Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Look at her.” Darius was watching too, amused and beyond hooked. It would never tire Gray to see the love Darius had for their kids. Not that Gray had ever doubted the commitment once it was in effect, so to speak. It was just a beautiful sight. “She’s growing sharper and more observant every day.”
She really was.
Gray slid his gaze back to Avery and Abel.
Abel went first. “Okay, so after Gray’s and Darius’s trips to the craft store, we asked the kids what they thought of their experience. The first question was, who was funniest to shop with?”
“The majority voted for Darius,” Avery stated.
“What the hell?” Gray blurted out. How the fuck had Darius been funnier?
Darius smirked wryly. “You forget that kids can be cruel little shits. They spent that time laughing at me.”
That did feel marginally better.
“Next, we asked about the participation,” Avery continued. “And we decided to make that a tie. Because Gray let the kids run around and be creative on their own—Darius did no such thing, but he did create a game out of having the children make quick decisions in the aisle they were in, and they found that very funny. So you both get a point.”
Gray side-eyed his competition.
“Then we asked what gift they preferred,” Abel said. “It was a close call, but Darius won.”
Fuuuck.
Gray sank down in his seat and scrubbed a hand over his face. With the amount of glitter and colorful stickers they’d used, he’d really thought this would be in the bag.
“Did I miss anything?” That was Ryan. He was back.
The twins were red-nosed from the crying and screaming they’d done earlier, but two lollipops had put them in a better mood.
As batshit crazy as Ryan could be, Gray had heard the man discipline his boys in the past. He could make both JJ and Ryder heel when he wanted them to. And then they hugged and made up, and all was forgiven until the next fight would occur approximately three hours later.
Once Abel and Avery had caught Ryan up to speed, he took over.
“Last but not least, we got a few seconds to inspect the gifts when we discussed your performances,” Ryan said. “It’s clear that Gray’s got patience for days, and no kid could ever fear him—can’t say the same about my brother.” The grown-ups got a laugh from that. “But today, Gray was the squad leader who sent his team ahead to check things out while he gathered his wits. Sloppy strategy, you had to rely on the spotters more, and it wasn’t until the last minute you figured out what to make. On the plus side—”
“Oh, there’s a plus side?” Gray bit out. He couldn’t help but feel offended.
Ryan smiled. Widely.
Fuck. Damn button-pusher.
“The kids loved shopping with you, Gray,” he chuckled. “You went with a gift that allowed them to be part of the decision-making. And a big bonus, when you left the store, you actually offered your number to the lady at the register in case she needed help cleaning up any messes.” He turned to reach across the bar for something, and then he revealed the gifts. Gray’s gifts. “So here we are, Darius. Gray and the kids present to you a glitter factory. Three picture frames and your happily ever after. A tin container with…yeah, I’m not gonna count them.” He stopped digging through the little jar. “Either way, when you have plans to head out somewhere, in here, you’ll find excuses that let you stay at home. Clearly the perfect present for your hermit ass.”
“Are you shittin’ me?” Darius rose from his seat and went over to accept the gifts. “I don’t have the words.” It was his turn to rummage through the pink jar, and he unrolled one strip to read the message. “‘Not tonight, knucklehead, I gotta watch the neighbor’s garden gnome collection.’” He burst out a laugh.
Gray grinned.
Darius read one more. “‘Or we stay home and I’ll fire up the grill while you make a cheesecake.’” He glanced over at Gray. “I’m speechless, knucklehead. I’m… I just—this is the best gift you could ever get me.”
“Abel, let Mom know that just made my wish list,” Lincoln told him.
Gray exhaled a laugh, feeling tons better now. He’d had a feeling Darius would love it.
But yeah, Darius won that day. He won the first round. With the argument: “Darius went in there with a plan in motion, and he headed straight for the aisle he needed. The kids got to pick out a certain object that went on the gift, therefore abiding by the rules, and then they were out. The kids got to laugh at their uncle—which they did a lot—and since they got here, they’ve participated by adding their names to little wood chips. So with that, here is Darius’s gift for you, Gray.”