Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 63601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Mostly because he’d figured out the way to Ruslan’s heart was through his stomach…and little side.
“Oh…” Dragging it out as we grabbed the cake and grocery bag full of presents, he swung the reusable bag back and forth as he thought. “Brussel sprouts?”
He knew that was one vegetable I just couldn’t do, so I groaned appropriately and winced, earning an evil villain snicker. “No. Anything but that.”
“Hmm…Thanksgiving.” He was barely holding back more giggles. “With ’tatoes and stuffing and gravy.”
“That’s…” I had to think about that one as we finally made it out of the house. “I don’t know how I feel about that. With turkey too?”
We made it across the street debating what vegetables would go in it and were knee-deep in green beans versus green bean casserole by the time we got to my place. “I just don’t know. That’s a lot of different sauces.”
“But—” Chipmunk seemed to realize where we were once we stepped up on the porch and he went silent.
Letting him take a minute, I waited at the top of the stairs while he decided if he was going to panic or not. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “They’re going to like me. I’m a big boy and a good boyfriend.”
“You can be little or big, either one is fine around any of them, and you’re a great boyfriend who’s funny and mischievous.” That got a snicker from him and he stood straighter. “You’re creative and funny and you’ve got great stories about your family, so you can always distract them with one of those.”
He was going to be handy to have around at parties and stuff because he had a story for everything.
“Did I tell you about that time we had to go to that bank president’s holiday party…the guy with the big blue house that looks like a Smurf designed it?” My wince made him laugh. “Yeah, he was doing his best to be inclusive and it just went—”
Before he could tell me the story, Gary popped out of the front door, barely peeking out. “Do you need a few minutes or did Levi finally realize he forgot his keys here?”
“Brat.” But he was a brat that broke the ice and made Chipmunk laugh. “I’m not sure you need our beautiful cake.”
He awed, properly impressed as I held it up. “Oh, Ruslan, come look. Levi and Teddy brought a Santa cake.”
Ice broken.
“It’s got a tree.” Chipmunk was nearly big but not quite full adult as he pointed to the cake. “And we brought presents.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the stress or excitement, but he was in what I was going to call a playful headspace as Ruslan came to the front door.
Oh.
Well, it seemed like everyone was feeling playful today because he had on a Santa Loves Good Boys sweatshirt and was not the worried stress ball he usually was. “Oh. It’s got snow.”
This I could handle.
The professor possibly judging me and my personal life all night…no.
I knew what to do with littles, though.
Chipmunk knew what to do with a new friend too. “I bought presents. I got two for you.”
Because he’d insisted that anyone little got a present for both sides of their personality and I wasn’t a big enough pain in the ass to tell him no.
“I got you two too.” That made both of them and Gary giggle, but Ruslan didn’t seem to mind. “I’ll show you.”
And they were off.
With the presents and without Daddy.
Gary was snickering as we watched them rush into the house with me following behind them. “The cake looks great but I think the presents will take their attention for a while.”
“At least until they remember that all their favorite foods are in the kitchen.” Taking a deep breath as Gary closed the door, I moaned. “That smells amazing.”
He was the best grown-up ever, but his blush said he wasn’t used to the attention it got him yet. “Thanks.”
“You gonna let us at least help clean up?” I was hoping he’d give an enthusiastic yes, but he blushed even redder. “What did you do?”
Cooking was one thing but he couldn’t claim all the cleaning.
“An older woman showed up first thing and took charge like a general on the battle field.” As his blush faded, he glared at me. “Did you hire her?”
“No.” I hadn’t known I could rent a housekeeper or maybe a house manager. “Did you explain to Dante…or better yet Professor Donaldson that you let a random woman takeover the house?”
He shrugged, trying not to laugh as I threatened him with the Dom that actually owned the house. “Dante thought it was funny, so I’m going to throw him under the bus if anyone complains.”
“What was Dante doing here?” He’d been staying over at Ruslan’s place almost every night since they’d gotten together.