Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Declan’s bottom lip wobbles and then he puts his head on Cayden’s leg and says, “I’m sorry, baby.”
Cayden, completely oblivious to Declan’s jealous swat, continues to sleep in my arms, mouth wide open just like how Ronan sleeps.
“Can I feed him?” Dakota asks, rushing over to me with another bottle.
“He seriously ate ten minutes ago. You’re going to make him fat, Kota.”
“You’re fat!”
“You little shit,” I bark as he runs off. “I’m going to get Dad’s belt!”
Cayden, used to the loud people in our family, doesn’t stir. Declan peeks up at me and grins. “You said shit.”
My eyes widen and I scan the living room to make sure Mom isn’t close by. “Shh. Our secret.”
He giggles and then runs off to go play with Dakota. I stand from the sofa and go into Destiny’s bedroom where Renna’s crib is set up. Renna is already down for a nap, so I lay Cayden at the other end of the crib. I close the door and then eventually find Mom in the pantry gathering ingredients for supper.
It’s been a couple weeks since I had Cayden. And despite our house being mostly ready, Mom demands we continue to eat supper here every night. Since I don’t have to cook, I’m not complaining.
“Can you keep an eye on your grandson while I round up your boys at the house?”
Mom’s smile is so cheesy anytime I remind her she has a grandson. She waves me off. “Go get them. I’ll listen out for Cayden.”
I kiss her on the cheek and then find my boots. It’s weird since I had Cayden. I don’t find Mom so annoying. In fact, I find her incredibly helpful and understanding. She always knows just what to do whenever Cayden is upset and inconsolable.
Slipping out of the big house, I brace myself against the wind. The scent of campfire lingers in the air and makes me wonder if we can scrounge up marshmallows later for s’mores.
Our new house is on the other side of the path behind our property that leads to the cliffside stairs. The guys cleared an area, built us a home big enough for the four of us, and are in the middle of erecting a fence to go all the way around it. Their next project when it’s warmer is to build a bridge across the two fences for quick, easy access to our parents’ house.
For now, I have to take the long way around.
Hammering can be heard as I make my way to the front of our house. Dad, Ronan, and Ryder are all busy at work. Pride surges in my chest.
“Mom’s looking for you,” I tell Dad with a grin.
He looks up and tosses his hammer down. “What does she need?”
“Someone to admire her grandson with, I think.”
Dad smirks as he passes me, messing up my hair along the way. I wait until he’s gone to rush over to where Ronan and Ryder are standing.
“Hurry, let’s run away while he’s distracted,” I call out loud enough for Dad to hear. “They’ll take in Cayden as one of their own. They have so many kids they’ll never know the difference.”
“Real funny, sunshine,” Dad hollers.
Sniggering, I find my way into my brothers’ arms. They both hold me, keeping me warm against the biting wind. No one’s watching, so we can display our affection as much as we want.
I’m not sure how long we stay, locked in a three-way embrace, but it feels too damn good to let go.
I’m never ever letting go.
The End