Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Arms wrapped around Harper from the other side. Elizabeth looked up to see Ivy grinning at her as she joined the hug. Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile back.
“You’re hugging me to death,” Harper called, laughing. She squeaked when Ivy and Elizabeth squeezed her tighter before releasing her.
“What are you hugging Harper for?” Elizabeth leaned forward to ask Ivy.
“She’s my friend. Everyone can always use a hug,” Ivy explained.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. That made perfect sense. Hugs were important. She liked that the Littles all enjoyed each other’s company. They all had different interests and personalities but were incredibly similar in the most important ways.
Leaning the other way, she propped herself against Talon’s shoulder. Without interrupting his conversation with Storm, her Daddy slid his chair back and scooped her onto his lap. When she was settled, Talon scooped a chip into his guacamole and lifted it to her lips. Without hesitating, Elizabeth opened her mouth to devour the treat as she eavesdropped on her Daddy’s conversation.
“Those fucking rims we got in are all jacked up,” Storm shared. “We’ll have to send them back.”
“Storm, you owe ten dollars to the swear jar,” Remi told him before jumping up to bring it to him. “I don’t want you to forget.”
“Of course, you don’t,” Storm groused before digging his money out of his pocket. He tucked a twenty into the jar and told her, “I’ll pay in advance.”
“Good idea. Thank you, Storm,” Remi said politely, before turning and giggling all the way back to put the jar away.
Talon laughed and fed another bite to Elizabeth as the conversation changed to something that had happened at the shop. Elizabeth tuned out automatically. She knew nothing about motorcycles or repairs.
As she chewed, Elizabeth looked around the large gathering room. There were people playing pool, eating, and hanging around the bar chatting. The conversations made it a noisy but comfortable rumble. She was amazed how comfortable she felt sitting on Talon’s lap. No one gave them a second look.
“More?”
Elizabeth looked back at Talon to see another guacamole offering. “No, thank you. I’m stuffed.”
“I’m glad you were hungry,” he answered and winked.
She knew immediately he was celebrating how well her doctor’s visit had gone. Before she could be embarrassed, Elizabeth felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Eden behind her.
“We’re going into the library. Want to come?” Eden invited.
“Oh, yes!”
After twisting around to give her Daddy a kiss on the cheek, she scrambled off his lap. Immediately, the Littles surrounded her as they moved to their own gathering place. Everyone dropped to the floor in a big circle.
“Who do we want to invite to read us a story?” Remi asked.
“Bear,” Carlee suggested. “He’s never read us a story. I can tell he’d be a good story reader. Let’s choose a book with a bear in it so he can be all growly.”
“That’s an amazing idea!” Ivy cheered.
Harper and Elizabeth were the closest to the bookshelf. They rose to their knees to look at their choices. After conferring together, they turned around to show the group their suggestion. It was a story about a bear dad who lost his cub in the woods and set off to find him.
“That’s a perfect story!” Eden cheered.
“Who’s going to go ask him? Anyone want to volunteer?” Remi looked around the group.
Elizabeth held up her hand. “I’ll go if no one else wants to.”
“Perfect. Do you know who Bear is?” Harper double checked. “There’s a lot of names to remember.”
“He’s the big guy with dark hair,” Ivy said, pointing to a burly guy talking to Gabriel.
Used to holding her own against the toughest lawyers in town, Elizabeth felt a bit nervous as she stood up while holding the book to her chest. That nervous feeling grew as she got closer to the two men.
“Um, hi!” she said to interrupt them.
“Hi, Elizabeth. Are you having fun with the other Littles?” Gabriel asked with a smile.
“Yes. They’re all really nice.”
Bear said, “I’m glad.”
“They sent me over here to ask if you’d read a book for us,” Elizabeth confessed.
“I’d love to read a book,” Gabriel volunteered.
“Oh! I’m sorry. I was supposed to ask Bear.” Elizabeth rushed to correct the misunderstanding.
“It’s a story about a growly bear,” she explained, holding up the book so they could see the cover.
“That’s totally you,” Gabriel said, thumping Bear on the back. “I agree, Elizabeth. Bear is the perfect Shadowridge Guardian to read that book.”
She nodded, happy that Gabriel understood. “I’ll have them find a book for you to read next time,” she promised.
“I’ll look forward to it. Have fun, Bear.”
As they got closer to the library, Elizabeth looked at the room and Bear’s bulk. Would he fit inside? Where was he going to sit?
When they arrived, everyone scooted around to leave a big space for Bear to sit on a large cushion. To Elizabeth’s surprise, he folded his large frame easily to the floor and held out a hand for the book as he greeted everyone.