Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“But just so you know, I said if you go after…” I say over my shoulder, and just like that, I feel something hit my head.
When I look back at him, I see an orange lying on the floor. “Still got my aim.” He folds his arms over his chest. “Now, hurry up.”
CHAPTER 3
Julia
I hear the sound of feet running toward the bedroom, and I turn off my phone, placing it on the side table. I pull the covers up to my neck and close my eyes, pretending to be asleep. I hear the door opening, and then they try to whisper. “We have to be secret,” Bianca says.
“I know,” Bailey replies even louder than Bianca. I hear their feet getting closer and closer to the bed, and when I feel them close enough, I jump out of bed and roar, scaring the shit out of them. Their eyes go big, and their hands rise to the sky as they scream at the top of their lungs and run from the room. “She’s a monster!”
I can’t help but laugh as I get off the bed and grab my phone, then walk out of the bedroom. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Michael says, holding the twins in his hands. “They are shaking.”
“What’s wrong with me?” I point at myself. “What’s wrong with you standing in front of me half-naked?” My face grimaces. “You need to respect the common areas, Michael.” I walk past him and go down the stairs.
“What common areas? This is my house,” he calls down the stairs. “Jillian!” he yells for her, and I hear her mumble to shut up.
“Daddy,” Bailey says, “is she a fucking goof?” I can’t help but snort and look up the stairs at him.
“Fucking goof,” Bianca repeats.
“Jillian.” I sing her name. “Michael taught the kids a bad word.”
Michael gasps. “I did not.” Then he looks at the girls and says, “I told you guys that is a bad word. Mommy is going to put soap in all our mouths.”
“I’ll start the coffee,” I offer. “Who wants pancakes?”
“Me,” Bailey says, squirming to get out of Michael’s arms, followed by Bianca.
I wait for them to walk down the steps, one of them on each side holding on to the railing. When they first bought this house and had Jamieson, Michael thought he should put in a slide for when he got older. The first time the boy fell down two steps, Max, his father, came in and checked to see if they could put in an elevator. Needless to say, Jillian was able to talk them off the ledge. “Auntie Juju,” Bailey shares, “you aren’t a fucking goof.”
“Thank you,” I say, holding out my hand. “But that is a really bad word, and it hurts people’s feelings.” I squat down in front of her. “So how about we not say it and instead say something else?” I think about what else they can say. “Like a flying gremlin.”
“Flying gremlin,” Bianca parrots, and she laughs in her hand. “That’s funny.”
I hold out my other hand for her as I stand. “It is funny.” I look up the stairs at Michael, who just stares. “You guys have one hour, and then I’m leaving.”
“Promises, promises.” He turns and walks back to the bedroom and closes the door.
“Okay,” I say, walking into the family room attached to the kitchen. “What do you want to watch while I make food?”
“Encanto!” Bailey and Bianca both yell, and I groan inwardly. There is only so much Encanto one can tolerate.
“Great,” I mumble and walk back to the kitchen. I open the shades and see it’s a sunny day outside. I make my coffee as I prepare the pancakes for the girls, who are sitting side by side as they watch the show.
I make them Mickey Mouse pancakes with blueberries for the eyes and chocolate chips for the mouth. I cut up some bananas and strawberries, placing it all in each bowl. Jamieson got to spend the night with Max and Allison, Michael’s parents, so it’s a calmer morning than if he was here.
“Who is hungry?” I ask, and they both jump up and come to the kitchen. I put each plate at their placemat and help them get into the booster seats.
“Chocolate!” Bailey cheers, clapping her hands. “You have chocolate, Bi?” She has yet to say Bianca’s full name. Bianca takes her finger and touches the soft chocolate and tastes it.
“I have, Bayey.” Bianca smiles at her as she picks up a small cube of strawberry and puts it in her mouth. I sit at the table with both of them while they eat their breakfast. Jillian comes down ten minutes later with Michael following her.
“Wow,” I tease, pretending to look at my watch, “that’s a record.” Jillian rolls her lips. “Talk about a wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.”