Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 107352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“Yes,” he husked, clearly in pain.
“Okay,” I said, standing up beside Luke and then leaning forward when Richard got up to offer his hand. Both Luke and I shook his, and then he was at the door, closing it behind us as we left. I was thinking it didn’t look too bad, just needed to have the screws replaced.
It had slowed to a drizzle when we were leaving, and once Luke opened the door on my side and I climbed in, he slammed it hard before charging around the front of the truck. He was quiet when he climbed into the cab, and once he was behind the wheel, he didn’t immediately start the engine, merely sat there squeezing the steering wheel.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I groused at him. “I cannot stay here. It’s not good for you or the kids. You get that, right?”
“I get that you think you know what’s best, so we’ll leave it at that.”
I stared out the window on my side. “I will be here through Thanksgiving.”
“Great. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t be an ass.”
“Absolutely not. You’re the fixer. You know everything. I shouldn’t have even questioned you.”
We didn’t say another word on the way home, and I was disappointed we wouldn’t be having lunch. Talking to him while I ate was one of my new favorite things to do.
NINE
In the afternoon, Luke went to pick up Griff’s friends, slamming the door of his office, which was right next to his bedroom, and charging out of the house. He didn’t say a word to me, continuing the silent treatment I’d received since we came back from seeing Richard Conti. But I didn’t have time to worry about that, as I had to start prepping the food, delivered right about the time he left.
Of course, it hurt that he wasn’t speaking to me, but perhaps the distancing was for the best. Two more weekends, and then I’d be gone the first week of December. It was the right call for everyone, and I knew that. I wanted to tell him I would miss his kids, as well as him, but what was the point? Better to leave things as they were.
It was like an explosion of noise when everyone came home. Griff brought Sean and Benny over to say hello, and Darwin came to hug me, as did Tatum. The doorbell rang right after that, and Luke went out to speak to parents dropping off their daughters. He was still at the door when Tatum brought over Elle, Sadie, and Hailey to meet me. Anya was there as well, but I had met her and her mother before. They were all adorable, but my girl with her big turquoise eyes, wavy brown hair, button nose, and dimples was by far the prettiest. I didn’t say that to her, of course, because I didn’t want to be murdered. The girls all gushed over Wink, and then they all went to make camp in the living room, where there were suddenly books and pens and binders everywhere. It was impressive.
Teddy arrived shortly thereafter, and Luke went to the door again, speaking to both his parents. Cressida called in to me, and I waved back, and then Darwin and Teddy came into the kitchen.
“I’m allergic to a lot of things,” Teddy informed me.
“Oh, I know, buddy, Dar told me. I’ve got you, don’t worry.”
He nodded and smiled.
“Tell me about this report you guys are doing about plastic in the ocean.”
They both helped me cube fruit, which was nice, while explaining all about their project, and what it entailed, which sounded far more interesting than I’d expected.
“Okay, make way,” Griff announced, and I moved so he could take over, Sean ready to help devein the shrimp, and Benny just sitting on the counter with a bowl of guacamole in his lap and the bag of freshly made tortilla chips I’d bought.
“Put some of that in another bowl for the girls and give them chips too,” Griff directed him, shaking his head. “There’s a platter in that cupboard over your head.”
We were having Mexican food for dinner, because that would give everyone something they liked. Griff was making shrimp tacos and chicken quesadillas, as he was in charge of the stove, and I was making cheese enchiladas, because they were easy and always a favorite. Plus, it kept me out of Griff’s way as the oven was doing the work for me.
Into the mix came the sound of the doorbell, and outside, at six in the evening, were Shelly, and Griff’s lawyer, Weston Kinney.
Luke shook hands with the attorney, whom he was meeting for the first time, and hugged Shelly, ushering both in. A moment later, Kinney joined me at the table, taking a seat beside me on the bench.
“You don’t call, you don’t write,” he teased, leaning in close to my ear.