Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
I looked down at my four-year-old son, my brows drawing together. “Halloween isn’t until this weekend, sweetie. You’ll get to wear your costume then.”
Bennett puffed out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. “But Elliot is dwessed up.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I discovered that my oldest son was right. The baby had been in a sleeper only five minutes ago, but Andrew had apparently put him into a costume when he’d taken him upstairs to the nursery. One I’d never seen before.
I should’ve known that my brother had an ulterior motive when he volunteered to change Elliot’s diaper since it was completely out of character for him.
Just because my dad and brother welcomed Kade to the family when we got married didn’t mean their Air Force/Navy rivalry ended. Although they toned down the comments over the past few years, as soon as Bennett decided to be a sailor for Halloween this year, all bets were off.
Staring down at the tiny pilot uniform my brother had dressed Elliot in, I groaned, “Seriously?”
“C’mon, sis. Isn’t he adorable?” Andrew shifted his hold on my youngest son so I could get a better view of the costume.
He was beyond adorable, but I wouldn’t cave that easily. “How did you even find it? He’s only two months old. I was just going to dress him in a little pumpkin onesie.”
“I ordered it online from a place that does custom costumes.”
I shook my head with a sigh. “I don’t even want to know how much you paid for this. He’s literally going to be able to wear the costume once before he doesn’t fit in it anymore.”
Andrew shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s still totally worth it.”
“Definitely,” Dad agreed with a chuckle.
“It is super cute,” I conceded with a roll of my eyes. “But Kade won’t be thrilled about him wearing it.”
“I know.” Andrew shot me a smug grin. “That’s a big part of why I bought it.”
“What am I not going to be thrilled about?” my husband asked as he came in from the garage.
“That.” I pointed toward my brother as he walked toward us with our youngest son in his arms, his grin growing wider.
“Nope.” Kade took in the costume Andrew had bought and shook his head. “Not gonna happen.”
“What’re you going to do when one of the boys decides he wants to follow in my footsteps instead of yours?” Dad challenged with a grin. “Tell him he can’t follow his dreams because his daddy wants him to be a squid flyboy instead?”
“Fuck,” Kade groaned, raking his fingers through his hair.
“Ahem,” I hissed, tilting my head toward Bennett in a reminder that he had big ears and an even bigger mouth that loved to repeat bad words at the most inappropriate times. All the guys had started to tone down their language around him when I got a call from his preschool teacher because he told her he’d just taken a shit after he finished in the bathroom.
Kade flashed me an apologetic smile before dropping a quick kiss on my lips. “Sorry, gorgeous.”
“Are you gonna apologize to me, too?” Andrew asked, handing the baby to Kade when he reached for him.
“For what?” Kade growled, swaying back and forth as he stared down at our son.
“For not appreciating the amazing gift I brought my nephew.”
Bennett’s head jerked back at his uncle’s answer. “Where my present?”
“Yeah, Andrew. Where is Bennett’s present?” he echoed, jumping on the perfect opportunity to give my brother a hard time.
“Yay, I love presents,” Bennett cheered, doing a little dance before racing over to Andrew and looking up at him expectantly.
Luckily, my brother was a quick thinker. Crouching down to Bennett’s level, he explained, “I have to take you for a little ride to bring you to your gift, buddy.”
My son’s eyes widened. “You do?”
Andrew nodded. “Yup.”
“Is Charlie gonna come, too?” Bennett asked.
“Of course, he is,” Andrew answered. “You know I don’t go anywhere without Charlie.”
My brother hadn’t had a PTSD episode in a few years, but Charlie was part of the family now. Bennett looked over to where he was sprawled with Tucker next to the door that opened to the back patio. “Yippee, a ride with Charlie!”
Tucker lifted his head to look at one of his favorite humans with a bark, probably wondering why Bennett was so excited.
“Where are you taking him?”
“The ice cream shack,” Andrew answered. “We’ll be back in half an hour or so.”
After they left, my dad pulled out the stroller and got Elliot settled in it. “This little guy can’t have any ice cream, but I bet he’d love to go for a walk with his grandpa.”
I beamed a smile at him. “Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re welcome, kiddo.”
“Just make sure he aims any spit up at that flyboy uniform,” Kade muttered as he held the door open for my dad, who pulled a bib covered with tiny airplanes out of his pocket and replied, “Not gonna happen, squid.”