Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
It’s one minute until six when I pull into her grandparents’ driveway. We got home around noon, unpacked, took a long hot shower, and then went to the store and started laundry. Merrick was still at the house when I left. I invited him to come with us. That’s the issue with living not only with a brother who’s also your twin. He just smirked and said he didn’t want to be the third wheel on our date. I made the mistake of telling him he wouldn’t be because Ada would be there. The fucker just laughed at my mishap.
This is not a date.
Just two friends hanging out.
I’ll never hear the end of this, but Stella and I are friends, and I can’t hide that. I don’t need to hide that. Eventually, they’ll realize that their assumptions are wrong and let it go. Until then, I need to suck it up and take their teasing. I’ve done my fair share of teasing where each of them is concerned. I’ve earned it, that’s for sure.
I’m climbing out of the truck when the front door opens. Stella walks out to the driveway and sets Ada on her feet. She holds her hands for a few seconds, and then Ada lets go. I kneel and open my arms. I’m about twenty feet away from her. She takes one step and then another. With each step, she becomes more confident, and the smile on her little face brightens.
“Look at you, Bug.” My smile matches hers, I’m certain. My heart races with each step she takes. When she’s within reaching distance, I pick her up and swing her around, raining kisses on her cheeks. “You did it! Look at you, big girl, taking so many steps.” She returns my affection with a sloppy kiss on my cheek.
“She started that today,” Stella says, joining us.
“That definitely deserves a celebration dinner and some ice cream.”
“You don’t have to keep making up reasons to celebrate, Maverick. Ada and I are good. I promise.”
“I’m not making it up. This is a big deal. I mean, we were eating and grabbing ice cream anyway, but this makes it even more important. Right, Bug?” I gently rub my beard against her cheek, making her squirm and giggle.
“Are you ladies ready?”
“About that,” Stella says, chewing on her bottom lip. “I thought we could eat here,” she rushes to say. “My grandparents went to dinner and a show in Atlanta. They’ll be back late, and I thought I could make dinner for you. You do so much for us, and you never let me pay.” She shrugs.
“You want to make me dinner?” I’m smiling because her words cause a fluttering feeling in my chest. Has a woman I’m not related to ever wanted to feed me? Not that I can ever remember.
“Fine. But I’m going to run out and grab dessert.”
“I can make something,” she counters.
“Nope. That’s my offer.”
“Fine.” She reaches for Ada.
“I can take her with me. I’m just running uptown. That way, you can focus on cooking.”
“You don’t have to do that, Maverick.”
“I know I don’t, but she wants to go bye-bye with me, right, Ada?” I ask her. Her answer is to rest her head on my shoulder.
“She really likes you.” Stella’s eyes are soft as she watches her daughter in my arms.
“Do you need anything while we’re out?”
“No—actually, yes. If you don’t mind, I need a gallon of Vitamin D milk for her. We’re almost out. Let me run and get you some money.”
I wave her off. “It’s fine, Stel. What are we having for dinner?”
“Grilled chicken, baked potatoes, and mac and cheese, Ada’s favorite.”
“Sounds good. We’ll be back soon.” I turn, make my way to my truck, and work on getting Ada settled into her seat.
“Here.” Stella appears beside me, a little winded. She hands me a small diaper bag. “You probably won’t need this, but better safe than sorry.”
“Thanks.” I smile at her and place the bag on the floorboard of the back seat. I step back, letting Stella have room to say goodbye. “We’ll be right back.” I don’t know why I do it, but I lean down and press my lips to her forehead. To reassure her that I’m not a monster because I have her daughter? Honestly, I don’t know, and I’m not going to think about it. It happened. Friends can give chaste kisses on the forehead. Sterling used to do it to Alyssa all the time.
Waving to Stella, I back out of the driveway and head to the small grocery store in town. I plan just to pick up some ice cream and, of course, the milk Stella asked for.
“All right, Bug,” I say to Ada once I have her seated in a cart. “What kind of ice cream do we want?”
She kicks her feet and grips the handle of the cart, cooing back at me. This kid is cute as hell.