Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Unable to suppress my blushing over his statement causes me to swiftly spin on my gray sneaker covered heels and hustle towards the front to retrieve the already paid for items. Relocating the candy to my car, which is parked halfway between the museum and the downtown restaurant I’m supposed to be meeting my boyfriend at allows me a few moments to bask in the feeling I’ve never truly let myself feel in the past.
They really consider me family.
Not just the nanny.
Not just the girlfriend.
But actual family.
It’s one thing to think it and another to assume it, yet it’s a whole South Pole thing to hear it.
Kind of like when Ig said he loved me for the first time a couple of weeks ago.
Part of me already suspected it; however, when the words actually left his mouth, it was like that moment in The Grinch when his heart grew all those sizes.
I probably looked just as goofy considering he was balls deep inside me and no one ever looks pretty when they’re coming outside of porn.
Excluding Hentai, of course.
Those are probably accurate to the faces I make.
I not so secretly believe that’s why the man I love is obsessed with getting me off.
Getting from the parking garage to The Big Green – a local Mediterranean restaurant known for being popular among the city’s athletes due to its wide variety of healthy choices – takes even less amount of time than I predicted courtesy of me catching every go pedestrian light possible.
My on-foot arrival syncs to Ig’s who happens grab a rare space right outside the building. He parks, kills the engine, hops out, and immediately heads towards me bearing a wide mouth grin. “Right on scheddie, Joeski.”
“Yeah, the toy museum is only a couple blocks over.”
After dropping a sweet peck on my lips, he ponders, “We have a toy museum?”
“We have an incredible toy museum. Not only is it fun, it’s educational for people of all ages.”
“Educational?” Mirth bounces around in his expression as he quirks an eyebrow. “Is that really the SOG you wanna make?”
“Definitely.”
“Is this a shot before angles are still shots type of thing?”
Shoving my hands into the pocket of my fuzzy gray sweater is attached to a snarky smirk. “This is a first to score in OT type of sitch.”
He sinks his teeth into his lip to prevent him from moaning over my hockey lingo. “Okay, Slayer. Shoot.”
“Did you know the Slinky was invented on accident by a mechanical engineer who was designing something to secure particular items on ships for the Navy?”
His mouth lowers to immediately respond yet hesitates when he realizes he can’t. “…Net.”
“Goose Egg for Forty-Two,” I smugly snicker while fishing out the gift from my pocket. “However, here is a participation trophy courtesy of your father.”
He tilts his head in slight bewilderment. “Father went with you and Bella to the toy museum?”
“Yup.”
“You mean Mom and Father?”
“Nope.”
“Just…Father?”
“Da.” Lifting up the tiny toy merely deepens his bafflement. “And he got you this.”
“Ukh ty.” Ig carefully picks up the figurine keychain, awe effortlessly replacing befuddlement. “YA ne mogu v eto poverit'.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“I uh…” He slides his finger into the clip space to let it dangle for his inspecting. “I can’t believe he remembered.”
“Remembered what?”
“My favorite cartoon from when I was a kid.” The object is moved to give me a better view. “This is Wildwing Flashblade from The Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series.” Watching his grin grow brighter and wider draws me even closer to him. “It was one of the only shows he was willing to watch with me since it involved hockey. I originally wanted to play for The Ducks when I grew and be a tendy like Wildwing, but I wisely grew out of both.” He lightly laughs to himself more than me. “It would’ve been a shit fit.”
An even softer smile slips onto my face prior to my suggestion. “Maybe you can watch it with Bella after the season ends? It could be your ‘summer show’? Your ‘pass it down’ tradition that maybe she shares with her own kid thirty years in the future.”
His scowl is swift and strong. “Pyat'desyat.”
“Fifty seems excessive but whatever.”
More laughter leaves us both, yet he’s first to speak when it fades. “I like that idea.” Unlocking his SUV door precedes him backing up towards it. “And I like the idea of this hero on my bag for good luck.”
Silently watching him clip the keychain on not only allows me a great shot of his ass bent slightly over in gray sweatpants – halleluiah it’s always gray sweatpants season when you’re banging a hockey player – it provides me with a chance to admire the lingering astonishment in his expression.
I know they haven’t always had the best relationship, but it’s changing.
Which I think is great for Bella.