Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
It’s overwhelmingly insane how quickly time passes. But boy, what a ride.
She Is My World
Aiden
I check the mirror to make sure Fitz is sleeping soundly as Shelli types violently into her phone beside me. A new renovation of the Nashville Assassins’ housing is starting after the new year, and Shelli is overseeing the progress. I wish she wouldn’t take on so much, but she’s her mother’s child. She’s a workaholic. She loves to be in the middle of everything and show she is worth it all, but I wish she’d slow down. I’d like to knock her up again sooner rather than later. But every time I bring up trying for a second child, she wants to remind me how busy she is.
It’s annoying as fuck.
When she sets down her phone and groans loudly, I ask, “Everything okay?”
“I am over this contractor. He’s claiming that he doesn’t want to do it my way, where they do the housing in sections. He wants to gut everything at once and renovate, but I still have six guys living there. So, I offered to have them share, and then he can do the first eight and finish the last three this summer. But he’s pushing back. He’s now saying he’ll only do two at a time, which will take a year. I am so annoyed.”
I bring my brows together, scrunching my nose. “But he knew people were living there. And didn’t he say he could do it in sections when you hired him?”
“Yes, hence my annoyance. I am sending out letters to my other contacts to see if anyone is available. I want this done before training camp so everyone has a place to stay.”
The guys who are staying in housing now are only there because they’re having houses built. “You know, a lot of the other guys would open up rooms in their houses if we needed to get the ones in housing out so the construction company can just gut and go.”
She nods. “That’s an idea. I don’t know. Let me see what I hear back. I wish he would just do it the way we discussed.”
“That would be easier.”
“For sure,” she says, rolling her eyes and glancing back down at her phone. “Oh, Ally made an Instagram post. That’s odd… Oh my God! Aiden! They had a baby!”
I almost wreck the car at the news. I look at where she’s holding out her phone, to see my brother and his wife holding a bundle of pink. “What the hell? What does the caption say?”
I can hear the excitement and shock in Shelli’s voice as she reads, “‘The cat’s out of the bag. We had a baby! Introducing Alexis Fallon Harper Brooks.’ Aww! Born on December first. Did you know?”
“No! That jackass,” I say in disbelief. “I talk to that dude daily, and he never told me.” I reach for my phone, calling my brother. I feel Shelli’s gaze as he says hello, but I don’t greet him the way he did me. “I had to find out on Instagram that I’m an uncle?”
Asher chuckles. “You were supposed to be here when we got here, and as always, you’re late. Also, aren’t you driving? Why are you on your phone?”
“Shelli isn’t driving!” I protest. “What the hell? How did you keep this from everyone?”
“We knew we wouldn’t see anyone for the whole pregnancy, so we figured we’d just surprise everyone.”
He’s so private; it’s weird. I’m his fucking brother, and he didn’t even tell me. “Wow, I am shocked.”
“Shocked you’re an uncle, or shocked I didn’t tell you?”
“Both, jackass.”
He laughs. “Promise, no one knew. But I am sorry you had to find out on Instagram. I just realized Ally posted that.”
“Okay, so I should yell at her?”
“You can try, but I’ll take you out.”
I scoff as he laughs. “Fine. Congratulations, asshole.”
“Thanks. We’re really happy, and she’s beautiful.”
“Shit, only if she looks like Ally,” I tease, and he laughs.
“Nope. Spitting image of me.”
“Gross,” I say, but his laughter is intoxicating. “I guess Stella’s next.”
“Please. It’ll be Emery before her. Stella won’t even set a date with Wes.”
I laugh. “Ooh, don’t let her hear you say that.”
We laugh together, and then I say, “Okay, I’ll see you soon. We’re almost there.”
We say our goodbyes, and I shake my head. “I can’t believe I found out like that.”
“Right? I wish I hadn’t been on,” Shelli says, slipping her hand into mine. “She is super cute, and I love the name.”
“I do too, really sweet. I want a girl now.”
“What!” Shelli exclaims. “You said you wanted all boys.”
“Yeah, but I think I changed my mind. She’s so cute.”
Shelli grins as she looks down at the photo of our niece. “She really is. Looks just like Asher. All that gorgeous dark hair.”
“Not to sound cocky…” I start, and she laughs.