Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
The teasing banter continues until it gets close to dinner time. Leo and Grant leave us alone to start the grill and get supper going. I snuggle up against Two, careful not to agitate his sore ribs, and kiss his stubbly cheek.
“This is nice,” I murmur, resting my head on his shoulder. “I was really nervous but it’s actually fun hanging out with them.”
Two squeezes my thigh and leans his head against mine. “It is. I thought, though, for a minute they were rethinking their choice of me over you.”
“I see how they love you, dork.” I tilt my head up so I can make sure he’s teasing and not really feeling that way. “You can’t fool me.”
He dips forward and kisses me. “I’m happy you’re here, Golden. My house looks good with you in it.”
After a dinner filled with lots of laughter and amazing food, me and Two head out to his workshop. He’s pretty proficient at using his crutches, but his dads still hovered behind him the whole way across the yard. Eventually, they left us alone.
“Want to help me finish up Cedarwood Mansion?” Two asks, gesturing for the model that he tinkers on when not messing with our class project.
“Of course.”
For the next several hours, we put the finishing touches on the micro-mansion. I marvel at all the tiny details he puts into the model. He may be strange and cantankerous at times, but he’s extremely skilled at what he does. It makes me proud of him.
“You really want to purchase Hemingford Hall, huh?” Two asks, back hunched as he peeks in one of the stained-glass windows on his model.
“I really do. And, like Paula and Gregory, I want to move in while restoring it.”
When I’d told my dad about it, he surprised me by being a hundred percent on board. In fact, he even offered to cover any additional costs outside of what I have in savings. Now all I have to do is convince the Nordstroms to sell to me.
“I was thinking,” I say, running my fingers along the bones of his spine over his shirt, “that you’d want to move in with me.”
He turns his head to peek over at me. “Oh yeah?”
“Yup. What do you think?”
“I like the idea of spending long, uninterrupted nights alone with you.”
I smirk at him. “Besides the endless sex we’ll have, I think it could be a lot of fun.”
Two nods and brings his attention to a microscopic piece of glue sticking out from under one of the miniature shingles. He grabs a sharp tool and begins whittling away at it.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, sensing a shift in his mood.
“Nothing.” He sighs as he picks off the last of the glue and then shrugs. “I’m going to have to find a way to let Dax down easy. He was looking forward to getting out of his house and on his own.”
“I thought about that too,” I say with a small smile. “I think he should move in with us. Instead of rent, he can pay his way by picking up the utility bills or something. I bet we could figure something out.”
Two sits up and grins at me. “Really?”
“Yeah. I like Dax. I also think he and my brother could be friends too.”
“There’s a lot riding on Paula letting go of her dream.”
“If she really wants to see her dream come to fruition—the full restoration of Hemingford Hall—then she’ll sell to me. Of all the people to do this, we’re the most capable. Plus, we love that place.” I hook a thumb over my shoulder, gesturing at his house. “Your dads are literally in the business of restoration, so it’s not like we wouldn’t get their help.”
“You’ve thought a lot about this.”
“And I’ve thought a lot about us,” I add with a nod. “Hemingford Hall feels like a vital piece of who we are as a couple.”
“I’m sure you’ll get what you want,” Two teases. “You always do, Golden.”
“I’m a Three, remember? I achieve.”
Like his parents, Two has gotten me interested in all things Enneagram. I’m learning a lot about myself and others around me.
Two finally sets his tool down and gestures at the model. “Cedarwood is finally complete. What do you think?”
I take my time inspecting all the details and offering praise over my favorite parts. He gently strokes his fingers through my hair while I prattle on about how beautiful it is. It makes me wonder if one day he’ll make models with our children. The thought is such a precious one that my heart aches with happiness for what’s to come.
“What do you do when you finish your models?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow.
He tugs me over to him, wrapping both arms around me, and nuzzles my neck. “I usually take a bunch of pictures to show my parents, Dax, and anyone else who’ll give me the time of day. That includes you and Tate now too.”