Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Trust me. I’m not the classiest drunk person,” I tell him, and he grins.
“I think you and I are going to be great friends,” Margret says, and I turn to look at her and smile. “We should all plan to go out after Cybil pops the baby out.”
“That’s not happening.” Blake shakes his head, and my nose scrunches.
“I second that,” Tanner agrees. “You know I love you like a sister, Margret, but my wife is not going out drinking with you . . . ever.”
“You know, last time I checked, I was a grown woman with a mind of her own.” Cybil glares at her husband. “There will never be a time when you can tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“I’m a little offended you guys think I would get these two sweet girls in trouble,” Margret inserts, looking between Blake and Tanner, but Maverick is the one to respond.
“Before you got pregnant with Taylor, I had to pick you up more than once, and I regretted answering my cell every time you called.”
“I wasn’t that bad,” Margret grumbles, passing Sampson to Cybil when she reaches for him.
“You ran away from me and acted like I was trying to kidnap you.”
“That only happened once, and I apologized the next day as soon as I woke up.”
“And the time you decided we were going to play hide-and-seek, only I had no idea I was playing a game and was meant to find you?”
“I’m a mom now.” She rolls her eyes. “I’ve obviously matured since then.”
“Obviously,” Blake mutters sarcastically, like he doesn’t believe her.
“Whatever,” she grouses, sounding as cranky as her brother, and I can’t help but smile. “Anyway, are you guys going to cook dinner anytime soon? I’m starving.”
“Yeah.” Tanner gets up, kissing his wife on the side of the head before going over to start the grill.
“Do you need a break from all these girls, big guy?” Blake asks Sampson, and of course he goes right to him and smacks his jaw while babbling away.
“What’s going on with you and my brother?” Margret asks me after the guys have taken up positions around the grill.
“I was wondering the same thing,” Cybil says, and I shake my head at the two women who I just met and who obviously don’t know about Blake’s and my past encounters.
“Nothing is going on with us.” I shift in my seat, feeling awkward under their scrutiny.
“Interesting.” Margret taps her chin. “I can tell you’re not lying, but there is some kinda vibe between the two of you.”
“There aren’t any vibes between us,” I say, not completely sure what vibes she’s talking about, and Cybil tips her head to the side.
“I heard about your first meeting with Blake. Tanner mentioned he was kind of a jerk.”
“My brother, a jerk . . . ?” Margret gasps in fake shock, and Cybil turns to smile at her.
“I know it’s hard to believe he would ever be rude.” She turns back to me. “Once you get to know him, you’ll find that he’s actually really sweet.”
“I wish I could say she’s lying, but she’s not. Blake might act like he doesn’t care and come off rude sometimes—”
“Most of the time,” Cybil cuts in.
“Okay, most of the time,” Margret agrees. “But it’s just his way.”
“I’m sure he’s a very nice guy,” I reply. “That said, he’s my boss, and I’m not even a little interested in him.” Gah, why does that feel like a lie? “I just got out of a relationship with Sampson’s father, and I’m not looking to get involved with anyone.”
“I totally get that,” Margret says quietly as she looks over to the couch, where her daughter’s still sleeping. “I just ended things with Taylor’s dad not long ago, and I know I’m not ready to get involved with anyone else for a long, long time.”
“I’m sorry,” I say as Cybil reaches out to take her hand.
“It’s okay. It’s for the best. Now, the only thing that matters is that he’s still around for his daughter. I’m sure you get that having Sampson,” she says, and I struggle with what to say, because the truth is, I doubt there will be a time when Lex is in Sampson’s life.
Since I’ve been home, we still haven’t spoken, and there’s no way I’m going to force him to step up to the plate by taking him to court. At the end of the day, I know he didn’t want to be a dad, and there’s no way I want to put my son in a position to be constantly let down by the guy who helped make him.
Thankfully, before I’m forced to say something, Sampson’s cheery shriek fills the air, taking the attention off me.
“I think he might be hungry.” Blake walks toward me with Sampson, and my heart does a strange thump inside my chest. “He was trying to get me to give him a banana, but I stood strong, not knowing if he should have one.”