Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I grab the remote from the side table and flip on the television before the phone beeps again. This time, I see he’s sent me a picture of him dressed in shorts. His hard-on cannot be missed.
Not Batman: How am I supposed to make pancakes like this?
I giggle to myself, ignoring that little pang of sadness that I don’t get to share this with him. I’ve never woken up with him or even spent the day with him. I’ve also never dated anyone, let alone a single dad. So, I know I have to make a few sacrifices, and maybe some time down the line, I can go over for pancakes.
Me: Want me to kiss it better?
The three dots come up right away followed by an angry face emoji.
Not Batman: That is not helping.
Instead of answering, I send him three kissy face emoji and then put the phone down.
I catch up on my 90 Day Fiancé before it’s time for me to head out to the birthday party. I slip on a pair of tight jeans and a white T-shirt, with matching white sneakers, tucking the front of the shirt into my jeans. I comb through my hair, thinking about maybe pinning it up when I opt to grab a baseball cap that Matty gave me for Christmas.
I put my phone in my back pocket before picking up the big, boxed gift I ordered for her before walking out of the apartment. Plugging in the address before taking off, the drive is smooth on a Saturday afternoon. I pull up seeing the balloons in the air, and then seeing kids running around. “This must be it.”
I get out, grabbing the box from the trunk before starting to walk over. Stefano sees me and starts running across the grass toward me. “Hey,” I say when he gets close enough, “I didn’t know you would be here.” He takes the box from me and then leans in to kiss my cheek. Stefano was the one who drove me down here to visit when I was thinking about moving here. His best friend, Levi, and cousin, Eva, lived here with their little girl, Cici, who is now turning one.
“Couldn’t miss the big day,” he says to me. “Sofia was going to come, but apparently, your grandfather was going to get the new crib wired.” He looks over at me, and I can’t help but laugh.
“It’s going to be like that scene from Mission Impossible when Tom Cruise breaks in.” Stefano starts to laugh. “If I didn’t value my life, I would try to break in to see.”
I’m about to say something to him when I see him out of the corner of my eye, walking toward us holding Meadow’s hand. His head is down, holding a little gift bag in one hand while holding Meadow with the other. “The fairy,” Meadow says, pointing toward me, and his head snaps up. He’s wearing blue jeans and a white dress shirt under his dark-blue sweater, the bottom of the button-down sticking out. My eyes roam him up and down as I take him in like a cat does right before she pounces on the bird.
She lets go of his hand or he lets go of hers in shock that I’m there. “I know you,” Meadow states when she runs to me, “you picked me up when I was sick.”
“I did,” I say, squatting down to look at her. “I’m Grace.” I put out my hand, and she shakes it.
“Hi, Grace.” She looks over at Caine, who now stands behind her.
“Hi,” I greet, smiling at him, “fancy meeting you here.”
“I was just going to say the same thing,” he says, then looks over at Stefano. “I’m Caine.” He is about to put out his hand but notices the big box. “I’m Grace’s boss.”
I don’t know why that title bothers me, but it does. “Hey, you two,” I hear from behind me and look over to see Eva coming toward us, wearing a shirt that says Cici’s Mom on it. “So glad you could make it,” she says and hugs me, “and Caine.” She nods at him. “Have you met Stefano and Grace?”
I shake my head. “Caine is my boss,” I say, and Eva’s face says it all; her mouth hangs open. “Yup, that one.” Not knowing what she heard, but from the look on her face, I’m sure the family talk has been doing the rounds.
“What a small world,” Eva recovers. “Levi!” she shouts over her shoulder at her husband, who is holding Cici in his arms. He comes over to us, Cici with a hat on her head and a shirt that says I’m One. Levi is wearing a shirt that says Cici’s Dad. “Caine is Grace’s boss.”
“No way.” He chuckles. “We’ve heard all about you.”