Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 70106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
At that, she sheepishly nods.
“Is that a yes?”
She nods with a little more vigor the second time.
“Alright then, I’ll grab him.” I lean over and plant a soft kiss on the side of her forehead. “Try to get some more rest while I’m gone.”
Getting from my room to where Kipp is slamming around tools – clearly failing to hide his frustration – is done fairly quickly; however, I can’t ignore the feeling that getting from the garage to my nonwork truck is going to take a bit more time.
As soon as my best friend sees me, he carelessly chucks the wrench to the side and crosses over to cut off my path. “How is she?!” Anxiousness and hope furiously fuse together on his face. “Better?” It’s impossible not to acknowledge the longing in his blindingly bright, crystal stare. “She finally talking?”
There’s no time to even think about replying.
“She say your name?! My name?!” Eagerness has him closing the gap between us. “Our names?!”
Gently dropping my hands on his shoulder is accompanied by firmly commanding, “Breathe, Kid.”
Against his own volition, he does.
“Take an early lunch. Go spend some time with her.”
“I don’t know that that’s a good idea…” He shifts his weight back and forth uncomfortably. “I honestly don’t think she wants me around.” His gaze wanders away to get lost in the distance. “Cares if I’m around. I kinda think if I wasn’t bringing her different color pens throughout the day, she wouldn’t even remember I exist.”
“Kid,” I forcefully state, summoning his attention back to me, “you gotta be patient. She just needs a little more time.” My fingers flex, prompting his tense muscles to loosen. “She’s still here, which means she still wants us. To be with us. She didn’t fucking run after she found that note. Never forget that.”
“Yeah, but it’s your room she doesn’t leave-”
“Because she feels too exposed in the living room.”
“And it’s your bed she sleeps in-”
“Because the one we had together on the floor was ruined by where she found the fuckin’ note.”
“And your voice that stops her from screaming.” Flickers of tears struggle not to be seen in his eyes. “I…I…I don’t think it’s us she wants anymore, Nolan. I think it’s just you.” He shrugs my arms off his frame. “I think it’s always been just you. I think I’ve never been anything else other than a spare wheel. A free feature she would’ve never paid extra for. A-”
His words are cut off due to me abruptly yanking him forward by his work shirt. “Knock that shit off, Kid.”
Kipp’s eyebrows pull tightly together in silent objection.
“We’re in this together. The three of us belong together.” Tightening my grip occurs at the same time I soften my tone. “Don’t let that asshole get inside your head like he’s gotten inside of hers.” My other hand lands protectively on his hip. “I need you on armored truck duty for our woman, not limo service to a bachelorette party. Got it?”
There’s no hesitation to sniffle away his doubts and nod. “Got it.”
“Good.” I loosen my hold as my other hand slides down to cup his ass. “What do you think? I look okay?”
The kid lets his gaze sweep over my dark slacks and white button up shirt. “You look like you’re goin’ on a date…not meeting our attorney.”
“Who’s also an old friend.”
Displeased grumbles promptly echo around the space.
“Quit fuckin’ burnin’ rubber about me havin’ brunch-”
“Brunch is a date meal.”
“-with Garcia. Fuck, there are only two people who can even start my engine anymore and that’s you and our Lola upstairs. It’s fucking embarrassin’.”
“Lola?”
“Like Lola Rabbit.” A blank stare being the only response I’m given gets me huffing. “Could you maybe not remind me how much fuckin’ older I am than you?” Delivering a playful swat to his ass conjures a chuckle. “Just like…for a…day, maybe? Is that too much to fuckin’ ask?”
“It is when you ask for it every day.”
Another pop precedes our mouths meshing together. My lips spread his roughly on impact and the second my tongue has the chance to slide inside it does. It lazily rolls in one direction. The other. Laps his like it’s done the shit a thousand times and will be doing it a thousand more.
Desperate, needy groans, pour out of my boyfriend, calling for me to harshen my hold.
Grind my growing hard on against his, further reminding him that he has nothing to worry about.
That they have nothing to worry about.
Particularly in this department.
I can’t even fucking watch porn anymore because of them.
Abruptly pulling back results in me needing to wipe away spit from the corner of his mouth. “Hold that fuckin’ thought for me ‘til I get back.”
The Kid manages to steal a tiny lick of my thumb. “Yes, Sir.”
Hungry grumbles leave me before placing a much more chaste kiss on his lips and begrudgingly leaving.