Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 109096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
"Willa!" I yell up the stairs. "You promised you'd help!"
"Coming!" she drawls out the world and I can picture her rolling her eyes. She rushes down the stairs. Every day I see her now, I'm amazed at how beautiful she's grown up to be. She was a striking but painfully thin child, and now she's a beauty that's as unmissable as she is unforgettable. "Oh God. How long did you leave it in for?"
"It's been about ten minutes," I admit sheepishly.
"Don't panic."
"Don't lead with that!" I yelp as she drags me into the downstairs bathroom, just as Nox opens the front door, balancing a huge cardboard box. "Nox! Don't let Willa see that, you know it's part of the surprise."
"Of course," he laughs, walking past us into the dining room. "Ten minutes are up by the way!"
"Bit late with that!" Willa calls back before closing the bathroom door. She sits me down on the closed lid of the toilet and unwraps my strand of hair out of the foil. "Oh my God."
"What?" I gasp. "Is it falling out? Did we leave it in for too long?"
"No," Willa grins. "It's white. It looks perfect!"
I turn around to look at myself in the mirror. My hair is chocolate brown, but now I have a white streak in the front. Willa thought it would look silly at first, but she tells me now how badass it is and that I look really cool.
"Do you like it?" she asks nervously.
"Yeah," I nod slowly. "I just hope Nox does too."
"Like what?" He squeezes into the bathroom making Willa groan as he kisses me deeply.
"Would you two get a room?" she begs.
"Not when we can embarrass you instead," Nox teases her, making her roll her eyes. But she still grinning as she goes in search of her brothers.
We've never broached the subject of Willa calling me Mom, or Nox Dad. But there's no question about one thing – Zane and Kellan are her family, her little siblings, and she treats them that way as do they her.
Finally, Nox and I are alone, and I melt into his embrace as he holds me close, kissing me deeply and making me submit to him in seconds yet again. I never could resist him, my soulmate, the man who both doomed and saved me.
We disappear into the bedroom while the boys nap and Willa gets ready for her party at her best friend, Mercy's house. We recently found out that Mercy is Sam's granddaughter, and we always encourage having her around. Even though her mother is a kickass lady and takes great care of her, we want to be there for Mercy, too. We've told her all our best Sam stories, and sometimes, even his daughter, Mercy's mom, listens in with a faint smile on her face.
While Nox explores my body, I close my eyes. I'm so grateful for how my life has worked out, what my family has given me. A place where I belong... And even my relationship with my mother has gotten a little less frosty. She adores the kids and has even been here to visit twice. She doesn't know who Nox is, and I doubt she ever will. There are some lines even I won't cross.
Robin lives in my heart, and in the rich tapestry of memories I share with the kids and Nox. I make sure Robin's a part of conversations, bringing up little stories and anecdotes about him, with Nox joining in. I don't know whether I'll ever be able to tell them the truth... but I can only pray that they'll understand, should they ever find out.
When it's time for us to get up, the house is bursting with activity for the night. A nanny is taking the boys and there will be a party and big sleepover at our house for the kids. We're actually letting them stay the night while we sleep in the new house – we trust Willa enough for that.
The caterers get everything ready and we wait for the girls to get there so we can give Willa her last present. The festivities are in full force an hour later and Nox wants me to himself, so we tear away the birthday girl and lead her outside with a blindfold on.
"Ta-da!" I say, slipping it off her eyes.
"Oh. My. Freaking. God." Willa covers her mouth before squealing. "Are you serious?"
"Of course," I nod. "We trust you, darling."
"You won't regret this!" she squeaks as she jumps up and down in front of the cherry red Mustang. "Can I take it for a spin?"
"You can go around the block now, but don't drive without us tonight," I nod while Nox kisses Willa's cheek.
She's not even listening anymore, begging Nox to come with her. He gets in the car along with Mercy and they drive off around the neighborhood, shrieking with excitement. I'm already worried, but I force myself to stop doing that to myself and make sure the girls are set up for the night. One of the girls' older sisters, who seems a bit more bookish, will be with them, and we'll only be a call away.