Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
"Mimi." Lonie snatches the fury creature and squashes it possessively to her chest.
"I love Mimi." Gabriella presses her hand to her heart and sighs. "I swear my ovaries just popped out an egg in readiness."
"And what would your men think about that?"
"Dalton's ready. Blake and Kain, not so much."
"And what about you…Jesus…how come I didn't know this?"
"I'm not ready, either. Not really. I mean, I can imagine our cute little babies in my head, and I can see how awesome their daddies are going to be, but I can't see myself as a mom yet. I'm still recovering from seeing Ellie's splintered nipples a week after she had Noah."
I wince at the reminder. They didn’t look good.
"And forget about the damage to her lady garden. I swear, she was out of action for weeks."
I squirm, clenching my legs together in the imagination of a shared pain. "Yeah. I'm definitely nowhere near ready for that."
"But we're spending a lot of time practicing, you know." Gab's exaggerated wink and grin make Lonie laugh.
"Yeah, the practicing is the part I enjoy, too."
"You still messing around with Dornan, Elias, and my brother?"
"I am."
My words are lost beneath the cheering as the team runs out onto the field behind their mascot. Lonie, spotting the costume-clad person skipping along with a flag, reaches out like she wants them to come to her. Gabriella claps and whoops, pumping her right fist in the air. I'm limited by Lonie's warmth on my lap, but I still yell out my support.
I spot Dornan first by his number, then Elias. A thrill travels up my spine and settles between my thighs at the sight of their sheer size and power. The tight pants leave nothing to the imagination, not that I need to look to remember what they’re packing underneath all that spandex.
Eddie is towards the back, waving like he's the sole reason everyone is cheering like crazy. My teeth grit of their own volition as the marching band plays and the cheerleaders whip up the crowd into a frenzy.
Elias and Dornan stand at the forefront, their faces etched with determination as they exchange nods with their teammates. What must they be feeling? Excitement? Anticipation? Fear? The opposing team is huge, but Elias and Dornan don't have to worry about that.
Lonie, sensing the anticipation, squirms on my lap, her wide eyes filled with wonder at all the excitement in front of her.
A hush falls over the stadium as the national anthem plays. The crowd stands, and I struggle to my feet with Lonie, who is a heavy weight in my arms. She stares down at the field, but her gaze is still drawn by the mascot, who looks uncannily similar to her stuffie.
Our team is set to play offense first, and my heart skitters as the referee's whistle pierces the air.
"They've got a good chance," Gab says as we retake our seats.
I say a silent prayer, knowing that if they lose, Dornan and Elias will be in a terrible mood for days after.
The game is exciting. Each team pulls ahead but is quickly caught. With the score tied and the tension palpable in the air, the spotlight falls on Josh, the quarterback, as he takes command of the game. The stadium echoes with the roar of the crowd, their collective breath held in anticipation. He surveys the field with a steely gaze, the weight of the moment evident in the determined set of his jaw.
As the ball snaps, Josh drops back, skillfully evading the defensive linemen with a graceful dance of footwork. I hold my breath, the suspense building with every passing second. In the periphery, Elias, always attuned to Josh's movements, sprints down the field with lightning speed, creating an opening in the opposing defense. With a swift glance, Josh locks eyes with Elias, signaling a play. Josh unleashes a powerful spiral, the ball hurtling through the air with precision. Elias leaps into the air, fingertips grazing the ball. The crowd erupts into cheers as Elias secures the catch, landing gracefully in the end zone.
"Touchdown," Gab yells, on her feet, jumping up and down, the moment of triumph setting the stadium into a frenzy of celebration. I want to yell too, but Lonie's ears are likely already overwhelmed with the shouting around us.
In the midst of the celebrations and high-fives, pride surges in my chest. Lonie claps as Dornan throws his arm around Elias's shoulder and presses their helmets together.
"Ah, look. There's a new bromance building." Gab grins. "Must be your pussy of unity."
"Yeah. It's the thing that can bring about world peace."
Lonie grabs a fistful of my hair and pulls it, making me squeal. I think all the excitement is becoming too much for her, and she must be tired, too. I'm wrecked from my time spent taking care of her. I make a mental note to offer to help Ellie out more often. I forgot my friend has this level of responsibility around the clock, and she's still studying, too.