Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Brooke laughed. “Yeah, it’s too bad men can’t breastfeed. Where is he now?”
Smiling, Fallon said, “He took the twins to the park. The girls are over staring at a newborn who does nothing but sleep and burp, according to Dylan.” She grinned when speaking of her stepdaughters, her husband’s twins from a prior… well, Brooke would say relationship, but it had actually been a one-night stand.
Noah split custody with his ex, Charlie, who happened to be married to Jared Sterling now. Since they were also expecting a baby soon, the twins were about to have another little half-sibling. The Sterling family kept expanding.
“They’re great with her, but they’ve already realized that babies can be boring. Dylan can’t wait until she’s older and more fashionable. Her new thing is that she wants to become a fashion designer, so I have a feeling that Gabbi has a ton of outrageous outfits to look forward to wearing.”
“Until she changes her mind and wants to become something else. What about Dakota?” Brooke asked about Dylan’s twin.
“You know her, obsessed with facts about archaeology. She’s already planning to teach the baby all she knows.”
Dakota’s interest in archaeology came from Charlie, her mom, who had spent time on a dig overseas and now worked in a museum. The girl was eleven years old and talked about death all the time, but in a factual way, sharing morbid information about ancient civilizations and how they performed their burials, how scientists used bones to learn about their owner’s lifestyle, or how human skin shrunk after death.
That last one had been explained while Brooke was trying to eat fried chicken, and her stomach hadn’t been able to handle that particular food ever since. “Well, I supposed it’s nice that she wants to connect with her baby sister that way,” Brooke said.
Fallon laughed. “Don’t worry. We’ll be having some talks about what is age-appropriate before Gabbi is old enough to be traumatized.”
They hung out for the next half hour, chatting about everything and nothing.
Fallon confirmed that she was recovering well from childbirth, but she leaned forward with a grin. “I have to admit I’m happy that the six-week mark and getting clearance to have sex again is around the corner. No one ever told me how attractive fatherhood can look on a guy that steps up and takes care of his baby. It’s kind of driving me crazy that I have to wait.”
Brooke shook her head. “Must be nice to have a man that you want so badly.”
Fallon placed a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to rub your face in my happy relationship.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, and I wouldn’t want you to walk on eggshells around me just because I’m hopelessly single.” Brooke’s thoughts went to Aiden, who she’d seen in the office today. He’d treated her to a simple wink and her panties had been soaked through.
Fallon frowned. “There’s no one that you’re interested in? Maybe someone at the office or your gym?”
“No,” Brooke said, even as her mind conjured up the heated look in Aiden’s eyes last night when he’d pinned her against the wall on her front porch. “There’s no one I feel a connection with.”
“Is it possible you’re being too picky? I mean, you don’t have to feel insta-love with a guy to have a little fun. Scratch that itch, girl. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Way too long, Brooke thought. But Fallon had always been more of a free spirit than she was. It was part of what made their friendship work so well. They complemented each other with their differences.
“I don’t know that I’m really the type to have casual sex. I want to at least be attracted to and like a guy before we sleep together.”
Fallon tapped her finger against her cheek, looking thoughtful. “Are you sure there’s no one you’re interested in?” she asked again, this time more pointedly.
Brooke knew exactly what her friend was implying. Everything came back to Aiden.
Fallon wasn’t stupid. Despite Brooke’s silence on the subject, she’d been with Brooke and Aiden at college while they’d grown close. Fallon had even asked what was going on between Brooke and her brother, leading Brooke to admit she had feelings for Aiden.
But that had been before that night and his breakup—if she could call it that—the next day. Since then, Brooke refused to talk about Aiden at all. When Fallon mentioned him, Brooke changed the subject. But Fallon had to know that something occurred to turn Brooke against her brother. She just never pushed, respecting Brooke’s boundaries.
“Nope. There’s no one I want to be with,” Brooke said. Lying to her friend felt wrong, but Brooke was starting to realize she’d been lying to herself about her feelings for Aiden, so what difference did it make?
“Okay, but I worry about you. You rarely date, which wouldn’t be a problem, but sometimes you seem so lonely.”