Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Quinn’s here so at least we don’t have to find a way to bring him in on a call.”
“Yep.” He picks Stevie Nicks up and carries her over to the small patch of grass. After encouraging her to do her business he rewards her with a treat and a lot of love. I do as well because she’s scruffy and honestly, I can’t get enough of her.
Noah leads us down the path and into my parent’s house. The TV’s on, but no one is really talking. We head down the hall and before we turn the corner, Noah says, “We have a surprise.” He holds our pup out, like the scene from The Lion King. Someone, I think it’s my dad, starts singing.
“Oh, my you got a puppy!” My mom all but squeals as she comes to take her from Noah. Honestly, now that I think about it, getting a dog before taking the test was the best idea. No one is staring, waiting for me to give them the news.
Then our universe aligns. Beau comes bounding into the house, with Ben and Elle hot on his heels, followed by Nick, Mack, and Amelie. There are lots of hugs and when I’m about to ask what everyone is doing and why my sister didn’t tell me she was back in town, Liam, Josie and Paige walk in. I glance at my husband, who wraps his arm around me.
“I thought this would be the best way to tell them,” he says into my ear.
“And if it was negative?”
“Then my parents are in town, and we have a puppy to show off.”
“I love you.”
“I love you,” he says, kissing me where his mouth was.
“Dog!” Oliver screeches. He pulls on her ears, and she cries out, causing Ollie to cry. My dad’s there, teaching him right and wrong, and before I can grab her, Mack has her cradled like a baby.
“What’s her name?”
“Stevie Nicks,” Noah says proudly. “As one name though.”
“Isn’t she, like, old?” Paige asks, much to my dad and Liam’s dismay.
“Child, we’re going to have a music lesson when we get home,” Liam says.
“Hey, where are the Davises?” I ask.
“Australia,” Josie says. “Eden has an event.”
“Oh.” That totally sucks.
Elle comes over to me and puts her arm around my shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good.”
“Do you have something to tell us?”
I play it off. “No, why?”
“Um, seriously, P?”
“What?”
“You were supposed to take a test today.”
“Oh shit. I’ve been so wrapped up with the puppy I totally forgot.” I wave the thought away. “I’ll do it when I get home.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Elle throws her hands up in exasperation. It takes everything in me not to crack a smile, to stay as stoic as possible.
“Where’s Quinn?”
“Right here.”
I hear him yell from outside. I go out there and find him hosing off, still in his wetsuit. “Where’s Nola?”
“Studying for an exam. She said she’d try to come over later.”
“Oh. Come meet our dog.”
“You gotta . . . oh my god, come see Uncle Quinny.” My brother drops to his knees and crawls toward Stevie Nicks, who is eating up all the attention she’s getting except from Oliver. He’ll learn to be soft with her, just as he had to learn to be soft with Beau, who wants to play with the pup.
“Did you just call yourself Quinny to the dog?” Elle asks.
“I did. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Uh, as a matter of fact, I do,” she says. “One, that’s my nickname for you. Two, you don’t act like this with Beau. You’re hurting his feelings.”
“Beau has Mack,” Quinn says. “Stevie Nicks as her Uncle Quinny.”
My sister isn’t having a good day. Ben wraps his arm around her to console her.
Noah comes to me and leans in. “Are you ready to tell them?”
“Only Elle has said something. I think Stevie Nicks was a good distraction.”
“I think they’re not asking because they’re waiting for us to say something.”
“You know, as soon as we get their attention, Elle’s going to know and I’m not going to be able to hide my smile.”
“Do you mind if I do something?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Okay, follow my lead.”
Noah puts his arm around me and relaxes. “Hey, Dad. I think Harrison has bigger muscles than you. I think he can probably take you in a fight.”
“Bullshit,” Liam says. “Stand up, James. Take your shirt off.”
“Oh my, you’re a genius,” I whisper to my husband.
Our dads stand and take their shirts off. Both start to flex, causing our moms to catcall their husbands.
“We need a measuring tape,” Liam says.
“Just stand next to me. You’ll see mine is bigger.” He waggles his eyebrows and my mom’s eyes widen.
“Harrison!”
“What?” Dad shrugs.
Noah shakes his head. “I’ve got you both.” He stands and takes off shirt.
“Quinny, you next?” Elle asks.