Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
His next text said: I’m going to take that as a yes on this outfit for tomorrow. And the real question is, why wouldn’t I own an awesome red weenie bikini?
I was still grinning as I wrote: You’re such a weirdo. What are you up to tonight, besides modeling that fantastic look for me?
He told me: Not much, what about you?
I responded with: My best friend Hal flew in from L.A. to surprise me. We’re doing game night with some of my housemates and getting beaten badly by a pair of psychic lesbians.
He replied: Sounds fun, and I should let you go. Good luck with the crushing defeat. I’ll see you tomorrow.
As I returned the phone to the coffee table, I glanced up and found everyone watching me with amused expressions. “That was Lucky,” I said. “He was just being goofy.”
“Oh, we know who it was.” Lark was all smiles. “Nobody else makes you light up like that.”
I felt my cheeks heating up, and I tried to deflect the attention away from me with, “So, are we going to play another game, or what?”
The next morning, Hal went with Owen and me on our daily run. Afterwards, we lingered at the bakery, where he actually treated himself to a muffin. “Why not? I’m on my first vacation in ages,” he said, and we toasted each other with our coffees.
By the time we got home, my entire household was awake and buzzing with activity. Hal and I took turns using the shower, and after we got dressed I changed Owen into his birthday outfit.
Lark had bought the baby a cute light blue T-shirt with a cartoony smiling sun on it, along with an adorable pair of red overalls. There were little red sneakers too, but Owen pulled them off the moment I stuck them on his feet.
“Fine,” I said, as I picked him up. “I respect your fashion choices.” I kissed the top of his head, then turned to Hal. He was using the camera on his phone as a mirror and fussing with his dark hair. He wore it short except for his long bangs, and that part always drove him nuts. I told him, “You look adorable, and your hair is perfect. Can we go downstairs now?”
“Hang on.” He grabbed his toiletry kit and retreated to the bathroom. When he returned a couple of minutes later, his bangs were swept to the side and pinned back with a little silver clip. “Okay,” he said, “let’s get this party started.”
I’d been holding Owen’s hands while he cruised around the room, and I picked him up again and said, “It’s your birthday, baby! Time to celebrate.”
We went downstairs and discovered some guests had already arrived. Skye and Dare were chatting with Lark and Dylan in the living room, and Kel and his boyfriend Hudson came in a moment later with a tray of mimosas.
Then Eliot came down the stairs carrying a huge stack of children’s books, which he’d topped with a red bow. He put the books on the already half-full present table that had been set up in front of the bay window, and I said, “Wow, Eliot, thank you. That’s an amazing gift.”
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and told me, “I consulted with the children’s librarian at work and made a list, and these are the top sixteen books we came up with to start Owen’s library. We were shooting for a top ten, but we couldn’t narrow it down. I’d be happy to read them to him, if you ever want a break or anything.”
“I’d love that. Thank you again.”
All those thank yous were clearly embarrassing him. He muttered, “I’m going to see if my cousin needs any help in the kitchen,” before rushing off.
Hal asked, “Who’s his cousin?”
“Yolanda.”
“Ah, okay. I was wondering how he fit into the household. And what about the cute Korean-American guy and his giant blond boyfriend? What’s their story?”
“Kel met Yolanda through friends of friends and ended up renting a room from her. He followed his boyfriend here from L.A. about a year ago, when Hudson was playing pro football. They were on again, off again for a while there. Now they’re on again, apparently.”
I introduced Hal to Skye and Dare, and then JoJo came into the room carrying a pitcher and a stack of cups. “Hi, everyone,” she called. “There are mimosas going around, and these are Bloody Marys. We’ll be setting up the buffet in just a little bit, once the rest of our guests arrive. Enjoy!”
Hal plucked a pair of mimosas off the tray and smiled at JoJo as he said, “I do love me a boozy brunch.”
She smiled too and asked, “Is there any other kind?” Then she breezed from the room, looking gorgeous and summery in her yellow sundress.