Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I chuckle, and Talia snorts at that. “Hardly the way we hoped to tell you,” I say.
Dad nods, looking between Talia and me. “While this is hardly the way Lucille or I pictured our kids finding love,” he continues, “neither of us want to get in the way of your happiness.”
“Oh thank God,” Talia mutters in a sigh of relief, tilting her head back to look at the ceiling.
I grin at her, and Dad and Lucille laugh.
“I guess our worries about you guys not getting on were unfounded,” Lucille says as our drinks arrive, taking a sip of her wine.
Talia blushes bright red, which instantly makes my blood heat, and grabs her water, taking a big gulp.
I turn to her mother, inclining my head. “Having Talia in my life is the greatest gift I’ve ever had,” I tell her honestly, making her eyes light up. “I’m glad that both of you have decided to accept it, but in truth, I wouldn’t have let her go even if you hadn’t. She’s everything to me.”
Lucille softens at that, and Talia’s eyes are wide as she turns to me. It takes everything in me not to tell her how much I love her right there and then, wanting to be alone with her when I do.
“You’re a good man, son,” Dad says, offering Talia and me a smile. “I don’t doubt you’ll do right by her.”
The mood feels instantly lighter, though I imagine it’ll take a while for the edge of awkwardness to fade. When our appetizers arrive, talk turns to safer topics like Dad and Lucille’s honeymoon and work.
Talia steals a bite of my bruschetta, which makes me grin.
From out of nowhere, her mom asks, “So when do you have to leave for college again?”
Talia chokes a little, sipping her water while I rub her back. She grimaces a little, and I squeeze her thigh in silent encouragement and reassurance.
“I…um…well, actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that,” she starts, straightening her shoulders. “I’m not going back. I dropped out.”
For a second, nobody speaks, but then both Dad and Lucille talk at the same time.
“Oh, good—”
“It’s about time!”
Talia’s mouth drops open in shock, but I smile at her.
“Told you they’d understand, cupcake,” I say, raising a brow.
“You’re really okay with it?” Talia asks, frowning at her mom and my dad across the table. “After all the help you guys gave me?”
Lucille pins her daughter with a look. “Well, as long as you tell me you’re finally going to set up your own baking business, then absolutely. You were never passionate about that course, sweetheart, but David and I only wanted to support you in whatever path made you happy. Your talent deserves to be embraced, though, and I think you’ll be happier than ever…especially now.” She grins my way as she adds those last words, and I smile back gratefully.
“Yes, yeah. I mean, I’m going to set up my baking business finally,” Talia tells them, still looking a little shocked. “Thank you, both of you. I hope you know how grateful I am for the way you’ve supported me.”
“You can thank us with that chocolate cake of yours,” Dad tells her, making her laugh and agree readily.
We’re a long way off from a normal family, but by the time we’re finished with desserts, Talia is walking with a spring in her step and the future feels clearer than ever.
11
TREY
“Ican’t believe I’m not dreaming.” Talia sighs and pats one of the many, many decorative couch cushions, fluffing it up until it’s perfect. "Like, how is this my real life?”
She’s talking more to herself than to me, but I chuckle and step closer to her regardless, tugging her away from our new couch and into my arms.
“It’s real, sweet girl,” I murmur in her ear, and she leans back into me, her body fitting perfectly against mine. “Need me to remind you just how real this is?”
To emphasize my point, I press her ass against me so she can feel the way my cock hardens for her.
Talia makes the prettiest little whimper and tilts her head back to meet my eyes. “Not until the cakes are out of the oven,” she tells me with a raised brow, pulling away a little. “I don’t want them to burn.”
I grin and let her go. She’s right, we can’t fall back into bed just yet. Not just because of the vanilla cake I can smell baking in our new oven, but because of the surprise I’ve got up my sleeve.
I follow her through to the kitchen, staring at her while she’s staring at our house like she’s still waiting for it to suddenly disappear. She trails her hand along the freshly painted white wall, humming as we step into the large, bright kitchen.
I meant it when I said I wasn’t leaving her behind when I came back to work. Now, three weeks after we left our parents’ house, Talia has turned the house we bought into a home. I wanted her to have the space she needed to start her business from our kitchen, and my girl deserved a place of her own. I started looking for houses off base as soon as she agreed to come with me, and this was the first one we saw. It’s perfect—a spacious three-bed with a modern kitchen space big enough for two fridge-freezers so Talia can store all her cakes safely.