Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Neither were you,” Zach told him.
“Okay, but only by a few years,” Evan shot back. “I’m well into my thirties. That counts for something.”
“You look younger than that, Mr. Bailey,” Sophia said. She was sitting next to Zach on the couch, nursing the hot chocolate that Evan had made for all of us a few minutes ago.
“See?” Evan said. “I told you I look like I’m in my twenties still.”
“Well, no,” Sophia said. “I thought you were 30 or 31, maybe.”
“Great,” Evan said. “Well, at least I can cling to that when I’m feeling old. I look a few years younger than I really am.”
“What do you think, Evan?” Zach said, turning toward the kitchen.
“Oh, there is only one right answer. Start with episode 4.”
“I knew he would get it,” Zach said. “I love having you around here.”
My heart soared.
In another half hour, Evan brought out a tray of his famous taco pie, and we all dug in and ate as we watched the first Star Wars movie. It was adorable seeing Zach point out every tiny thing he liked to Sophia. He watched for her reactions, too, and he lit up every time she laughed.
Zach was happy. Truly happy, for the first time since we’d moved to Amberfield. And that only added another layer to the deep happiness I was feeling here, too.
“So you liked it? Who’s your favorite character?” Zach asked excitedly as soon as the end credits were rolling.
“Umm, the little one,” Sophia said. “The one who beeps?”
“You like R2-D2 best? He was always my favorite as a kid, too. Oh my god, just wait until we watch the next episode. You haven’t even seen Yoda yet.”
“We could watch it now,” Sophia said, smiling at Zach.
“You guys can watch it now,” I said. “I’m exhausted. I think Evan and I are going to head to bed.”
I glanced over at Evan, who’d been snuggling by my side on the couch. “Yeah. I’m sleepy, too.”
He was giving me a look that told me we are going to be doing anything but sleeping in there.
“Okay,” I said. “Zachie and Sophia, you can watch another one out here. But don’t stay up too late. We’re going to the shelter early tomorrow morning, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, Dad, I know,” Zach said, already putting on the next movie. “But this is important. I repeat. She hasn’t even met Yoda yet.”
“In bed before midnight! And make sure you walk Sophia all the way home!”
“I will,” he said.
Evan and I made our way to my bedroom and he locked the door behind him, letting out a breath. “Okay, they are so cute together.”
“They really are.”
“Can you imagine living that close by, as teenagers?” Evan asked. “We used to have to walk a mile to each other’s houses, and she lives down the street.”
“You sound like an old man. I used to walk ten miles in the snow….”
“Sometimes it was in the snow,” Evan said.
I lifted my jersey up, tossing it off. I couldn’t help but notice that Evan was staring at me, looking at my muscles like he was about to drool.
“I can’t believe you… you actually want me,” I said, closing the distance between us and helping him tug off his jersey, too. I pressed in close to him, feeling the heat of his skin on mine.
“Are you out of your mind, Mitch?” Evan asked. “Why wouldn’t I want you? You’re sexy as hell.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. You could probably do better than me when it comes to… finding an intellectual equal.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m not that smart, is all,” I said.
“I can tell you right now, you’re smarter than ninety percent of people I meet,” Evan said. “Just because you can’t do mental math doesn’t mean you aren’t the sexiest motherfucker alive. And also, you’re one to talk. You could be with so much beefier guys than me. I’m sure you’ve trained dozens of dudes and women with better bodies.”
“But their bodies aren’t your body,” I said, skating my palms down his chest. “I could look at you forever. Christ, this little dip, right here…” I trailed off, touching the place near his hip where there was a groove going down toward his groin.
“Maybe we need to accept that we’re just… kinda perfect for each other,” Evan said. His voice had taken on the velvety, dreamy tone it did when he was really turned on.
I loved that I knew what that sounded like, now. I knew how to tell when Evan was turned on. And I knew how to turn him on, too.
“I think we are,” I said. “Even more so when we’re both naked, though. Get these off.”
I undid his belt buckle and he helped me tug down his pants, tossing them aside. He went for his underwear next, but I stopped him, dropping down to my knees on the floor in front of him.