Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 96586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
His wife gives him a playful swat prior to sighing, “They go straight to my thighs, so I try to be mindful of them, but…ohmygod, it sounds like I may be in dire need of a cheat day.”
“Why don’t we plan a dinner at my townhouse, and we can make dinner for the three of you?”
“And by we, Pres really means me while she keeps you occupied with conversations about her newfound interest in hockey.”
“You like hockey?” Noah excitedly inquires.
“I don’t always get it, but I’m learning. Ry wants us to go to games when the next season starts so between catching up on Richard Gere movies that I can’t believe I missed like Arbitrage, we watch hockey clips or highlights or old games. Keeps our relationship oddly balanced.”
“Ohdearlord, I love Richard Gere!” Shelly girlishly exclaims.
“You too?!”
“Epitome of sexy and aging like the finest wine,” she coos.
“You do know that I am at the table?” Her husband playfully pokes.
“And not even on his phone,” Ry good-naturedly adds fuel to the fire.
He points a firm finger his brother’s direction yet gets it put down by his wife, “How about we hire a sitter, and it can just be the four of us? Think how nice it would be to do that. It has been ages since we have had that sort of one-on-one time.”
Guilt flashes in Noah’s expression, “Shel-”
“I know, love. I know. I am not saying it is entirely your fault. Work calls and you must answer. Plus, you have been lending your time to discussing higher learning institutes with your brother and his sponsor, therefore you have had even less hours in the day than normal; however, I am saying this is the perfect opportunity to make it up to me.”
“By letting my little brother give you food poisoning?”
Swallowing my laughter isn’t properly done due to my boyfriend’s outburst, “Hey!”
She giggles, winks his direction, and offers her husband a dopey grin its obvious he won’t be saying no to.
“Fine,” Noah defeatedly sigh. “I’ll have Clio carve me out a night for dinner in the next couple of weeks, okay?”
“Perfect.” She plants a chaste kiss on his lips.
Shelby suddenly fusses loudly, demanding attention from anyone willing to give it. Fortunately for her, we all turn her direction, which not only delights her but prompts her to wiggle in desperation for someone to hold her.
“How about Uncle Ryder and Aunt Pres get you cleaned up, bumble bee?” my boyfriend lovingly inquires to the little one like she can answer.
The fact he refers me to as Aunt Pres I’m sure should freak me out, yet it’s the only term that feels right.
“Are you certain that you do not mind?” Shelly asks at the same time she rises to her feet.
“Of course not,” Ry brushes off as we stand up. “You know I never do.”
“Why don’t I help you grab dessert while the two of them spend a little one on one time with their niece?” Noah lovingly suggests to his wife.
And him calling me that should also have me yelling at the top of my lungs for everyone to slow down, to pump the brakes, but it doesn’t.
It actually inspires quite the opposite.
It makes me wanna stop taking my pill and get knocked up so our kids can start calling them aunt and uncle.
Ugh.
I think I need a one-on-one session with Katherine about how absurd this shit is on a scale of one to Cheaper by the Dozen.
“Time for the scrub-a-dub-dub monster,” Ry playfully announces during the transition of Shelby from her chair to his arms. “And you hate the scrub-a-dub-dub monster, don’t you?” She gleefully gurgles and smears her dirty fingers all along his scuff covered cheek. “Fuggle…” He groans in unhappiness. “Really, bumble bee? Just right on Uncle Ryder’s face?”
“They do that.” I offer to take her, and she immediately lunges for me. “And they don’t care how you feel about it.”
He reaches for his napkin on the table to wipe away some of the food off his face prior to escorting me into the nearby living room.
While the open space could easily fit three smaller seating areas within it, there’s a smooth, gradual flow from one end of the room to the other that offers the most modern luxury seating choices to the friendliest family gathering near the fireplace and television. The area is decorated in a high modern, high artsy fashion yet still somehow possesses the warmest child welcoming vibe due to the abundant number of toys, books, and adorably designed baby crafts displayed all around.
We flop down on the plush gray sofa with Ry beside one of the end tables. He retrieves the box wet wipes to begin the task, and I keep her distracted by singing a silly nursery song that requires over the top animation. By the time, I’ve finished the third loop of the song, she’s spotless and most importantly, still happy versus screaming in misery.