Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Ariella looks over at me, shock on her face. “I’m trying to teach Jagger something and all he does is say dadad and debada.”
“He says Mama.” Ariella defends her son. “Jagger,” she calls his name and he looks over at her.
“What’s that?” She points to the ball on the floor.
“Okay, I get it, the kid can say ball.” I roll my eyes. “Jagger.” I walk to him and squat in front of him. “Auntie TT,” I say and he smiles at me, scrunching his nose. “See?” I shrug. “It’s okay,” I tell Ariella, “from what my father said, Jaxon started talking late too.”
“I did not.” Jaxon picks up the ball and throws it at me, making Jagger laugh. I hold my hand up to deflect the ball before it hits me.
“I’m going to shower,” I announce then look at Jagger. “Who is your favorite auntie?” I ask him and he walks over to the ball Jaxon just threw at me and tries to hit it with the stick.
“His favorite auntie,” Jaxon says, “is Lexi.” He mentions Ariella’s best friend. I flip him the bird before I walk out of the room. Lexi and Ariella are best friends and when she was going through her divorce she moved in with her and Jaxon. If I’m being honest, besides my brother and Ariella, Lexi is Jagger’s favorite person in the world.
“Maybe I’ll move in with you guys for a while then.”
“That would be so much fun!” Ariella exclaims at the same time Jaxon says, “Fuck no.”
“What did I say about swearing in front of Jagger?” Ariella snaps at Jaxon.
“Ari, he can’t even say TT, you think he’s going to say fuck?”
“See?” I say, pointing to Jaxon. “Step one is admitting there is a problem.”
“And that is why you are sleeping at a hotel tonight,” he declares and I laugh as I make my way up to the spare bedroom I’ve been staying in for the last couple of days. After my long hot shower, I put on a pair of black jeans with a black sweater. It has the same Warriors logo in the middle of it like Ariella’s T-shirt.
When I walk down the stairs, I hear Ariella singing “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.…the spout again,” she sings, her voice animated as Jagger claps his hands.
“Yay,” I say, walking in and seeing Jagger in front of Ariella. He is wearing the same pants but now has on his baby hockey jersey. The logo is in the middle of his chest and has Jaxon’s number thirteen on the back with the name Daddy above it. I know this because I bought it for him when he was first born. I knew it would be too big for him, but he’s been slowly growing into it.
“Look at how snazzy you look.” I smile at him. “Who is your favorite auntie?” I ask him and he looks at me and smiles, scrunching his nose. “No, not what is that stinky smell.” I shake my head. “Auntie TT.” I point to myself and he copies, pointing to me and I take his finger, kissing it. “TT.”
“Okay, let’s go,” Ariella urges. “You can teach him to say your name on the way to the game.” She grabs her big bag as she puts in a sweater and a pair of pjs for Jagger before we step into the garage, and I put him in his car seat. I get into the front seat next to Ariella as we chat about going to the farmers market tomorrow.
We drive into the underground parking reserved for families and she gets out, smiling at the valet there. “How is our big man?” he asks her as I walk around the SUV.
“He’s doing good, Clive,” she replies. “This is Jaxon’s sister, Victoria.” She points to me.
“Hi.” I reach out my hand. “Nice to meet you.” I smile at him, and he takes my hand as Ariella grabs Jagger out of his car seat. We walk over to the elevator, making our way up to the suites.
Ariella steps into the suite before me and I swear I think I hear my name as I look around.
My eyes go to Lexi. “Is that Victoria?” I hear Lexi ask.
Ariella gets to Lexi before I do, Jagger throwing himself out of her arms to get to Lexi. “It is I.” I point to myself as I try to give her a hug, but I’m pushed away by Jagger. “Dude, you literally slept with me last night. Have you no loyalty?” I ask him and he just lays his head on her shoulder, and I think the bugger even takes a huge sigh.
“It’s Lexi or no one,” Ariella huffs out. “Which means I can relax and enjoy myself for a bit before he wants me again.” She smiles and the girls are all around us. “Guys, this is Jaxon’s sister, Victoria, she is visiting us for a week.”