Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Quinn pours me a margarita, then sinks back into the water and stretches his arms along the back of the hot tub. Flip mirrors the movement. I’m slightly closer to him, so his left hand is near my shoulder blade. They’re big guys, they need space, and draping their arms over the cool tile would keep them from overheating.
“How’s that friend of yours out in Pearl Lake? The one you brought to Dred and Connor’s wedding? She’s fair, like our Tally.” His fingers brush my shoulder.
I perk up at the our Tally reference. His tone isn’t possessive. It doesn’t hold warning. There is no vibe. It’s all in my head.
Quinn glances at me, then looks back to Flip. “You mean Lovey?”
“That’s the one. Yeah. You’ve been friends a long time.” Flip takes a swig of his beer.
“Our whole lives, yeah. She’s doing great. She’s running a charity hockey event this weekend.”
“That’s too bad.”
Does Flip want Lovey here for personal reasons? Why is my brain spinning all these scenarios that now include a Flip-Lovey-Quinn sandwich?
“Yeah, she would have loved it here.”
“I’m sure.” Flip drains his beer.
“I can get you another one!” I offer. I just want the tension to ease up. I set my drink on the edge of the tub and start to pull myself out of the water, then realize I’m about to flash Flip my ass again.
Water sloshes behind me and Flip’s hand is suddenly on my hip, squeezing gently. “I got it, kitten. You stay right where you are.”
I freeze, halfway out of the water. His warm, slightly calloused palm is touching my bare skin. Quinn’s gaze locks on Flip’s hand. He squeezes briefly before reaching around me, his chest brushing my arm as he grabs a fresh beer from the cooler.
Kellan appears, also carrying a cooler. “This place is awesome.”
“Right?” Quinn agrees.
Kellan’s gaze darts between Quinn and Flip as he joins us. “Everything cool here?”
“Yeah, everything’s great.” Flip shifts closer to me.
“So awesome!” I chirp.
Hammer and Hollis appear next, followed by Everly and Victor.
“Hammer! Everly! Yay!” I wave both hands manically in the air. “Come join us! The water feels great!” I sound like I’m channeling a Muppet.
Everly jumps right in next to me, and Hammer takes the other side. Hollis squeezes in beside Hammer and wraps his arm around her.
Flip’s arm drops into the water.
Hammer leans into me and whispers, “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s great.” I sip my margarita.
“You sure?” She wrinkles her nose. “There’s a vibe.”
I round my eyes.
She rounds hers back.
“There isn’t,” I whisper.
“There is,” she refutes. “Like omegaverse alpha energy vibes.”
So it’s not all in my head.
And what does that mean for me and Flip, if anything?
The addition of our friends seems to be the magic we need. Although Flip is quiet. Eventually the guys’ stomachs start rumbling, though. Flip is first out of the tub and he brings my towel to me, holding it open and wrapping me up like a burrito. Probably so I don’t flash everyone my ass.
I shower off the chlorine and check my messages before I head down to help with dinner. Ties is out with his robotics friends, and Fenna is having a sleepover with her best friend at our house.
I call Fenna to check in.
“How’s it going?” I ask as I pull on a pair of leggings.
“Great! Abby and I played cello for a while. We’re helping Mom make spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and cheese because it’s our favorite, and we have cake for dessert. We’re watching movies after dinner and making extra buttery popcorn.”
I smile. “That sounds like a lot of fun.”
“Yeah. Will you be here tomorrow to make oliebollen?” she asks, sounding a little distracted. It’s been a long-standing tradition that we get together on New Year’s Day and make the Dutch treat as a family. I can’t say I’m sorry to be missing it this time.
“I can’t make it tomorrow. I’m in Huntsville, remember?”
“Right. I forgot. We’ll save you some. Do you want to talk to Mom?”
“It’s okay, I have to help make dinner. I’ll message later.”
“Okay, bye, Tallulah.”
“Bye, Fenna.” I end the call, relieved she’s having fun and that my absence tomorrow won’t ruin her day.
I message Ties.
Tally
Be safe tonight.
He sends me a picture of a wrestling ring with fighting robots.
Ties
Take your mom hat off for the night, sis.
Tally
Have the best time!
Ties
You too!
I move to the message from my dad.
Dad
Hope you’re having fun with your friends. Stay safe.
I heart it but struggle to come up with a response that isn’t steeped in anger or frustration. I finally type out a generic reply.
Tally
Having a great time!
I’m sure he’s sitting in front of the TV with a stack of paperwork and a hockey game playing in the background, which is depressing. But I didn’t make his choices for him.
I switch to my Tilton U chat. Enid had to work tonight, so she couldn’t join Fee and Cammie and the hockey guys.