Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“It is, baby, it is! Are you ready?” She eats up his excitement, allowing it to become her own.
“Yes! But I need to go get my pumpkin first. Don’t leave me, okay?”
Payton fights a smile as she sets him on his feet. “I promise.”
The little guy runs off once again, high-fiving Brady on his way, who comes into the kitchen flexing in his pajama outfit made to look like a Superman costume.
“I feel like I was born for this role.” Brady grins, his lips curving higher as Cameron comes around the corner in a matching Robin set. He glances around at all our outfits, all of us matching as far as we’re wearing pj’s but each person is a different character. “I think I’m gonna end the night with a new role-play kink.”
“Of course you are, Big Guy.” Cameron pats his shoulder as she slides into the kitchen, snagging a cup and filling it from the big Gatorade jug Payton just got done mixing.
Chase and Mason come around the corner, laughing as they shove each other, fighting to be the first person to wash their hands.
“The wagon’s all good to go,” Mase calls over his shoulder. “Chase’s idea of adding the pillow with a stadium seat inside worked perfectly. The jug and cups will fit right behind it, and D can hop into the seat in front whenever his feet start to get tired.”
“Cool. I’ll strap it in now.” Brady grabs the margarita mixture and heads outside just as Deaton comes back around the corner.
“Ready!” He holds up the little pumpkin bucket he got with his Happy Meal this afternoon. When no one moves right away, he lifts a hand. “Well, come on, guys!” He smiles. “Let’s get the show on the road!”
Laughter breaks from everyone, and we do as the little man says—we get the show on the road.
Within a couple minutes, everyone is outside, the basket of candy for anyone who might come by while we are out is set up near the door, and we head off.
Deaton drags Mason to the first few houses, but after that, he’s got it all figured out and follows another small group of kids up to each door.
About ten minutes in, we’ve finally made it to Lolli and Nate’s house.
The moment Lolli opens the door, Deaton runs right in, and we almost laugh as the parents of the other little kids start to panic, but Payton smooths it over quickly, explaining she’s family and we’re picking her up along the way.
After passing out candy to those few kids, Lolli also sets a bowl on the porch and makes her way down to join us.
“I thought you assholes forgot about me!” she shouts, eyes trailing Deaton as he runs to the next house.
“How could we forget about you?! We even made you something special,” Cam teases, pouring her a cup from a smaller thermos I didn’t even notice they brought.
She walks up, already short of breath, long, dark hair pulled up in a ponytail. “If there’s no tequila in it, I don’t want it.”
“You’ll never know the difference.”
Lolli grins, taking the cup and hugging everyone hello.
When she gets to me, she squeezes. “Kind of annoyed you’re not staying with me this weekend, especially since Nate has a game and won’t be home until Sunday, but I hope you’re at least getting laid sleeping in Chase’s bed.”
“Lolli, what the hell?” Chase nearly laughs, but mine spills into her ear instantly.
I pull back, smiling as I look down at her “costume” pajamas. “Mrs. Claus for Halloween. Nice.”
She grins. “Meh, it was the only thing that made sense.”
“Can I?” I ask.
She nods, watching as I place my hand on her little belly, feeling how hard it already is.
“Not too much longer now,” I say as we start walking again, this time a little faster to catch up to the others a couple houses down.
“Four more months. I can’t wait to get her out of me. She’s so fucking heavy that I swear to god I feel like I’m gonna be the first person to give birth to a mammoth of a baby. I don’t know how Payton survived this. It’s terrible and not cute.”
“I think you’re adorable.”
“Yeah, well, you can still see your vagina, so…” She huffs, taking a sip of the drink Cam made and makes an appreciative face. “Not bad.”
“Thanks.” Cam grins, but it turns into a smirk when she faces forward and says, louder than necessary. “If anyone else needs a mocktail over a cocktail, it’s right there, ready for the pouring…”
A small frown forms between my brows, but I forget all about the comment when Deaton runs over with Skittles in his hand.
“Uncle Brady, look!” Brady promptly scoops him up. “I got a big candy! It’s the kind you like. You want to share some?”