Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I pulled him away from the island and lifted his chin. “It’s not just you. I think about him all the time too and—”
“Him? Do you think we’re having a boy? I’m getting girl vibes. Not that I care. I’m serious about that. I’m just praying for a healthy bundle of baby joy.” Aaron frowned. “Do you have a preference?”
“No, I feel the same way you do. Boy or girl…doesn’t matter to me.”
“I didn’t think so.” But the crease in his brow indicated that he was still mulling over something.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” I snaked an arm around his waist and kissed his forehead.
“I don’t want to tell you. It’s…dumb.”
“Tell me anyway.”
Aaron inhaled deeply. “This is our baby, and that’s the important thing. I will love this child so much it’s silly, but I kind of sort of hope your DNA made it to the egg first.”
Okay, I hadn’t expected that. “Why?”
“Well, you’re brilliant and handsome and athletic and…” He circled his hand meaningfully, adding, “tall.”
“As opposed to?”
“Smart enough, mostly hot…although aging at a rapid pace. I cannot believe I used to lament turning thirty. Now the big four-oh is coming for me, and I’m worried there isn’t enough face cream to handle the fallout. In the plus column, I’m a fabulous dancer and cook, but I’m vertically challenged, emotional, and I have a short fuse. And really…can you imagine two of me?” He shuddered theatrically. “It sounds terrifying.”
I laughed. “Sounds amazing to me.”
“You have to say that. It’s like a marriage law or something.”
“Oh, yeah? Funny enough, I mean it. I haven’t thought about the DNA part of this. It means less than nothing to me. This kid is ours. Mine and yours. I’d love a little girl with pretty hazel eyes or a little boy with dark hair who’s full of mischief as much as I’d love one who reminded me of my cool Uncle Ed. This has never been about bringing a mini me into the world. This is…an extension of us.”
Aaron beamed. “That’s romantic, Matty.”
“You think so? ’Cause that sounded super cheesy to me.”
He waggled his brows playfully. “I like cheese.”
I scratched my nape and pulled a face. I could write page after page of dry and boring yet perfectly concise verbiage for a contract that would hold up for decades, but sharing my feelings wasn’t easy. Thankfully, Murphy saved me from a second attempt at explaining my Hallmark-cringeworthy thoughts on parenthood. He raced to the screen door and jumped on the glass, barking his head off at the squirrel perched on the deck railing outside.
“Yeah, well, Murphy doesn’t like schmaltz, and he desperately needs to learn some manners. Let’s go to the park, shall we?”
Our dog whisperer was a serious middle-aged man with thinning hair and thick glasses who’d been highly recommended by a neighbor. Their German shepherd mix had gone from a hooligan to a well-mannered gentleman within two months of beginning regular training sessions. Sadly, I had a feeling it was going to take Murph a little longer than that.
“The key is incentive and praise,” Victor explained. “Handing out treats might seem like bribery, but it works. Use a firm but kind tone.”
“No problem. C’mere, Murph.” I drew him to my left, walked a few steps, then tugged his leash. “Heel.”
“Don’t pull his leash. You want him to listen to your words rather than be physically guided.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.” I tried again, moving from the large elm throwing shade across the playground equipment and the surrounding pathway. “Murphy, come. Good boy. Stay…I mean…heel.”
Murphy didn’t heel. Not even close. In fact, he nearly choked himself in a quest to chase after a crow, a hummingbird, and a dragonfly. Under Victor’s disapproving gaze, I yanked the leash to slow Murphy’s stride without dislocating my shoulder. It worked. He sat, tongue lolling to the side as he stared up at me expectantly.
“Should he give Murphy a treat now?” Aaron asked.
“It couldn’t hurt. However…” Victor skewered us with a serious once-over. “He will not learn if you’re inconsistent with your words and actions. Perhaps it would be wise to stick to basic commands for now and work our way up. Sit, down, stay. Sit, down, stay.”
“Why does thirty minutes of dog training feel like thirty hours?” I grumbled as soon as we’d said good-bye to Victor.
“No idea. It’s excruciating. Is it me, or is Murphy failing pup school?” Aaron lamented.
“Yeah, and I think that’s an us problem.”
“Are we terrible dog parents? My high opinion of us takes a hit after these sessions. I wonder if…” He trailed off, lowering his sunglasses to study something over my shoulder.
I turned to follow his gaze. “What are you looking at?”
“That girl has her eye on us. She’s been staring for a while.”
“We have a cute dog, Aar. Puppies are babe magnets.”