Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
She swallows hard. “Yes.” She nods as if she also needs to show me her answer before standing and following along behind us to the kitchen.
When we make it to the kitchen, Lilly is already in her high chair, and her small little smash cake, which is what Emerson called it, is in front of her. We sing “Happy Birthday,” and Lilly smiles and claps. Before the song is over, she’s already dipping her index finger into the icing and shoving it into her mouth.
All the adults have their phones out, taking pictures, and Lilly hams it up for the camera. She’s the perfect mix of her parents. I can see both Roman and Emerson in her mannerisms.
“Who wants cake?” Roman calls out as he starts to slice pieces of the large birthday cake.
I stand back and watch as Monroe and Briar grab a piece of cake and some ice cream for the twins and set them up at the little picnic table I bought Lilly for her birthday. It's just one of the many gifts because I’m going for the “favorite uncle” status, after all. She might be a little too young for it now, but I thought it would be perfect for our summer outside cookouts. In fact, I need to order one for my place so she also has one there when she comes to visit.
Once everyone has a piece of cake, we sit at the dining room table. Briar sits on the edge of her seat and constantly checks on the twins, who are chatting away with each other enjoying their cake and ice cream in the corner of the dining room.
“So, Briar, you work with Mo?” Maddox asks.
“I do. My sister, Brogan, and I both do. I’m in billing, and work from home most of the time, which is helpful with the girls, and Brogan is a phlebotomist.”
“And you’re twins?” Lachlan asks.
“We are.” Briar offers him a smile.
“And you’re both single?” Lachlan clarifies.
“We are.” Briar nods, and her cheeks take on a soft pink hue.
“And the other one?” Maddox asks.
“Oh, that’s Maggie. She’s a nurse who works with me at the surgery center. And yes, she’s also single.”
Lachlan goes to speak, but I shake my head, and he quickly closes his mouth. “This cake is great. Where did you get it?” I ask my sister. Lachlan gives me a “what the fuck” look, clearly thinking I’ve lost my mind, and I probably have, but I don’t want him grilling Briar. She’s already embarrassed if the pink of her cheeks is any indication.
I ignore him and pretend that my sister telling me about the woman she found in the town over from ours who made the cake is the most riveting conversation I’ve had in weeks.
“So you all work at the same tattoo studio?” Briar asks.
“We do.” Roman nods. “We’re building a new site out on the edge of town. The south side.”
“That’s right. I remember Brogan telling me about that.” Briar glances at Monroe. “She said you told her that’s where I should go to get my ink.”
“Are you thinking about a new tattoo?” I ask her.
She turns to look at me where I’m sitting next to her. “I am. My first. I want something for the girls and my dad all in one.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that I’ll do it for free, just to spend more time with her, but my sister opens her mouth before I can.
“All five of them are extremely talented. When you’re ready, you can’t go wrong with any of them.”
At least she didn’t suggest one of the guys and not me. I’m already thinking about how I can tell Lyra and Drake that if a Briar calls, she’s to be scheduled with me. “She’s right,” I tell Briar. “We can all help you. Do you need help with a design?” I might as well go ahead and toss my name in the hat.
“Maybe.” She bites down on her plump bottom lip. “I have ideas. I just don’t know how to incorporate them all.”
“When you’re ready,” I say softly, keeping this part of the conversation just between us.
“Thank you, Forrest.”
I nod and look up to see my sister watching me. I can’t read the expression on her face, but it’s gone before I can name it, anyway.
As the party dies down, I offer to carry the twins to the car for Briar. They’re both tired and asking Briar to carry them. She’s a tiny thing, so I don’t see how she can. They’re sitting on the love seat, while Briar stands before them.
I kneel so that we’re at eye level. “Would it be all right if I carried you to the car?” I ask them.
“I can help,” Lachlan offers.
“You don’t have to do that. They’re big girls now. They can walk,” Briar says, more for the girls’ benefit than ours.