Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
While we waited for Sarah and Chip, we walked along the bridge, surrounded by skyscrapers and city lights, and I did my best to cheer up my man.
He was a little down because it was Ziggy’s last week with us. He’d made the decision that Zig would be better off with my folks in Florida, though it still stung. More so for Ben than me. But yeah. We’d gotten attached; there was no denying that.
“On the flipside, it won’t be a permanent goodbye,” I said. “We’ll see him every time we head down there and whenever they visit us. Ma won’t be able to leave him with a dog sitter, I know that much.”
Ma was over the fucking moon.
Ben smiled faintly and threaded our fingers together. “Do you see us visiting a lot?”
I blew out a breath, thinking about it. And I came to a stop at the center of the bridge, where I leaned back against the railing.
“I usually drive down there every August,” I replied. “It’s the only time I can take a couple weeks off—and then I’m home again before football season starts.”
This year was out. In no way was I ready to leave Ben behind for two weeks, and it was way too early for Alvin to consider that journey.
He nodded with a dip of his chin and planted his hands on each side of me, caging me in. “What car do you use?”
“Dad’s old truck,” I said. “He left it at Sarah’s. He won’t set foot on a train.”
He chuckled.
I pressed a kiss to his jaw. “Maybe our visits will be shorter for a few years. I don’t know. But once Alvin gets used to the traveling, I think I’ll have him on my team. We’ll vote for a two-week vacation there every summer, and you’ll have no choice but to tag along.”
He smirked. “I thought you hated Florida.”
I widened my eyes. “I do. Don’t get it twisted, man. It’s stupid hot. But it’s nice when you have someone to share that beach with. It’s a nice beach. And you’ll look sexy as fuck in trunks.”
He dipped down and kissed me, and I slipped my fingers underneath his suspenders. It’d become my thing. When he was in his work clothes, I held him close. Literally.
“I don’t dislike the idea of two weeks in the sun one bit,” he murmured in between pecks.
It was settled, then.
“Good.”
He brushed a finger along my jawline. “Will you wear somethin’ skimpy on the beach?”
I laughed, and he grinned.
“Sorry, you won’t catch me alive in a fucking Speedo,” I said.
“Pity.” The amusement lingered in his gaze, and we just watched each other for a while.
It was insane how happy he made me. Even all the changes. Maybe especially them. Or some of them. Like Sundays and Mondays, when I was off now. That was right. I had two days off. And Ben had most weekends off, and when I worked late on Saturdays, he hung out with me downstairs anyway. Unless he was filling in for Armas at the door. Turned out, Ben made one sexy security guard.
“Say something,” I said.
“What do you want me to say?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Something cute.”
He flashed one of his “I can’t deal with you, baby” grins and smooched me. “All right, uh…you, uh… You make me feel like I’m starring in a fucking rom-com.”
I let out a laugh and nuzzled our noses together. “That’s a good one. But if this was a rom-com, we’d have a drone circling over our heads to catch us making out.”
“And all the skyscrapers. With an appropriate song blaring,” he added.
He got it.
We mirrored each other’s smiles and met in an unhurried kiss that only the Spawn of Satan had the balls to interrupt.
By fucking catcalling. “That’s what I’m talking about, big brother!”
Ben laughed through his nose and dropped his forehead to my shoulder, and I looked over to where she was walking closer with a skipping chipster.
“Hi, Uncle Trace!” he yelled.
“Hey, buddy.” I gave him a genuine smile before I turned to my sister and scratched my eyebrow with my middle finger.
She just smirked and rolled her eyes, her ponytail flinging from one side to the other. The rest of her was dolled up in a dress.
“Hi, Ben!”
Ben straightened and held out a fist for Chip. “How are ya, champ?”
“I’m awesome!” Chip bumped his fist to Ben’s, and they both made an explosive sound. ’Cause they had their own thing now.
It was cute as shit.
“What’s this event you were talking about?” I asked Sarah.
“Oh, I’m just there for my boss.” Sarah thought that was eye-roll-worthy too. “He can make his case better if someone working the floor is with him. Enter the nurse.”
Ah.
“He better not make a move,” I told her. “I actually like the dude you’re with now.”