Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” Daphne said, nodding.
“What about after school?” I asked, not exactly comfortable with the idea of my underage child alone in an apartment with two adult men. Even if they were there to protect her.
“How about after school, the twins take Daphne to the self-defense gym?” Callow suggested. “She’s already familiar with it and the people. The women who run it are highly-trained themselves. And the twins will hang there too as backup. Until we swing by after your work to pick her up and bring her home.”
They had it all planned out.
It was… surprisingly refreshing not to have to iron out all the details to everything myself.
“I think that’ll work. What do you think?” I asked, running my hand through Daphne’s hair.
“Yeah. I guess I can just do my homework while I’m there.”
“And read,” I reminded her.
“I owe you a trip to the bookstore,” Callow told her, making her eyes brighten.
“Really?”
“Yep. Know about some sort of shopping challenge thing.”
“But I can’t hold that many books,” Daphne said, clearly already knowing about that challenge.
“I got arms,” Callow said.
“Can we go tomorrow?” she asked, practically bouncing in her seat. “There are two sequels to this,” she said, reaching for her massive tome and patting it lovingly. “I need them ASAP. This is going to end on a cliffhanger, I can feel it.”
“We’ll see how tomorrow goes. But we got all weekend too,” he reminded her. “Read that one a little slower,” he added, giving her a little smile.
“Easy for you to say. You’re not watching the heroine be trapped in a tower by her evil step-brother while her love interest is tortured in a neighboring kingdom.”
“Just a little light reading, huh?” Callow asked, making Daphne laugh.
“If we go on the weekend, it gives you more time to convene with Allie about what other books you need to look for. It’s a timed challenge, you know,” I told her.
“That’s true,” she agreed, already reaching for her phone. “Wait… what about Allie and her moms?”
“I don’t think they’re in any sort of danger,” Fallon said as he slipped his phone into his pocket. “They have no connection to the club. The only reason you’ve been targeted is, I think, because Daphne was at the drop when the shooting went down. They’ve probably just assumed you were the kid of one of the club members.”
“Okay good,” I said, relieved not to have to worry about them too.
“But, for the time being, no play dates,” Fallon said, clearly fucking with Daphne. And getting the reaction he was looking for when she narrowed her eyes at him.
“You have kids, don’t you?” I asked, smiling at him.
“Fucking with them brings me a lot of joy,” he said, chuckling. “It’s my way of paying them back for keeping me from sleeping for the first year of their lives. Alright, if we’re all set here, we got some shit to do,” he said, nodding toward Brooks and the two of them wandered off together.
“I’ll just go grab some shit to bring to your place,” Callow said.
“Mom, why don’t you help him?” Daphne asked, making Croft have to fake a cough to keep from laughing.
“Callow is a full-grown man. I’m sure he’s capable of packing his own bag,” I said, shaking my head at Callow.
“Give me five,” he said, running a hand across my lower back on his way back toward the hallway.
“See? Aren’t you glad I talked you into the queen-sized bed when you got rid of your old one?” Daphne asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“How would Callow fit in a full?” she asked.
“Callow will be sleeping on the couch,” I said, even if a part of me would love to have him beside me, holding me through the night.
“Why?”
“What do you mean why?”
“You’re seeing him, aren’t you?”
“Oh, kid,” I sighed. “This is not the time or place for that talk,” I said.
“I’d be fine with him staying in your room. I’m not a little kid,” she said. “I know you have sex.”
“Oookay. We’re going to let this drop,” I insisted.
“I wasn’t born of immaculate conception,” she added, not ready to let it drop.
“I know. I was there,” I said.
“Gross. But it’s normal to sleep with your boyfriend.”
“Daph, he’s not my boyfriend,” I told her, even if my heart squeezed at the idea.
“He kind of is. You’re just being weird about admitting it,” she said, so sure of herself. “He’s going to come sit at your work all day, every day. Guys don’t do that for girls they don’t like.”
“He’s going to sleep on the couch tonight, Daph,” I told her.
“But not tomorrow night. Got it,” she said, walking away before I could object again.
Besides, maybe he would eventually transition into my bed. I didn’t want time to make a liar out of me.
Callow appeared a few moments later, wearing a leather jacket over his sweats and carrying what had to be his old military duffle bag.