Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
"I'll get it, sweet cheeks," Asher insisted before gently pushing his mate back into his chair. "You should rest."
"You didn't need to make a cake," I told him. "You've done so much already." I looked around the table at the whole pride. "You all have."
We were celebrating Brady's fifth birthday with a party thrown by our friends, who had become our family, at the lodge, which had become our home.
My son had been thoroughly spoiled so far, with a delicious meal of cheeseburgers and macaroni and cheese, prepared by Cedric, and gifts from everyone.
Cedric and Asher went practical with their gift, opting for a kid-size recliner for the living room. Grady followed suit, giving my little guy a whole new wardrobe of clothes, including a newsboy cap of his own.
Brandon sketched a portrait of Brady dressed as a superhero, which Talon bought a nice frame for, and Hunter bought more giant toys to be friends with Mr. Monkey. Felix and Enzo went a different route, opting for a slingshot which came with a promise of target practice…which sounded a lot like trouble, but also a lot like fun.
"We're happy to do it," Grady insisted. "Brady is one of us."
They'd made that abundantly clear by accepting him and me into their pride. The day after I bonded with Hunter, the guys moved the two of us into the lodge. They babysat Brady while Hunter and I had date nights, and they took him on hikes to teach him about nature.
Due to their vast resources, I was able to leave my job at the coffee shop. At first I felt guilty about abandoning Josie, but everything worked out great. As it turned out, Hope wasn't sick; she was pregnant. She and her boyfriend needed a cheap place to stay to raise their baby, so they took over my old apartment. And they both took a job at the cafe since I no longer needed Hope as a babysitter.
"Here we are," Asher announced as he carried in the cake his mate made. It was big enough to feed a small army (or a hungry lion pride) and was decorated with orange frosting since it was Brady's favorite color. Asher took a lighter from his pocket and lit the candles on top of the cake. "Make a wish."
Brady looked at me as he squished his lips around. "I don't know what to wish for, Daddy. I have everything I want."
"So do I, buddy." I smiled at the men around the table, receiving warm smiles back.
Brady blew out the candles, and Cedric began cutting the cake into slices, waving off Asher when he tried to help.
I leaned closer to Brady and asked him, "Should we give Hunter his present now?"
"Yes!" My son clapped before jumping out of his chair and running out of the room, returning with a small, white box, which he handed to a confused Hunter.
"But it's your birthday," he told Brady, who nodded.
"I know, but Daddy and I got you something special too. Open it, open it!"
Hunter lifted the lid off of the box and his eyes immediately grew misty when he saw what was inside - a packet of adoption paperwork.
"I want you to be my Daddy too," Brady explained. He had voiced that desire to me as soon as he found out that Hunter and I were bonded for life, and I got busy on the petition right away. "Will you adopt me?"
Hunter wiped his eyes and touched his forehead to Brady's. "Nothing would make me happier than to be your dad. I love you, Brady."
"I love you too." He threw his arms around Hunter's neck and there wasn't a dry eye around the table, even though Felix and Enzo tried to hide their emotions.
When Brady let him loose, Hunter kissed me deeply and said, "And I love you. Thank you for the most incredible gift."
"Thank you for being the father that Brady deserves." I looked around the table once more. "Thank you all for being our family."
"Always," Felix and Enzo answered together in an uncharacteristically tender moment.
"How about we celebrate your special day with some cake," Talon suggested to Brady, "And then I will take you on a lion-back nature hike."
My little guy decided that was the best birthday wish.