Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Roux flashes me a thankful smile. Jordy is in the kitchen laughing with the other Hoodlums and Hollis while Charlotte is locked in an intense conversation with Loden. It makes me feel bad Tierra couldn’t be here, but it’s her damn fault for getting grounded by Grandma.
“I’ll be right back,” Roux assures me. “I need to run to the restroom.”
She hands me the swaddled bundle. I lean back against the cushions, admiring the cute baby. Emilia is barely a week old and so damn tiny. I hold her to my chest, patting her back with my giant hand that’s damn near the length of her body.
So fucking cute.
A pang of sadness washes over me. I missed this with Zella. All this shit with Samantha is just for confirmation of what I already know. I’m sad that I’ve missed out on four years. Four years that Lacey didn’t have to parent alone. Sure, it would have sucked trying to go to college and also be a father, but I would have found a way to make it happen.
“You think she’ll be rowdy like Sebban?” I murmur, slightly nudging an all-too quiet Penny beside me.
“She’s part Hoodlum, so probably.”
Sebban is spending the night with Kelsey and Karen. Kelsey, though young and hot, is a surprisingly good grandma. I know she picks him up and keeps him a lot, which helps out Hollis and Roan with their strange work schedules.
I run a finger over the soft hair on Emilia’s tiny head. Her lips pucker as she makes a face in her sleep.
“I’ll hold her,” Penny says, her voice tight.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
I cock a brow and cut my gaze to Penny. She’s fidgety and her blue eyes storm with emotion, but she holds out her arms anyway. Carefully, I turn Emilia and then settle her into Penny’s waiting arms. My fingers brush along Penny’s bare skin and she shudders, scowling at me.
A small laugh tumbles out. “Sorry.”
Not sorry, though. I crave to run my finger along her forearm, up over the curve of her small bicep, around her shoulder, and to her neck.
I sling an arm over the back of the sofa behind Penny, leaning in so I can still look at Emilia. At first, Penny is stiff, but she relaxes, talking softly to Emilia.
With my free hand, I gently stroke Emilia’s hair again. She’s just so soft and cute. My leg starts aching, so I stretch it out, only wincing slightly. Penny nudges me with her thigh, sending currents of heat straight to my cock.
“You’re hurting,” she says, frowning my way.
“Always.”
Emilia opens her eyes, pinning us with amber ones that match her mother’s. Her face scrunches and then she lets out a grumbly-ass fart that sounds wet.
“Ew,” Penny whines. “Take her.”
“All yours, babe,” I say with a laugh.
Her eyes are fiery. “I’m serious. I hate poop.”
“And I like it?” I challenge.
“You’re a boy. Boys are gross. Just take her.”
Jordy appears, looking fatherly as fuck as he holds his hands out for his baby. “Hand her over. Roux wants to feed her anyway. I’ll go change her.”
Penny happily passes her back to her daddy. As soon as he leaves us, I realize with my arm on the sofa behind Penny and sitting so closely, we might be seen as a couple. And, for some reason, I don’t hate that fact.
Penny, however, must.
She flies off the sofa and heads toward the kitchen. Before I can go after her, I’m bombarded by Cal, who sits down in Penny’s vacated seat and proceeds to give me shit about lusting over jailbait.
I’m in so much trouble with this girl.
Penny
I’m antsy. Wired. Over it. I should leave, but it’s one of those moments where I know I’ll get more shit about leaving than staying. Everyone will want to know what’s wrong and then they’ll draw conclusions that it has to be Terrence.
I don’t want them blaming him for my pissy mood.
Even if he is the reason.
Being mad at him makes no sense. He’s done nothing wrong, but I can’t help but feel edgy and bursting with energy whenever he nears me. All night, he’s been right there beside me with his intoxicating scent and addictive smile.
He makes me feel warm, but with each passing second, the heat inside me increases tenfold, leaving me a burning inferno of…something. It makes me feel out of control. For a girl who desperately needs control to feel somewhat normal, this is stressful.
I catch his dark-eyed stare as he laughs at something Loden says. They’re standing near the kitchen table, absently picking at snacks there. Loden, of course looks good in all his rock star glory, but he pales in comparison to the way Terrence’s energy pulsates like rays from the sun.
Terrence is too much…everything.
And I still can’t decide if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.