Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 62569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“Oh shit, Thor’s throwing a fit.” Serena stood. “Thor, sit your ass down and give the hammer back to Batman. you know how pissed he gets when you take shit out of his hands!”
“Shit, shit, shit!” Boss Baby started screaming.
I frowned. “Since when is Boss Baby a hero?”
Serena slowly craned her neck in my direction. “I swear if you ask that around any of my children I will set you on fire and make S’mores.”
Children’s laughter sounded in front of us as Ace put on a Sully costume from Monsters Inc. “I take it he too is a hero.”
“EVERYONE IS A HERO!” Godzilla walked up to us and tucked her hands behind her back. “Right, Mama? They just need a chance!”
I grinned. “Does that mean monsters don’t exist?”
She shrugged her scaly shoulders. “Monsters are just scared heroes who don’t get enough hugs because they’re afraid that they’ll like them too much and won’t get them anymore.”
Girl had a point.
“Honey…” Serena let out a patient sigh. “You’re right, but that doesn’t’ mean we just go and hug perfect strangers.”
“BUT ACE LOOKED SAD!”
Ace? My Ace? My next breath stalled in my lungs. When did I start thinking of him as my Ace? What? “He’s, um just tired from protecting me.”
“Oh.” She folded her hands in front of her costume and whispered. “Is it because you snore when he cuddles you too hard?”
“OKAY, THEN!” Serena jumped to her feet. “How about a snack to fill that mouth of yours, Godzilla?”
“Good luck with that!” I laughed and watched Serena scold her as they walked off back toward the house. It was a beautiful spring day, I could almost tuck my sadness away, or at least pretend it didn’t hurt to breathe as much.
The sound of laughter around me seemed to reach the skies in that moment. I touched my stomach. My appointment was tomorrow, right after class; Ace was obviously going with me. Why was I even finishing my senior year? I only had a few classes left anyway; couldn’t I just test out of them? Or wait a year?
I chewed my lower lip and reached for my water and took a sip.
Batman started walking up to me then took Serena’s empty seat. It had to be Ace, the costume was clearly meant for a small adult, his muscles protruded and the mask did nothing to hide his perfect jawline.
“I like the cape,” I finally said.
“Capes get caught in things. What super hero actually wears a cape? It’s stupid, it’s just one more thing the bad guys can grab.”
Ivan walked by us and stopped. “He still complaining about the cape?”
“SIT DOWN, AQUAMAN!” Ace yelled.
I frowned. “He’s wearing a Finding Nemo costume.”
“Cinderella got confused.” Ivan pointed.
I nodded. “I think I missed the part where she carried a bow and arrow.”
“It’s there, trust us, do not engage.” Ivan kept walking, his fish tail moving behind him.
I burst out laughing. “How did you guys get roped into playing with the kids?”
“I offered,” Ace said, surprising me. “But the others lost at cornhole so this was their punishment. I think Ivan has it the worst; guy hates eating fish let alone wearing a bright orange costume.”
Yelling ensued on the other side of the grass where Ivan was trying to pour beer through his mask while a small cowboy kicked at his feet.
I turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “I take it Woody has a strict no drinking policy when in costume.”
“Mmm, on account of it ruins the magic for the kids.”
“Isn’t that Bam Bam’s friend? Who’s like four?”
“Three, actually.”
“That’s terrifying.”
“Tell me about it. I almost asked if he wanted to do my taxes, I’m surprised Walt hasn’t jumped in and offered a calculator to the kid.” Ace pulled off the mask and dropped it onto his knee. “We should get back; you have an early day tomorrow.”
“You sure about going with me?”
He frowned. “Where else would I be?”
“Anywhere but a doctor’s office surrounded by screaming kids?” I offered.
“Again, I’m used to the loudness. It’s the quiet I can’t stand.” He stood. “I’ll go get the car.”
“Don’t forget to take off your costume!” I yelled.
He started peeling it off while he walked. I almost joked that he should take it home with him and then stopped myself. I mean what would we do with it? Stare at it? I wasn’t thinking those sorts of thoughts, right? I loved or had loved Louis; it was wrong to even think of Ace like that, and yet as his body flexed with each step, I couldn’t deny he looked damn good in black.
“Damn.” Ace swung his gaze around the doctor’s office. “That’s a shit ton of brochures that woman’s stuffing into her bag.”
Panic hit me instantly, and I grabbed his biceps. “Do we need that many? Should I have bought a book? Do you think there’s going to be a test?”