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)
Violet runs off, and I turn to Ana, refusing to look at Ryder. “How were they?”
“Angels,” Ana says. “Neither has had a nap though, so they’ll probably pass out in the car. How did your appointment go?”
“It was informative,” I answer, not wanting to get into the details in front of Violet.
“You’ll have to tell me all about it this weekend.” She glances at Ryder. “You’re still good with watching the girls, right?”
“Of course,” Ryder says, snaking an arm across my shoulders. “And it’s not watching when I’m taking care of our kids. It’s called parenting.”
“Good answer.” Ana smirks while my heart damn near leaps out of my chest. “Be here at six,” she says to me. “We’re ordering in food, so come hungry.”
“Sounds good.”
Violet comes back, declaring her mess is clean, and then we head out. The ride is quiet since the girls did just as Ana had predicted and passed out before we made it out of the driveway.
After the girls are lying down and I don’t spot Ryder anywhere, I head downstairs to make myself a cup of coffee. While the espresso is dripping, my phone dings with a text, but before I can check it, strong arms wrap around me from behind. I drop my phone and turn around, looking up at Ryder.
“Hey,” he murmurs, lifting me onto the counter and then leaning in and pressing a tender kiss to my lips.
“Hey.” I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. “About earlier …”
“I wish you were Addie’s mom.”
“What?”
“I was never in a rush to settle down, but like anyone, when I went on a date, I’d try to imagine what it would be like to be with the woman long-term. Could I see myself waking up next to her for the rest of my life? Coming home and discussing my day with her? Could I see her as the mother of my children?
“After the first date, I knew Nora wasn’t someone I could see myself settling down with. She was self-centered from the beginning, and the only reason I continued to date her was because I was having a moment of loneliness and she pushed. And then she got pregnant.”
Ryder sighs and drops his head to my chest, and I drag my fingers through his hair. He’s still in need of a haircut, but I like the way his silky strands feel between my fingers.
“I couldn’t see Nora as a mother, and the truth is, she wasn’t meant to be one.
“But when Addie called you mama …” He looks up and locks eyes with me. “I could see it. The way you love and care for her. You’re patient and nurturing and everything I’ve ever wanted for my daughter.”
He palms my cheek, and I nuzzle his hand.
“But it’s more than that,” he continues. “I see us. Raising our kids together, having more babies, taking family trips, sneaking to get moments alone.”
He waggles his brows, and I choke out a laugh through the lump in my throat.
“When I look at you, I see everything.”
He uses his thumb to swipe away a fallen tear and then kisses the spot where it was. “Are those good or bad tears?”
“Good,” I tell him. “I know part of the reason she said it is because that’s what Violet calls me. But the second the word came from her lips, I felt like it was meant to be. I love her the way I love Violet, and I don’t give a shit that she’s not mine. If it were up to me, she would be.”
“Fuck, I love you,” Ryder says, pressing his forehead against mine. “I can’t wait until you’re divorced so I can make you and Violet mine.”
“Violet?” I ask, confused.
Ryder lifts his head and looks at me. “The way you love Addie is the same way I love Violet. I don’t just want you, Kira. I want you both. I want us to be a family, and when the time comes and if Violet and you are okay with it, I would love nothing more than to be her dad.”
My heart swells at his words. All I’ve ever wanted was for Violet and me to be part of a real family.
I palm his cheeks and press my lips to his. “I want that too,” I murmur against his mouth. “I want to be a family.”
He kisses me back, and I get lost in our promises for the future until my phone vibrates against the counter, bringing us out of the moment. It’s a reminder for the text I got earlier, but didn’t check.
I tap the screen, and Marie’s name appears, along with a text.
Marie
Hey! Haven’t heard from you in a while. Want to do coffee?
“You should go,” Ryder says.
“Huh?” I glance up from my phone.
“Go have coffee with her.”