Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
His eyes locked on mine as he grinned and said, “Hey.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being so patient with them.”
His expression softened in a way that made my chest tighten. “They’re good kids, Rae… And if you ask me, they get that from you. You’re a good mother. You’re doing good by them.”
His words hit harder than I’d expected. I didn’t even have time to respond before he leaned in and brushed a quick kiss against my lips. It was simple, easy, but enough to send a shiver of warmth straight through me. He was looking at me in that way that said he wanted to kiss me again when we both heard the boys groan, “Eewww.”
I turned just in time to see Lucas making a face, and Thomas was right next to him, also making a face. Lucas looked to Walker and said, “That’s gross. You can’t do that around us… That’s our Mom.”
Walker didn’t even flinch. He just gave them a smirk and said, “Sorry, boys. I couldn’t help myself. Your mom’s hot.”
“Ahhh, man,” Lucas groaned. “Saying that’s even worse than kissing on her.”
“He’s right.” Thomas shook his head, trying not to look amused, but failing miserably when he laughed. “You gotta wait until we’re not around for that kind of stuff.”
“I’ll try.” Walker shrugged. “But I can’t make any promises.”
Walker just shrugged, like there was nothing to argue about. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, somewhere between embarrassed and flattered.
“Okay. Okay,” I cut in, trying to regain some level of control. “Sit. Let’s make a plate before the food gets cold and all your hard work goes to waste.”
“No way that’s gonna happen,” Lucas muttered, still shaking his head as he made his way over to the table.
Thomas gave me a smirk but didn’t say a word. He just walked over, grabbed his drink, and claimed his spot at the table. Walker held my gaze for a moment, then we both made our way to the table and sat with the boys. We each filled our plates, and then the boys waited as I took the first bite.
I closed my eyes as I chewed, and after I swallowed, I looked over to the boys and said, “This is incredible.”
“You mean it?”
“Absolutely. I’ve never had a burger that tastes this good.”
Walker leaned back in his chair, watching the boys with quiet satisfaction, like their reaction mattered even more than mine. Lucas was grinning from ear to ear as he announced, “Must be the secret ingredients.”
“Oh?” I raised a brow. “And what would those be?”
Walker didn’t even hesitate. “Can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Wouldn’t be a secret anymore.”
I huffed, shaking my head as I took another bite, but I didn’t argue. I couldn’t. They were all sitting there looking so proud of themselves, and that mattered more than anything else.
The boys dove in, and Walker followed. We ate and talked, and in no time, the boys had fallen into their usual rhythm of things. Lucas’ mouth was full of hot dog when he announced, “Coach said practice would be short Thursday. His daughter has a doctor’s appointment or something, so it shouldn’t be longer than an hour.”
“That’s great.” I turned to Thomas and asked, “What about you? Do you have anything extra going on this week?”
“I have to finish my science project, and we’ve got a full practice on Thursday.” He rolled his eyes. “Coach never gives us a break.”
“I’m less concerned about practice than I am the project.”
“I’ve already done most of it. I just have to finish my poster.”
“That’s the biggest part.”
“I know, but I’ll get it. I just need to get the poster board.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you needed poster board before I went to the store?”
“I forgot.”
“Of course you did,” I groaned. “We’ll get one tomorrow.”
I glanced over at Walker, and he looked perfectly content sitting there watching us banter back and forth. Once the conversation died down, he turned to me and asked, “What about you? What you got going on this week?”
“Just the usual.” I shrugged. “I have a few things to wrap up at the library this week. Nothing too exciting, and I have to take the Tahoe in for an oil change.”
“Don’t have to take it anywhere for that. I can do it.”
“You can?”
“Yeah, won’t take any time.” He motioned his head toward the boys. “I’ve got two helpers.”
Thomas frowned. “I don’t know how.”
“That’s fine.” Walker didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll teach you.”
Something about the way he said it made Thomas sit up a little straighter and smile. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. All boys should know how to change their oil.”
“Alright. That’d be cool.”
Lucas was already sold on the idea and asked, “When we gonna do it?”
“I’ll sort that out with your mother, but soon.”
“Cool.”
The boys finished up their dinner, and without being told, they gathered their plates and carried them to the sink. Before heading to their rooms, Thomas walked over to Walker and said, “Thanks for dinner and everything.”