Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
“Yes, Mom,” Nora sighed as sashayed into the room. “Jen agreed to the party.” I winked at her and held out my hand, beckoning her to come to me. She smiled and sauntered over, letting me pull her down into my lap. “But we didn’t commit to a particular kind of dress, or the guest list you gave me, or the decorations you picked out.”
“Did you learn anything from our wedding, Diedre?” I drawled. “You push…”
Nora grinned. “We push back.”
“Or run away,” Jennalynn snickered, then huffed, “Don’t get me wrong, that’s sounding really freaking great right about now.”
I turned my wife’s face toward me and pressed my lips to hers, only pulling away when Jennalynn muttered, “I’m right here, guys. Cool it on the making out.”
“Yes,” Diedre snipped. “Must you do that?”
“Yes,” I told her matter-of-factly. “Woulda thought you’d get over it, considering it’s how you got four kick-ass grandbabies.”
Diedre sniffed, but her face softened when she looked at Jennalynn. “You do look beautiful, my dear.”
“I look like a cupcake, Grandma,” Jennalynn snorted.
“You look perfect. Don’t you want to catch the eye of your handsome prince?” Nora’s mom asked with a slightly dreamy tone.
Nora, Jennalynn, and I all burst into laughter.
“Nah, Grandma. I’m lookin’ for the guy up the road who has tattoos and rides a motorcycle.” She winked at me adorably, so I didn’t comment that she would never be dating.
Nora tilted her head, studying our daughter with a secretive smile. “Why don’t you show your grandmother the dress you picked out?”
Jennalynn’s face lit up, and she bounced out of the room.
“Honestly,” Diedre huffed. “What are you teaching that girl, Nora?”
“To be herself. No matter what anyone else thinks.”
I fucking adored my wife.
“Daddy!” Vivienne screamed. A second later, our four-year-old came barreling into the room with a terrified expression and chocolate all over her face.
“Vivi! You are in so much fucking trouble!” Garner—our twelve-year-old son—shouted.
I winced as Nora and Diedre gasped like pearl-clutching old ladies. It was me who was gonna be in a shit ton of trouble.
Vivi ran over and threw herself at Nora, burying her face in her stomach.
When Garner burst into the room, he glared daggers at the little thief and stalked across the room. He stopped in front of us and shoved his hand onto his hips. “That was the last of my Halloween candy!”
Vivi turned her head—leaving a smear of chocolate on Nora’s T-shirt—and blinked her big blue eyes at him as giant tears rolled down her cheeks.
She was a master at puppy dog eyes and heartbreaking tears, which was why she had every man in this house wrapped around her little fingers.
“Sorry, G,” she said in a trembling voice. “I didn’t know it was yours.” Then she leaned in and whispered, “I thought it was Shep’s.”
“Ugh,” Diedre moaned. She hated that all our kids went by nicknames.
Personally, I enjoyed her pain, but I kept that to myself.
“It was mine,” fourteen-year-old Shepherd muttered from the corner where he’d been practically hiding behind a book since his grandma arrived. “G stole it first. So serves you right, bro.”
Before anyone could say anything else, Jennalynn strolled back in.
“What is that?” Diedre screeched.
“Well, Mom,” Nora said in an “announcer” voice. “This gorgeous model is wearing a vintage-inspired satin A-line gown. The strapless dress has boning in the corset and lovely, handcrafted details. As you can see, there is ruching at the top of the skirt before it flows to the floor in front, with a slit up the left side and a court train in the back. To add flair to this ensemble, made so incredibly beautiful by the model, are black lace gloves that end on the biceps with intricate detailing.”
Jennalynn was beaming and walking around the living room as if she were on a runway.
I might have laughed if I wasn’t so fucking speechless. When did my little girl grow the fuck up?
She turned around, and her leg flashed between the thigh-high slit. I jumped to my feet, making sure to keep Nora and Vivi from falling to the ground. “Not a chance in hell, Jelly Bean!” I growled. “You are not wearing that.”
“Finally, we agree for once,” Diedre sniffed. “But you might have used more appropriate language.”
I threw her a withering scowl, and she shut up.
My daughter’s face crumpled and tears welled in her eyes, making me feel like the world’s biggest jackass. “You don’t think it looks good on me, Daddy?”
I sighed and walked over to her, pulling her into my arms. “Of course I do, Jelly Bean. You look amazing.”
“Then why—”
“Because I’m not going to let some horny teenage punks drool over my sweet, beautiful girl.”
“But Daddy—”
“No. I’m sorry, but—”
“She’s growing up, Eli,” Nora interrupted. “Soon, she’ll be dating. You’re going to have to accept it sometime.”
I frowned at her. “Like hell. There will be no boys.” I turned my glare down to my daughter. “No dating. Not until I’m dead.”