Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“I did not freak out,” he snaps.
“No? You only stared at him for fifteen minutes after, checking his pulse when he got too still.”
Cameron and Brady laugh at him, but his sister practically has hearts in her eyes.
“Hey, his head kept falling over!” Mason defends. “I had to make sure.”
“His mama was right beside him.” Chase fights a smile. “You were being ridiculous.”
“It was sweet.” The words leave my mouth before I realize I’m speaking, and Mason’s head yanks my way.
His eyes pierce mine, something flashing behind his dark orbs, but the spell is broken when Cameron starts talking.
“K well, we’re starved, and there’s, like, fifty thousand fast food options here. We figured we’d grab and go, save some time.” She hooks her long arm around Ari.
The others pile out, and when I hold back, Parker leans in the door. “You staying behind?”
“Yeah. It’s a miracle he’s sleeping still, now that the car stopped, so I don’t want to wake him if he’s not ready.”
“We’ll grab you something.”
I nod, and he closes the door, locking us inside.
I stretch out on the seat, arching my back and rolling my neck.
Moving so my legs are over the seat in front of me, I close my eyes, taking advantage of this moment alone, knowing I might not get many others over the next few days.
Just when my muscles begin to relax again, Deaton’s soft clap has my eyes snapping open.
I giggle, staring at my little boy and moving over, taking him from his seat.
“Well, well. Aren’t you a master at that now.” I hold him up, and he stretches his arms up high before locking his legs and jumping up and down on my thighs. “Someone’s excited, isn’t he?” I kiss his cheek, dropping onto my knees in the small leg space I have. “Hate to have to do this to you, but we’ve got to get you changed.”
Surprisingly, Deaton doesn’t fuss, just stares up at the seat belt, trying to wrap it in his tiny hand as I get him all cleaned up and changed into a warmer sleeper.
Setting him on his feet, I keep one of his hands in mine to help steady him and let him lean his weight against my legs for support. I dig a jar of baby food from the bag and the small container of mashed bananas. He only takes a few bites of the chicken and rice concoction but devours the fruit. Just as I get to the last bite, he starts to fuss, rubbing at his eyes again, and starts tugging on me.
“Okay, little man. Okay.” I pull a bottle out, hoping he’ll take the formula okay, since I’ve only stopped breastfeeding for a handful of days now.
Of course, the change in our routine isn’t settling for him, and he bats it away several times, whimpering slightly.
The door opens then, and I look up to find Mason there, an Arby’s bag in his hands. He looks tired, almost worn out as he holds it up without a word, and I force a smile, accepting, fully aware of what’s inside it without him saying a word.
“Can I hold him a minute?” he asks, quickly adding, “You can run in, use the restroom, stretch or whatever.”
“He’s a little fussy…”
Mason pushes the seat forward, then walks around and takes Chase’s seat, reaching back with open, expectant arms.
Slowly, I pass Deaton over, not looking back as I climb out of the car.
I take my time, use the restroom even though I don’t need to, and walk the aisles since no one else is standing around the car yet. I grab a cream soda and a pack of cheese crackers before heading back outside.
Kenra and Parker are standing by the pump now, Ari waiting to climb back into the Bronco after Cam.
“They’re so sweet.” Ari beams my way just before pulling her door closed.
I frown, looking to my brother and his girlfriend, but they’re both just leaning against the hood, playing on their phones.
I open the SUV door to climb in but stop short.
Mason is passed out in Chase’s seat. The bottle I left him with is half-empty in his hands, Deaton curled up on his chest, sleeping like a little angel.
My features pull, something in my chest doing the same damn thing.
Despite myself, despite the pain and anger sparking within me, I can’t deny there’s more.
They look so peaceful.
So…precious.
They look like father and son.
The thought splinters through me, shattering the shell of respite I’d built back up.
With jerky movements, I push the seat forward and begin to pull my baby from his arms.
Mason’s grip tightens around Deaton at first, his eyes snapping open with a glare, but the moment he realizes it’s just me, his hold eases, and I swiftly take my son back. Silently, I climb into the back seat, buckling him back into his car seat.