Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
I grin at my beautiful niece, desperate to wipe her face. Marie is a great mom, don't get me wrong, but she's way more laid back than I would be. Then again, Lonie seems capable of a lot of things other toddlers seem to struggle with. Maybe Marie's relaxed approach has contributed to that.
"I'm aiming to be back at around six."
"Six?"
When I agreed to babysit, it was on the basis that I'd be able to make it to watch Elias and Dornan's game.
"Is that the earliest you can get back?"
"Yeah. Why? Is there a problem?"
"I've got a game to go to. Am I okay to take Lonie?"
"Sure. Make sure she has a good lunchtime nap. I'm sure she'll love all the cheering and excitement and those big men in their tight pants." She winks and grins, then finally bends to wipe the food from Lonie's sticky face.
"Marie!"
"What? She's just like her aunt. A terrible flirt."
"You got me!"
"So, is Eddie playing?"
I grit my teeth at the mention of the scumbag who I'm trying to banish from my memory. "Yes, but I'm not going to watch him. He can fall over and die in a ditch."
"Who are you going to watch?" She lifts Lonie from the chair and sets her on her feet. Lonie toddles off to her play corner and finds a board book to leaf through or destroy, depending on her mood.
"I may or may not be having a fling with a couple of the team."
"A couple?"
"I'm sowing my wild oats."
"Men sow the oats, Celine. Women get plowed."
I grin, shaking my head at all the delicious memories still fresh from an afternoon tied to Travis's bed. They did things to me that I swear are illegal in at least a few states.
"You have no idea."
"Do they know what you're up to, or have you taken a leaf from Eddie's book?"
"Oh, they know about each other…they were all present. And I'm not a cheater."
"All?" The way Marie's mouth hangs open inspires me to push up her chin with my finger.
"Three of them. I've gathered my own casual harem for three times the pleasure."
She shakes her head, folding her lips over a smile. "How long have I been married? I swear things like this weren't a thing when I was single."
"When were you ever single?" I snort. "You were a child. Then you met Aiden. Then you got married."
"Yeah. That's it, pretty much. And he is more than enough man for me. I just…what do you even do with three men?" She immediately holds her hand up with her palm facing me. "Scrap that. I don't want to know. You'll only create images in my head that I don’t want to carry around with me for the rest of my life."
Lonie shouts for her momma, and Marie heads over to kneel next to her daughter. As she points to a duck in the book, she swivels to face me. "Two football players?"
"And my friend's brother."
"Is he the size of a football player?"
"Almost." A flash of a memory of Travis, Dornan, and Elias all staring down at me from the end of Travis's bed flashes into my mind. Naked, erect, and potent, they were enough to make me swoon.
"My god." She shakes her head. "I'm not sure that I should be letting my daughter out with her sexually corrupt auntie, but I really need a day for myself."
"It's fine. It'll all be very wholesome. She can wave a flag and eat healthy snacks from your mega-bag-of-doom."
"Okay." She bends to kiss Lonie's sweet head. "I'm going to get ready. You should read this book to her…distract her from the fact that I'm leaving."
"She loves me," I reassure. "We'll be fine."
As I squat down and read “Duck Swims in the Pond" to Lonie, I say a silent prayer that we're both going to make it through the day in one piece.
"Are you serious?" Gabriella exclaims when I take my seat next to hers. The stadium is packed, and the rumble of so many people talking excitedly before the game has Lonie looking around with wide eyes.
"I'm totally serious," I say, dropping Marie's huge bag onto the floor and dropping into my seat, adjusting Lonie so her legs are facing Gabriella. "Marie asked me to watch her, and I didn't want to miss the game."
"She’s totally gorgeous." Gab touches Lonie's cheek and then her red curls, which sit like a halo around her sweet, elfin face. "She looks just like you."
"She did before I dyed my hair."
"I still think you're crazy for doing that. Your natural hair is gorgeous."
"I feel good like this." I touch my brunette curls, bringing one in front of my face to study the color. "I feel like a different me."
"I liked the original you." Gab reaches into the bag and pulls out a stuffie. "Who's this?" she asks Lonie.