Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“What are you doing in town, man?” I asked. “I thought you went up north for the holiday.”
“I’ll never spend another holiday away from my sister,” he declared. “I’m here until mid-January.”
I grinned. “You’re coming to our Thanksgiving celebration?”
He shrugged.
He never came.
I knew it was due to him trying to keep distance from us.
Not that he didn’t like us, but it wouldn’t be a good thing for a crime boss and a cop family to be seen together. Not for either party.
He loved Maven, though, and would do anything for her.
Like stay away when he wanted to be there for her twenty-four-seven.
“Are you ever going to hold my hand again, or do I have to beg?” Bindi spoke up.
I chuckled and dropped his hand for my wife’s.
“Hey, Shasha.” Bindi waved to the wall.
I moved her hand to point in Shasha’s direction. “Hey, darlin’.”
“That southern drawl sounds good on you,” she teased.
Shasha chuckled. “I’ve been working on my accent. I want to fit in.”
“Next!” a frazzled barista called.
I moved forward and placed our orders.
When I went back, it was to find Shasha talking to her in hushed tones.
When Shasha placed his order, I said, “What did he have to say?”
“I asked him if he met someone.” She smiled. “He said he has no plans to ever marry, let alone enter into the dating pool.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
“Yeah.” She lowered her voice. “I told him he was going to choke on those words one day.”
I glanced up to find a woman staring at Shasha with wide eyes. Shasha had clocked her but was doing his best to ignore her.
“I think you might be right about that, sweetheart,” I said. “Be right back. Going to get our coffees.”
It was as we were in the car and were talking about Christmas presents for the kids as I pulled out of the parking lot that I saw the woman hurrying behind Shasha.
“Maybe sooner than you think,” I said. “There’s a girl chasing after Shasha as we speak.”
Bindi grinned. “Perfect.”
We got home, and all of the boys were in our arms seconds later.
Mom winked and said, “They’re all fed. Race is ready for a nap, and Fisher and Camden have had pancakes.” She narrowed her eyes. “Bring the boys over tonight for a sleepover, then catch up on some sleep. I don’t want y’all cranky for Thanksgiving tomorrow.”
Bindi held her arms open for a hug, which my mom readily accepted. “Thanks, Garnett.”
She pressed a kiss to my mom’s cheek, and my mom smiled. “Anytime, honey. Anytime. You and these grandbabies make my life perfect.”
She said that about all of her daughters-in-law and her grandchildren.
I was glad to finally have given her that, too.
“Bye, Mom, love you.”
“Bye, Grandma!” Fisher’s cute little voice called out.
“Bye, my babies.” My mom left, heading out the door to her newly built home.
A year after Bindi and I got married, her house had been finished.
Now we had everyone but Ande and Keene living in the same neighborhood.
It was chaotic and annoying but perfect.
Our kids got to grow up with their cousins.
We had our family close.
And my wife had a constant companion if she wanted it.
She still mowed my lawn years later.
She was the biggest pain in the ass, independent person I knew.
But she was my pain in the ass, and I loved the hell out of her.
“Ready for bed, Mrs. Carter?” I begged.
She laughed. “I’m always ready for bed with you, Gee.”