Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Her smile is contagious and makes me want her again.
“I do, it makes me feel powerful.”
A knock comes on the door, and she sits up fast. Someone says her name, and she quickly stands and dresses. Her eyes look back to me. “It’s my mother. Get dressed.”
Her mother.
What the actual fuck?
I stand, managing to pull a shirt on before the door slams open, and her mother stands there looking so much like Barbie it’s scary. Her eyes fall on me then to Barbie.
“Did you forget about our dinner?”
Saskia hits her head then looks back to me and she mouths she’s sorry. Then looks back to her mother. “Ryken and I had to talk. Can he come?”
I want to tell her, no, but her mother says, “Yes.”
“I can order in, and we can eat here.”
“That may be easier.”
Her mother walks in and looks to me, placing her bag on the small table as Barbie walks into the kitchen to her cell phone.
“Ryken... I’ve heard so much about you.” I’m not sure what to say to that. So I say nothing. “You’ve worked everything out with my Sass then?”
“I have.”
She looks unsure but doesn’t question me, her eyes fall to my hand. “Barbie? Robert told me you call her that.” Her mother’s eyes fall to where she’s on the phone. “She’s even prettier, isn’t she?”
I nod my head—no doubt about that. She’s stunning. She looks up and smiles at me then looks at her mother.
“You love her,” her mother says.
“I do.”
“She isn’t used to love. You’ll have to remind her of it, often.”
“I plan to, every day.” She smiles as Barbie walks back over.
“Pizza’s ordered. Why don’t you tell me where you’re living, Mom?”
“Same place. I cleaned it up. Even your room if you want to see it.” Saskia shakes her head at her mother. “That’s okay, I don’t mind coming to you. It’s the least I can do.”
This whole thing feels strained. So fucking strained.
“Ryken’s moving in,” Barbie says out of the blue. I look at her, confused, then to her mother with a smile. I do plan to get her to my house eventually. But right now, I’m happy to be here with her. As long as she’s here, this is where I want to be.
“That’s a big step. Are you ready for that?”
She nods her head. “Of course. Well, I think.”
I touch her leg to reassure her, and she covers her hand over mine. “We’ll work it out... as it comes,” I reply.
“I want to try to get to know you better. Well, I guess the both of you now.” Her mother looks to me then to Barbie. “If he’s in your life, that is.”
“He is.”
Her mother nods her head.
The rest of the afternoon goes smoother than I thought it would. The tension eventually ends when Barbie starts talking about her work. Her mother listens with interest and even enthusiasm, and I eventually excuse myself as I feel I’m invading their personal bonding time which should be between them.
Grabbing my cell, I go down to take delivery of the pizza. Quinn pulls up at the same time the pizza delivery driver does and pays for it before he brings it to me.
“You sure you want to do this?”
“Yes,” I simply reply. I’ve given him two of the five clubs I own and left him to run mine as well. He tried to talk me out of it, but he needs it, he deserves it, for his loyalty. No one has been more loyal than Quinn has been.
“It’s yours. Sign the damn papers and I’ll finalize it tomorrow.”
He nods, passing me the pizza then walking back to his car where Sabrina sits quietly. He’s in love with her. He’s about as crazy for her as I am for Barbie. It’s interesting seeing it from an outside perspective. He loves differently. So does Sabrina, though. They make an excellent couple. He plans to propose to her and give her everything she never had. Much like Barbie. Two completely different women, though.
Walking back inside, they’re laughing, and her laugh makes me walk straight over and lean down to kiss her forehead. I could honestly survive on that laugh alone. It makes me happy. She makes me happy.
We eat and not long after, Barbie’s mother leaves.
We decide it’s bedtime and Barbie and I climb in after undressing—I’ve got her naked again just the way I like her.
“Marriage. Tell me your feels on it? Is it something you want?”
She turns to face me, pausing Grey’s Anatomy which is playing on the television. “It’s never been something I’ve thought much about,” she tells me.
I grab her face, kissing her lips. “I plan to put a ring on that finger one day soon, be prepared.”
She giggles and kisses me back. And that’s how we spend the rest of the weekend. Her in my arms with a weekend full of giggles.