Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“Uh-oh, why am I sensing competition brewing in the air?” Charleigh asked.
“You know the rules, Momma Dog!” Nolan enthused, punching a fist in the air. “We gotta play a whole family game before our family has to go because family activities are really important.”
Surprise widened my eyes.
Kane caught it. “That’s right.”
“What kind of game?” Raven asked.
“Kickballs!” Maci shouted, tossing out an awkward kick.
Kane nearly bowed in two as he laughed, low and deep with affection, his focus just canting to me for a beat as he set his hand on her head. “Why’s that sound so dangerous?”
I tried to staunch a laugh, but Raven let it out. “Because our little one here is definitely dangerous. She’s going to be kicking all the balls. I want her on my team.”
“Good fing because I already picked you, Missy Raven, and your Otto because he said you always gotta be on his team.”
Raven glowed, her own affection riding out, these people already accepting Maci in a way I still couldn’t wrap my heart around.
“That is a very good thing, but I have to admit, I’m not much of a runner,” Raven told her.
“Yeah, that’s all Charleigh over here. My Little Runner.” River was suddenly there, murmuring it as if he were only speaking to her as he pulled her up from her chair.
I would have thought the two of them would have been together forever if I hadn’t learned that she’d only come into their lives a year ago.
The two engaged but this little family closer than anything I’d ever seen.
“And I pick Miss Emery since she’s gotta be super fast because she’s got really good shoes!” Nolan wound around Kane and picked my foot up by the ankle so he could inspect my Adidas.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. My pulse clattering, my spirit spinning, telling me to get as far away from this tight-knit group as I could.
I didn’t do this.
I didn’t get close. Not when these people couldn’t remain. Not when they were only going to feel like another aching hole once I left.
“Oh, no, I don’t think I—”
“Auntie Em! You gotta! It’s a family game!” Maci picked up my other foot, yanking at it, too.
Kane suddenly leaned down over the kids, planting his hands on either side of the armrests of my chair.
So close I inhaled him.
Spice and hazard and decadence.
“Yeah, Em, you gotta.” The words dragged like temptation across my ear.
I sent him a scowl, and the man only chuckled as he reached out so he could smooth out the wrinkle on my brow with the pad of his thumb.
His mouth right there, lips nearly brushing my cheek. “Told you all the fun I was going to show you. And I think we should start right here.”
THIRTY-FOUR
EMERY
“Run!”
A surprised laugh tore out of me when the ball I’d just kicked went sailing across the yard, right over Otto’s head who was manning first base.
River was the one who’d shouted it, cheering me on from where he was already on third and was starting to sprint for home.
“Go, Miss Emery! You gotta run so super fast before Uncle Otto gets you!” Nolan jumped up and down to the side of me, up to kick next.
It finally knocked me out of the surprise, and I burst into action, propelling my legs as fast as they would go as Otto hustled after my ball that had landed on the far-right side of the yard.
Apparently, they were loose about the foul rules in this family because honestly, it’d been about the worst kick ever, but now that I was sprinting for first, I didn’t mind so much.
Because Kane was hollering at Otto, “Hurry, man! Pick up those boots and run! Em-Girl is about to leave you in the dust.”
It turned out, I did have the super fastest shoes at the party, and Otto had barely made it to the fence by the time I made it to first. So, I turned in the direction of second base.
Raven was there, bouncing on her toes and waving her arms overhead and shouting at Otto, “Come on, you sexy beast! Show me what you’ve got! Mama is ready and waiting, and she’ll reward you graciously later.”
From where he’d just crossed home base, River groaned like he’d suffered a mortal wound. “If you want me to take out your fastest team member, keep it up, Raven.”
“Just lighting a little fire under my man. It’s the exact kind of motivation he—”
“My ears!” River covered them and dropped to his knees, and I nearly tripped because I could hardly stand with the laughter that was bubbling out of me.
The way they all taunted and teased and continually gave each other crap.
But in the sweetest of ways.
Their closeness distinct.
“Hey, what about me? I fought you told me I was really super fast?” Maci shouted from third, dancing on her little bare feet on the grass like she was about to suggest a race against Otto to prove herself.