Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
He looks down at his feet and back up at me. “Well, I won’t keep you.”
“Bye, Clint.” I flutter my fingers in the dumbest wave to ever exist. “Have a great first day.”
He grins. “It’s already off to a good start.”
Luckily, my hallway delay doesn’t derail the day. Nope, that honor belongs to Dr. Snider’s Bernedoodle puppy who made a break for it when she opened the door to leave for work.
Upside, Mouse only managed to make it two blocks before Dr. Snider caught up to him and wrangled him back home. People are a lot more understanding about having to wait when an adorable dog is the culprit.
By the end of my shift, I’m barely holding it together. I’m exhausted. I’m hungry. And I’m terrified.
It’s garbage.
The literal only thing I want is to scarf down a Hot Pocket, cuddle up in bed with Fefe for a bit, and sleep.
But if last night’s anything to go by, sleep is going to be hard to find. I got maybe three hours total last night. Every little noise set me off.
Who knows, maybe luck’ll be on my side, and I’ll be too worn out to stay awake cowering under the covers like a little kid hiding from the boogey man.
THIRTEEN
ELLIS
“Knock, knock,” I say as I open the front door and step into Atlas’s house.
“Why bother saying it if you aren’t gonna do it?” the man himself asks with a pointed glare.
“Be nice!” Nora hisses, smacking the back of her hand lightly against his stomach.
Atlas gives her a befuddled look. “I am being nice, Pip.”
She heaves out a long-suffering sigh. “Agree to disagree, my love.”
“Y’all are so damn cute.” I extend my arms outward, lifting the foil-covered baking sheet, still warm from the oven. “Made garlic butter cheese bombs… from scratch, mind you.”
“Oh, that sounds amazing.” Nora grabs the tray and bustles into the kitchen. “They will go perfect with my lasagna. I told Scarlet to bring dessert.”
Internally, I cringe, thinking of the shitshow dessert caused when we babysat last weekend.
We’ve texted a few times since then, mostly me checking in to make sure she’s safe. Swear to god, getting anything out of her is like pulling teeth. She’s all one-word responses, and I’ve about had it.
Worrying about Scarlet Armstrong is the last way I want to spend my time, and yet, it’s all I seem to do.
“Hopefully she brings a good fucking attitude.” Atlas crosses his arms, looking as grumpy as ever. I can only imagine how much it chaps his ass that Nora and Scarlet are best friends.
“Amen to that.” I nudge him with my elbow. “Now, where’s my dude?”
“You need to settle down and have your own,” Nora says. At the same time, Atlas tells me he's in his walker in the living room.
I ignore both of them and make a beeline straight to where James is playing on the rug. “E!” he babbles and I hoist him up into my arms. “E!”
“Holy shit! Did you guys hear that?” I whisper shout as he snuggles into me.
Nora laughs. “He’s just babbling.”
“No way.” I blow a raspberry against his neck. “My dude said my name.”
“The hell he did,” Atlas mutters.
“He definitely did.” I cuddle him closer. “Smartest baby in the world, aren’t you?”
“He is,” Atlas agrees, scowling. “Gets it from his mama.” Atlas might as well have cartoon heart eyes as he talks about Nora.
The same cannot be said when he turns back to me. “But I promise you, my kid did not say your name before mama or dada.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself, man.” I move James to my other hip. He may be a tiny thing, but he’s sturdy as hell. “You gonna have some lasagna tonight?” I ask, using the dumb, dopey baby voice he loves so much.
He nods his head, like he’s agreeing with me.
Nora pipes in, “I made him some green beans, too. They're his favorite.”
“I bet they are. Your green beans are the best. But judging from the delicious scent wafting in from the kitchen, your lasagna might knock them from the top slot.”
Atlas scoffs. “Quit buttering up my bride.” He’s such a bear when it comes to Nora. But I can’t say I blame him, I would be too if I had a woman like her by my side.
“Hey, I'm just calling it like it is, man,” I offer with an unapologetic shrug.
“Maybe she's right. Maybe you do need to settle down. Get you a woman that can cook. Have a kid or two.”
“I'm not in any rush.” I say as James wiggles in my hold. I set him back down on the rug, steadying him with a hand hovering behind his back as he plops down onto his bottom.
“We’re just saying,” Nora volleys back with a smile.
“Also, I’m a damn good cook all on my own, thank you very much.” It’s not much in the way of a comeback, but it is very fucking true.