Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
I ended up spending the next few days at his house. I went to work and went home, but every evening I was in Chase Hawthorne’s bed, and there was nowhere else I’d rather be.
I planned to be there later tonight too, but right then, I was sprawled across Josh’s couch, with Nat’s feet on my lap while Josh sat across from us.
“So…someone seems like he’s been super happy. I don’t think that smile has left your face all afternoon, and I haven’t seen you in days.”
“Who? Moi?” I pointed to myself.
“Yes, you, dumbass,” Josh teased, throwing a pillow at me. I swatted it toward Natalie.
“Hey! I was nice,” she said, and we chuckled. “Seriously, though. Are you going to hold out on us, or do we get the deets?”
I couldn’t stop my smile from spreading even more. “I told Chase I’m in love with him.”
“Holy shit.” Natalie’s feet slid off my lap, and she sat up straight.
“Good man,” Josh added.
“I assume it went well?” Nat asked.
“He didn’t tell me he loved me, but I told him not to. He said he cared about me. That he didn’t want to lose me, and we’re dating. He’s going fishing with Griff this weekend, and he’s going to tell him.”
“Holy shit,” Nat said for the second time.
“You already said that.”
“Well, it bears repeating. This is like when someone is a little kid and they dream about growing up and getting their Prince Charming. Chase Hawthorne is your Prince Charming!” Nat exclaimed.
Josh huffed out a laugh. “Chase is anything but Prince Charming. He’s a regular guy like the rest of us.”
“Why are you throwing shade at my fairy tale? Can’t a guy pretend he gets his Prince Charming?” I teased. I mean, I wasn’t really thinking Chase was going to take me to the ball and we’d live happily ever after like Nat seemed to think, but I wasn’t Mr. Negativity like Josh either.
“You know that no one wants you happier than me. But you also know that he hasn’t won me over yet, because I hate the fact that you’ve loved this guy all your life and somehow, you think you’re not good enough for him. Maybe that’s not his fault, but by keeping you a secret from Griff, he sure as shit didn’t help the situation.”
“Okay, why can’t you guys be in love?” Nat asked. “That was really sweet, Josh.”
I smiled at him. “He’s the best.” And he really was.
“I’m his best friend. I’m supposed to always have his best interests at heart. And I wouldn’t risk that by catching feelings for him.”
Natalie sighed. “Catching? It’s not a cold.”
“Yeah, it’s worse,” Josh replied, and I went over and sat on his lap, wrapping my arms around him.
“Aw, don’t pretend you don’t love me, Joshy-poo. But I’m saving myself for Prince Charming.”
He rolled his eyes and smiled. “I really am happy for you. No matter what, you did good, and I hope it works out. I might have to start liking him, though…”
“You’d like him if you gave him a chance.” I went to sit with Natalie again.
“He a good fuck?” Josh asked. Now we were talking.
“A gentleman never tells.”
“I don’t see any gentlemen here,” Nat replied, and we all laughed. God, I loved my friends. In that moment, everything in my life felt perfect.
It was after eight when I got to Chase’s. Josh had fed us, and I took a plate of lasagna home for Chase. I knocked, then slid his front door open. He was sitting on the couch, watching sports highlights.
“Hey, you. I brought you dinner. It was just a frozen lasagna, but it’s not too bad.”
“Hey. Thanks.” He smiled and tugged me down to the couch with him. He set the plate on the coffee table. “How was your day?” Chase pushed my bangs off my forehead sweetly. I loved when he did little things like that or asked about my day. It made what we had feel even more real, like it wasn’t just about sex even though the sex was fucking awesome.
“It was good. I had Annabella today. She’s one of my favorites. She’s the sweetest little thing. Her passion and hard work are really a thing of beauty. This one time…” I went into one of my favorite stories about her and then told him a story about another one of my kids, which prompted me to think of yet another story to tell him.
Chase listened quietly and let me ramble on, even though I knew it couldn’t be something he was super interested in. When I was finished, he said, “You really love what you do.”
“Yes. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’m not rolling in the big bucks, but that doesn’t matter.”
“And you’re good at it. I can tell. You’re giving these kids an amazing gift, Kell. You should be proud.”