with him, but I shouldn’t have assumed. Please come over. I’d love for you to meet the newest Parker and catch up with you.
I sigh after reading her text, knowing I’m going to have to go whether it’s a pity invite or not since it was so heartfelt and I would look like a complete bitch if I said no.
Hey, are you sure you’re up for so many people? You did just have a baby …
Unknown
I am more than sure. I’m lying on the couch, relaxing with Emilia. Kingston and Julian are about to go swimming. Because we were in the hospital on Kingston’s birthday, we’re celebrating today. We would love for you guys to join us.
Okay, but if it gets to be too much, we can leave anytime.
Unknown
See you soon!
After creating a contact for Ana, I grab my bathing suit and cover-up and then go to the girls’ rooms to pack for them. Once everything is ready to go, I head back downstairs, just in time to take the brownies out of the oven.
“Mommy, can we go swimming now?” Violet asks.
“Change of plans,” I say, glaring at Ryder, who doesn’t look the least bit concerned. “We’re going to see Ana, Julian, Kingston, and their new baby.”