Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 179812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 899(@200wpm)___ 719(@250wpm)___ 599(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 179812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 899(@200wpm)___ 719(@250wpm)___ 599(@300wpm)
Shepard stares at him for a beat before cocking his head to the side. “And you’re the only one who looks like he’s going to get punched, so maybe you shouldn’t.”
All the noise quiets down then as everyone watches Ledger and Shepard stare at each other. As in, Shepard is watching Ledger with a grave stare while Ledger’s amusement has only grown. Nerves churn in my belly as I notice Conrad going alert in his seat too, and Callie frowning angrily. But before either of them or anyone else can really say anything, Ledger taunts, “Seriously? Violence? When the whole family is here. Kids too. Plus our two new sisters.” He tsks, his lips twitching in amusement. “What do you think they’re going to think about us?”
Shit.
It only makes Shepard angrier as a vein on his temple starts beating. He leans forward and looks like he is about to stand up and make good on his promise when Callie bursts out, “Are you both serious right now? This is the first time we’ve been together as a family in weeks. Cut it out. Right now.”
To which Reed adds, “What she said.”
Ledger glances over to Reed. “Did you really need to add that? We all know you’re pu… Whipped.”
Well, good of him to censor his language in front of the kids.
Reed’s eyes flash. “Fudge yeah, I am. And you are too. You’re practically cooing in my sister’s ear, making me want to throw up in your face.”
It would be really funny, Reed censoring his language too for the sake of the kids when he and the Thorne brothers are some of the most foul-mouthed men I’ve ever met. But it’s not. Because I’m still dreading where all of this is headed. And if my man is going to get involved in a fist fight with his younger brother over the fact that we haven’t gotten our reunion yet. Maybe I should text him under the table and tell him to hold on a little bit longer. But before I can do any of these things, Conrad speaks. “All right, we’re done with this. There is no violence at this table. And that goes for everyone.”
He stares all the men down one by one, his gaze lingering on Shepard a beat longer as he says, “Remember what we talked about that night.” Then he moves on and addresses everyone at the table. “If any of you think you can’t sit here without breaking into a fist fight, then leave. Now. I’m not going to repeat myself. But if you’re going to sit here, you’re going to respect the fact that there are women and children here.”
When a few seconds pass with no movement or noise from the men at the table or the girls even—again, except the babies—everyone collectively breathes a sigh of relief. And the conversation starts to go back to normal.
Callie blows a kiss to Conrad, which makes his lips twitch before turning to Reed to berate him, or at least, that’s what it looks like. Before Reed grabs the back of Callie’s blonde head and smacks a kiss on her mouth. Wyn actually leans in and places a soft kiss on Conrad’s cheek and whispers something in his ear that makes him break out in a very small but soft smile. While Tempest first glares at her brother Reed before turning to her husband and shaking her head at him, who then leans over to place his lips on her dark hair as he says something to her softly. It makes her melt instantly. I bet he apologized. If he’s anything like Shepard, who doesn’t know anything about issuing an apology and yet somehow is a master at it, then I don’t think Tempest can hold onto her ire.
Phew. Crisis averted.
Now the only thing we need to wait for is for this dinner to be over so we can go back to the hotel where I can finally, finally, finally be with him. But of course, that takes ages. Everyone has different food preferences and explaining to the waiter takes hours. Like for example, Reed won’t eat tomatoes at all. And Tempest wants her food spicy but not too spicy. Ledger ordered his steak rare but it came medium rare. And then there are the kids. Halo wants to play with the spoon and wants to eat soup with her fingers. Flora wants milk but won’t drink it because Mommy forgot her favorite pink bottle. Dove poops her diaper so of course, Ledger and Tempest are fighting over who gets to change her. And then War spills water on Conrad, who picks him up and smacks a big kiss on his cheek as a reward, and then gets busy playing with him and forgets about his dinner
Honestly, I love my family. I do. But I’m going to die with anticipation.