Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“I’m yours now.” I kiss her cheek, her jaw, and then her lips. “I’m always going to be yours.”
She grins and snuggles against me. “Oh, good, because if there was a blond bimbo, I’d have to kill her, and I look horrible in orange.”
“Not to mention, you can’t get spa treatments in prison.”
“And that would be awful.” She giggles. “I miss Alex. It sounded like he was having a good time with Jean and Dan. Jean said he’s been good for her, and he did his homework without an issue.”
“Good.” She nestles herself under my chin. “I’m sorry he’s been difficult lately.”
“I think it’s a phase,” she replies softly. “It’ll pass. Maybe he’s having a tough time adjusting to having a guy around. He loves you, and is always excited to see you, but it’s an adjustment all the same.”
“True.” I nod, thinking it over. “Do you want me to have a talk with him?”
“If the moment is right, and you want to talk to him, it won’t bother me,” she says. “Oh, and I spoke with Tom right before we went to California. I forgot to tell you in all the excitement. He still doesn’t have an ETA on my car.”
You have a car. But I don’t say it. She can keep the Rover. I know she likes it; she just won’t ask for it. Which is another thing I love about her.
“Like I said, there’s no rush on that.”
She nods. “Thanks.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I kiss her hair. “Do you want to nap a bit before we land?”
“Can I stay in your lap?”
“Of course.”
“Then, yes. I want to nap.”
***
“Hi, Jean, how are things?” Willa asks from the car on the way to her house. “We did land, and are on the way to my house now. We should be there in about ten minutes or so. Do you want to bring Alex to the house, or should I come and get him? …That would be awesome, thank you. …What do you mean?”
I glance at her as her voice changes to concern. She looks at me with wide, brown eyes.
“How long has he been throwing up? Oh, gosh, Jean. I’m so sorry. …Okay, see you then.”
“What’s up?”
“Alex has the flu.” She rubs her fingers over her forehead. “I wish she’d told me. He’s been throwing up for twenty-four hours.”
“Do we need to go get him?”
“No, they’re bringing him home.”
“He’s going to be okay,” I remind her.
“I know. I just hate it when he’s sick. I’m always with him.” She sighs. “Oh, well, it’ll be fine.”
I pull into her driveway and quickly unpack the car. Shortly after, Jean and Dan arrive.
“Mom,” Alex says with tears in his eyes when they come inside. “I throwed up in the car.”
“Oh, no.” Willa cringes. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’ll clean up,” Jean says. “He got most of it in the bucket.”
“I can clean it up now,” I offer, but Dan shakes his head.
“It really isn’t that bad,” Dan says, reaching out to shake my hand. “How are you, Max?”
“I’m well, thank you.”
“I’m so glad you had a nice time,” Jean says with a smile.
“I’m just sorry that Alex got sick.”
Rocky sniffs about as if he hasn’t been here in a month, then he walks into his kennel and lays down.
Alex has trained him well already.
“We’re going to get out of the way,” Jean says. “We’ll be in town another week, so if you need anything at all, you just call.”
“Thanks so much,” Willa says, leading Alex down the hall to his bedroom. “I’ll call you later.”
I see the couple out, then join Willa and Alex. She’s just pulling fresh pajamas over the little boy’s head.
“You can rest in your own bed,” she says before pulling him in for a hug. “You know the drill. Get comfy, and I’ll go fetch you a puke bowl, a towel, and some crackers.”
“’Kay,” he says. “Can I have Rocky?”
“I’ll bring him back with me,” she promises and gestures for me to follow her to the kitchen. “This isn’t how I imagined saying this, but thanks for this week. I had a great time.”
“It sounds like you’re kicking me out.”
She laughs humorlessly. “You definitely don’t have to stay. The next day or so isn’t going to be enjoyable or sexy. Let me get him back on his feet, and then I’ll call you.”
Without answering, I lean in and kiss her forehead. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
But her mind is already occupied as she searches for a big bowl and the other supplies for Alex. I leave, calling my mom as I pull out of the driveway.
“Hey, bud,” she says. “How are you?”
“I’m great,” I reply. “But Alex has the flu. Willa’s with him, and I thought I’d go to the store for supplies. I just don’t know what those are. I need mom help.”