Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“We cooked,” Teddy said after dinner, rising from the table. “You three clean up.”
“Got it,” Jesse replied.
“You really gonna let her boss me like that?” Dylan asked me, grinning.
“Kid, she buys the food. You wanna keep eatin’, I figure you should probably do what she asks.”
“All right, that’s fair,” he said, nodding as he reached out and pulled Finn’s plate away while the boy was still scraping the last bit of cobbler off it.
“Hey,” Finn whined.
“It was gone, Finn,” Dylan teased. “Accept it and move on.”
“I’m gonna steal your dessert tomorrow,” Finn replied, pointing his fork at Dylan. “You won’t even see me coming.”
“Good luck.”
“Did you see what we did today?” Teddy asked me, nodding toward the slider. “Come look.”
I followed her outside onto the clean patio and looked around the yard. We’d started the process by gathering up all the garbage, which had filled the back of Dylan’s truck when we took it to the dump. The grass was still high as fuck, and I hadn’t even started on the overgrown blackberry bushes, but I saw immediately what they’d done while I was at work. All the cedar branches that were scattered around the yard had been cut up and piled neatly next to the house.
“Dylan used the chain saw,” Teddy informed me. “He wanted to teach Jess how to use it, but I stopped them before anyone lost a hand. I told them to wait until you were here.”
“I can teach them,” I agreed. “You guys didn’t have to do that while I was workin’.”
“I was bored,” Teddy confessed, wrinkling her nose. “I’m not used to being home all the time. It’s strange not having a job.”
“I got us until you find something good,” I reminded her. “Take your time.”
“It feels weird.”
“Ignore it,” I replied, pulling her into my arms. “Have you ever been able to spend summer break with the kids?”
“No,” she scoffed. “I’ve worked since I was sixteen.”
“Then you’re due a break,” I said, pushing her hair back from her face. “I make good money. You’ve got time to hold out for a job you’re actually gonna like. No use startin’ somewhere that you’re gonna hate in a month. You’ll be right back where you are, searchin’ for somethin’ else, but you’ll be doin’ it while workin’ all day somewhere you don’t wanna be.”
“It’s a little frustrating when you make sense,” she grumbled. “I just don’t want you to feel like I’m taking advantage. My savings are good for now, but only because you’re paying the rent and utilities. Eventually, I need to have a job, or you’re going to have to take on more expenses, and I’m not cool with that.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Jesse’s loud laughter and Finn’s shrieking made us turn our heads to look in the house.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t see that,” Teddy announced as Dylan sprayed Finn with the kitchen faucet.
“Probably a good choice,” I replied.
She looked back at me. “They’ll clean it up, right?” She nodded. “Yeah.”
I snickered. “That in there? Dyl wouldn’t have that if you weren’t here. His siblings are small, so he’s never had that. You’re worried about contributin’, but baby, you’re givin’ a whole lot more than you’re gettin’. You bein’ here during the day means Dylan comes out of his room and actually does fun shit.”
“I think he’d disagree with you,” she said with a smile. “I made them all go grocery shopping with me today because they slept until noon.”
“Hell,” I scoffed. “He was probably stoked because you let him pick out his own snacks.”
“Speaking of that,” she mused. “I never realized how much teenage boys eat. Holy shit.”
“Good thing he’ll be moved out in a couple of years when Finn reaches thirteen.”
Teddy’s gaze softened.
“Though, if I remember right, I was still goin’ home to raid my parents’ fridge and do laundry until I moved to Montana.”
“See,” she said with a laugh. “I need a job so we can afford to feed them.”
“Mom, there’s someone at the door,” Jesse called, throwing open the slider. Their voice trembled even though they were trying to hide it.
I hurried through the house with Teddy on my heels, but when I reached the door, there was no one there.
“Someone knocked,” Dylan said, looking past me.
All the kids had followed us.
The holstered pistol in the back waistband of my jeans was welcome insurance as I walked outside and looked around. There wasn’t anyone in the driveway, but when I checked the street, I came to a stop.
Parked across the road, Gray was leaning against a very familiar navy blue car.
“What is this, Sixteen Candles?” Teddy asked in amusement. “Isn’t that your cousin?”
“Yep.”
“What’s he doing here?”
“My guess? Dropping off my car.”
“That’s yours?”
“Holy shit, that’s a ’64 Chevelle,” Jesse gasped, their hand wrapping around my forearm like a vice. Their voice rose. “You have a ’64 Chevelle?”