Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 136048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
He lets out a loud huff, but nonetheless, he allows me to beat him to the door. The moment I get it open, I drop to my knees as the world’s most beautiful little girls throw themselves into my arms, the late-afternoon storm causing havoc in the street behind them.
“Oh my God! I’ve missed you both so much,” I say, tears welling in my eyes because I’m a wimpy little bitch like that. I pull them in even tighter, listening to their sweet laughter as the greatest warmth spreads through my chest. There’s simply nobody on earth I love more than these girls. I mean, obviously Knight is right up there, but when it comes to little Haylee and Taliah, they’re taking the top prize.
Pulling back, I gaze at the beautiful little twinnies as Knight steps around me, heading down to help Jonah and Emily with the hundreds of bags they’ve brought to help us get through one single night with their daughters. But is all that crap really necessary? It’s a pajama movie-night party. All they need is the coolest pajamas to ever exist, maybe a spare pair of underwear for those accidental moments, a hairbrush to sing into, because you never know when the karaoke gods might shine down upon you, and last but not least, a whoopee cushion so we can prank Knight with fart noises.
Ignoring the truckload of things being rushed to the door, I focus on the girls. “You’re both getting so big,” I gasp. “You must be at least thirteen now.”
“Nooooo,” little Haylee laughs before holding up three little fingers. “We dis many.”
I laugh as I adjust her fingers, adding a fourth. “Actually, you’re this many now!”
Haylee beams as though this is brand-new information, all while Taliah pulls on my hair. “Daddy says we get to have candy and ice cream before bed.”
I suck in yet another gasp, feigning surprise. “No way, really?”
“Yeah,” they both laugh in unison before Haylee goes on. “He said we should also pretend to be asleep and then scare you.”
“Oh, did he?” I say, just as Jonah steps up onto the porch, getting out of the downpour. He steps past me, putting the bags down inside our entryway before doubling back to greet me.
“Jonah,” I say, getting back to my feet only to awkwardly step closer with my arms out, but then I second-guess myself and drop my arms, all while Jonah is doing the same awkward little dance. I finally give up and just punch him in the arm, because why the hell not? “Just so you know, I’m planning on getting their noses, brows, and lips pierced, and then we’re going to get these tiny little chains for their tiny little faces to connect all their piercings. It’ll be so cute.”
Jonah just gives me a hard stare while Emily quickly strides up the pathway beside Knight. “If you even think about getting anything pierced on my girls, I’m chopping you up into little pieces, packing you into boxes, and shipping you to one of those wannabe sugar daddies on TikTok who always ask what you’d do with their money if they were to send it to you. They can put you back together like a 3D puzzle.”
Knight glances at Emily. “That, uhh . . . was oddly specific,” he says before glancing up at me. “On a completely unrelated topic. Remind me that I need to run some background checks when I’m at the station next.”
Emily rolls her eyes as she strides up the porch and leans over the top of her girls to give me a warm hug. “You know I’m just kidding.”
“Me too,” I say with a grin. “As if I’d start them off with piercings when I can give them tattoos instead.”
“Yay! Tattoos,” Taliah cheers.
We all huddle on the porch, keeping out of the rain, but when a gust of wind blows the rain against us, I quickly step back out of the doorway and welcome everyone in. “Come on in,” I tell them before crouching down to the girls’ height. “I was just finishing making up your big-girl bed with special princess blankets. Do you want to see?”
“YEAH!”
The girls take off like lightning, and as they get halfway down the hall, it becomes clear they have no idea where they’re going, but it doesn’t stop them from exploring every room in the house anyway.
Knight and I linger in the entryway with Jonah and Emily as the girls go nuts, already running wild throughout the house as Jonah tries calling out for them to come say goodbye. But all they’ve got for him is a slight side hug and a Hasta la vista, baby before taking off again.
Emily manages to wrangle them onto the couch and crouches down in front of them. “You be good for Aunty Harper,” she tells the girls. “She’s the boss. When she asks you to brush your teeth, you go straightaway and brush your teeth. You don’t poke your tongue out at her until after she’s walked out of the room. Got it?”