Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 134706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“They just turned up here,” I stammer.
“What?” she gasps.
“Patrick and Harrison just turned up at my hotel in Paris.”
“What the hell?” she gasps. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“They’re okay, they’re okay,” I hear her tell someone.
“Where are you?” I ask.
“In the police station. Oh my God, Tristan,” she cries in relief. “Oh my God. It’s okay, Fletcher. They’re safe,” she says.
I flick the peak of Harry’s cap. “You’re in so much trouble,” I mouth.
“I don’t care,” he mouths back with attitude.
“I’m on my way,” she stammers. “Fletcher and I will catch the first flight out.”
“Okay.”
“Bye, Tris.” She hangs up.
I look down at the two boys as they stare up at me. “What are you two thinking?” I snap. “Your mother has been frantic,” I whisper as I gesture to the elevator. “You two are in so much trouble I can’t even believe it,” I whisper angrily.
They both smile up at me, and my heart constricts. I bend and take them both in my arms. “You little shits,” I murmur into their hair.
“We came to get you,” Patrick whispers into my shoulder. “We want you as our dad. We don’t care what Mom says. It’s up to us, anyway.”
I grip them tighter in my arms, and I could just burst into tears. We hold on to each other tightly for a long time, and I’m quite sure everyone around is watching.
I take their hands, and we get into the elevator. “Do you know how dangerous that was? How the hell did you get on a plane, anyway?” I ask.
“With your credit card.”
My mouth falls open. “You stole my credit card?” I gasp. “Oh my God. Harrison,” I scold him. “You are unbelievable.”
“No, I borrowed it. It was in Mom’s drawer.”
The credit card I had given to Claire for emergencies. The one she refused to use.
“You are grounded for life,” I whisper as I hold his hand.
He smiles cheekily up at me, and I smirk down at him.
I fucking love this kid.
We get to my hotel suite, and I flop onto the lounge. They both sit nearly on top of me. They tell me how they lied to Bob and to Claire and sneaked out and caught the train to the airport and then somehow got on a plane without being stopped. They tell me every single detail about their last fifteen hours, and I can hardly believe it.
Patrick’s little arms are tight around my neck as we converse, and Harrison’s hand is on my thigh. They are animated and cutting each other off and so proud of themselves for actually pulling it off.
“Why did you come here?” I ask as I look between them.
“Because we love you,” Harry says. “And we’re staying with you until you come home . . . and you can’t make us leave. You’re our dad, and dads belong with their kids.”
I pull them close and hold them tight. “I love you too,” I whisper into their hair.
My heart bursts with love for these boys.
I smile. It seems all this lying makes for two sweaty kids. “And you two need a shower. You stink.”
They moan.
“Where’s Fletch?” I ask as I lead them into the bathroom.
“He wouldn’t leave Mom alone for the weekend.”
I smile proudly. Always looking out for his mom. “That’s my boy.”
It’s just now 3:40 a.m., and the text I’ve been waiting for arrives from Claire.
Just pulling up at the hotel now.
She’s here.
I text back.
Concierge knows you are coming,
They have a key for you.
A reply bounces back.
See you soon.
I begin to pace; my heart is in my throat. Claire’s going to flip her fucking lid.
My God, that was so dangerous, what the boys did. Just wait till I get ahold of the airline responsible.
I take deep breaths. I’m nervous to see her.
It’s been a long, lonely, and hellish few weeks.
The door lock clicks, and the door slowly opens. Fletcher walks in, and I pull him in for a hug. Then I see Claire, and my heart drops.
She’s distraught, in tears, and pale. She looks like she’s lost a lot of weight.
“Baby,” I whisper.
She screws her face into tears, and I take her in my arms. She cries against my shoulder as I hold her tight. “Shh, they’re okay,” I whisper into her hair. “They’re asleep. It’s okay.” I lead her by the hand into the bedroom, and she kisses both their foreheads as they sleep.
“I’m going to kill those two knuckleheads,” Fletcher whispers.
“Get in line,” I mutter as I watch Claire sob over them.
I turn to Fletcher and pull him into my arms again. “Good boy for staying with your mother,” I whisper. I slap him on the back.
“Where am I sleeping?” he asks. “I’m exhausted.”
“In the room next door.”
“Good night, Mom,” Fletcher whispers.
Claire wraps her arms around him. “Thank you so much, Fletch. Good night, sweetheart.”
I close the boys’ door, and we walk out into the living room. I’m waiting for her onslaught.