Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
But no matter how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other, whether a couple of weeks or just a few days, we’re always excited to be together.
I know that not all families feel this way, so I never take it for granted.
“I had a dream last night,” Olivia’s youngest sister, Chelsea, says. “I met Chris Evans at the supermarket. He was trying to pick out some radishes, so I helped him, and there was this immediate attraction between us.”
“Of course, there was,” Stella says with a smile.
“But then he said,” Chelsea continues, “I guess looks don’t matter. It’s the inside that counts. And then he took my hand, and we left the store together. And what I want to know is, does Chris Evans think I’m ugly?”
“Of course not,” Aunt Nic says. “You’re a beautiful girl.”
“But he said—”
“In a dream,” I remind her. “Not real life.”
“Have you ever met Chris Evans?” Zoey asks.
“Well, no. But I’d like to.”
“He’s, like, more than twenty years older than you,” Haley reminds her.
“If it’s Chris Evans, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Chelsea replies, her nose in the air.
“Whoa.” Natalie holds up her hands as the rest of us laugh our heads off. “Do not let your father hear you say that.”
“No kidding. You forget that you live in a family where meeting celebrities is a very real possibility.” This comes from Sam, who’s pointing her finger at her niece. “Your sister wanted to meet one of the Jonas brothers when she was twelve, and your uncle Leo was ready to make it happen.”
“I’m still mad that Dad said no,” Haley replies with a pout.
I move over to where Meg’s laughing with my aunt Brynna, and lean in to whisper to her. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course.”
I lead her down the hall to a restroom and close the door behind us.
“What is it? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Meg grabs my shoulders in her hands, worry all over her pretty face, and I shake my head.
“No, no, I’m fine. Really, perfectly fine. I just have a question for you.” I take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then purge the story as fast as I can. “Okay, so I went on a date with Ike last night, and then he took me home, and he ended up staying over because he fell asleep, and then today, we went on another date, but he didn’t go home between dates, and I don’t know if that was one date or two, and I’m really hoping you’ll tell me that it was two dates.”
She blinks. “That was a crazy run-on sentence. Also, awww! You’re following the three-date rule!”
“And it’s killing me, so please tell me that was two dates.”
“Well, did you sleep in there somewhere?”
“Yes. He slept on the couch, and I slept in my bed.”
She nods, thinking it over. “I’m going to say it was two dates. You slept separately and went on two different dates on two separate days.”
“Yes!” I jump up and down and clap my hands. “Thank God.”
“I can see where Ike would be hard to resist. He’s adorable.”
“He’s hot as fuck, Aunt Meg. And he’s so freaking nice, I can’t even stand it. But I’m gonna hang in there for one more date because I don’t want to take it too fast.”
“I think that’s smart.”
“But…do I have to wait for a few days after the third date, or, like, can we go on the third date, and then when he takes me home, I can jump him?”
“I think at that point, it’s just semantics,” she says with a smile. “You’re a grown woman in your late twenties, and you can decide for yourself when you’re ready to sleep with a hot-as-fuck man.”
I press my hand to my mouth and then laugh. “Are all quarterbacks hot?”
“I seem to think so, yes.” She smiles and tucks my hair behind my ear the way my own mother would. “I’m here if you have questions. Not about the sex,” she says quickly. “But about life with a professional football player. Because as exciting as it can be, it’s not all championships and roses.”
“I know. I get it.”
“I think out of most of the women in the world, you do. You have the benefit of being in this particular family. That will come in handy.”
“Thanks.” I hug her tight and then open the door of the bathroom, where I find Liv, Stella, and several others with their ears pressed to the wood. “What the hell?”
“You’re dating Ike Harrison?” Liv demands. “When were you going to tell the rest of us?”
“Well, right now, actually. You’re a bunch of nosy women.”
“Of course, we are,” Stella says. “Also? Ike is hot with a capital H.”
“I know. But I’m holding out on the sexy stuff until after the third date.”