Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Jaxon comes to the table, putting down a platter of salmon and then placing the platter of veggies beside it. “This looks so good,” I say of the roasted veggies that are placed neatly next to each other. Red and yellow peppers, next to asparagus, and then Brussels sprouts at the end.
“It’s all Lexi,” Ariella praises and I look up at Lexi, who is placing the forks and knives by each place setting. “Another thing we are going to miss when she moves out.”
“You guys are more than welcome to come over to my house every single day.” She looks at Ariella, who is putting Jagger in his highchair.
“All of us?” my mouth says before I can take it back.
She looks up, biting her lower lip. “Most of you.” She puts her head to the side and we all laugh.
I sit down in the chair in front of Ariella and wait for Lexi to sit beside me, as Jaxon puts bottles of water on the table in the middle. He pulls out the chair next to Ariella, as Lexi pulls out the chair beside me. “Dig in,” Jaxon urges. Lexi grabs the platter of veggies, putting some on her plate before handing it to me.
“So where are you moving to?” I ask her and she shrugs.
“It’s still up for debate,” she says, grabbing the platter of salmon and taking a piece with two pieces of lemon on it, before handing it to me. “We went to see three houses.” I try not to fixate on the we. Who the fuck is we? “I liked the first one but it’s, again, over my budget.” She pours herself some water. “Like almost double.”
“Your parents want to help,” Ariella says. “Let them.”
“My mother is going to lowball an offer and see what they say,” she mentions and I look at Jaxon.
“Her mother is a real estate agent,” he fills me in and I just nod my head.
“It’s nice and the nicest, but is it worth the money?” She takes a bite of her salmon. “I had the big-ass house. I’m not sure I want that again.”
“You can have a big-ass house and make it comfy.” I take my own bite of my salmon and she just looks at me.
The rest of the night’s conversation is light as we discuss the upcoming away schedule. We leave tomorrow for three days and I’m already dreading it.
“That was perfect,” I praise once I get up and grab her plate to take it into the kitchen.
“It really was,” Jaxon says. “Are you sure you have to move out?”
“I’ve never lived alone,” she admits. “It is time.”
“Ohhh,” Ariella says as she takes Jagger in her arms, “we should do a round of never have I ever.” Jaxon groans while I try not to laugh, as I place the plates in the dishwasher before going back and taking my spot. Ariella now has a cover hiding the fact that she’s nursing. “Lexi, you go first.”
She leans back in her chair. “I don’t know, never have I ever”—she looks up at the ceiling, then looks back at us—“gotten a speeding ticket.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop taking the easy way out,” I tell her. “You always do that.” I catch my words right as they leave my mouth, but no one calls me on it. But I do see Jaxon and Ariella share a look with each other.
“Fine,” she huffs, raising her eyebrows. “Never have I ever had a one-night stand.” She smirks at me.
“I have,” I answer her and she rolls her eyes to the side. “I was young.”
“Whatever,” she dismisses me, looking over at Ariella and see her mouth hangs open.
“You?” She points to her.
“Have you met Jagger?” She points to her son in her arms. “The definition of a one-night stand gone wrong.”
“Not wrong,” Jaxon retorts, “gone off the rails.”
“Whatever it’s called,” Ariella says, “I have.”
“Okay, Jaxon,” Lexi calls him.
“Never have I ever,” he starts, “wanted to play this game.” The bark of laughter fills the room. “Never have I ever gone on a blind date.”
“I have,” I say, “and then I never went on another again.”
“Oh, I want to hear more,” Ariella states and Lexi sits up and puts her elbow on the table, and then holds her neck with her hand as she listens to the story.
“I think I was twenty-two, I don’t remember how old I was,” I explain, trying to remember the little details, “went out. We were having a great time until her husband showed up at the table. She was not twenty-three like she said she was but instead thirty-five, and trying to convince her husband to have an open relationship.” I hold up my hands. “I vowed to never do that again.”
“So no to open relationships?” Lexi asks me and I think even she’s shocked that she asked me the question.