Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
“So, you might get guardianship,” he said after I’d spilled my guts. “And if you don’t, then we’ll be moving out here so your aunt can pretend that she’s raising them, but it’ll still be you.”
“In a nutshell,” I said, laying my head on his shoulder.
“Your mom had a million dollars, and you didn’t know about it?”
“It wasn’t like we ever had any money,” I grumbled.
“What a bitch,” he breathed. “I’m sorry, but fucking Mandy.”
“Yeah.” I inhaled the scent of his skin, letting my body relax into him further. “I know she’s gone, and I should forgive her, but I’m not there yet.”
“With good reason,” he replied. His hand rubbed slowly up and down my back. “Your aunt looks just like her. She’s like the clean version of your mom.”
“I know.”
“You’re going to age well,” he said with satisfaction, making me giggle.
“Ash and Ro are climbing the walls,” Cian called, poking his head out the front door. “So, if you could wrap this up so they could get some Richie time, that would be great.”
He disappeared again.
“They missed you,” I said, leaning up so I could smile at him.
“I missed them,” he replied seriously.
“I’m so sorry.” My eyes began to water.
“I know,” he murmured back, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears that leaked out of the corners of my eyes. “Stop crying.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Someone needs to,” he replied dryly.
“I thought I was doing the right thing,” I argued.
“I know you did,” he said simply. “Why do you think I’m here right now?”
“I didn’t know if you hated me.”
“Don’t even think that’s possible,” he confessed, his eyes on mine. “But if you pull anything like this again, we’re gonna have problems.”
“I know.”
“Where you go, I go.”
My lips tipped up in the corners. “That’s what I tell the kids.”
Richie nodded. “Don’t wanna be without you or them, Aoife. Promise that we’ll stick together no matter how shit plays out.”
“I promise.”
“Forever, remember?”
“I remember,” I replied hoarsely.
“Good.” He slapped my ass. “Now get up so I can go see the kids.”
“That’s it?” I asked in surprise as I climbed off his lap.
“You want me to be more pissed?” he asked in surprise.
“Well, no,” I grumbled, turning toward the door.
“You didn’t see what I did that night,” he said softly, stopping me. “You were panicked, E. Fucking frantic. I don’t ever want to see you like that again. I was pissed, but that was gone by the next morning. Then, I just wanted to get to you.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“You’ve dealt with a lot of shit you don’t deserve,” he said, pulling me against his side as he walked us toward the door. “But you definitely deserve having a man who gives a shit.”
The kids yelled Richie’s name as we walked inside, and he was pulled away from me almost instantly. I went over and stood by Aunt Ashley at the kitchen counter as Aisling and Ronan told him all about what they’d been doing all week, describing the chickens and alpacas in detail. He listened intently to every word, soaking it all in.
“I was prepared to throw my weight around,” Aunt Ashley said, smiling. “But holy cow, that boy is pretty.”
I laughed. “Yeah.”
“Sweet, too,” she said, watching Richie with the kids. “He always like this?”
“Always,” I confirmed as Richie dropped onto the couch next to Saoirse and threw an arm around her shoulders. She was trying hard to play it cool, reading her book like she didn’t care that Richie had shown up, but as he asked her a question, jostled her a little, and kissed the top of her head, she couldn’t hide her relieved smile.
“Good to see you, Dick,” Cian said nonchalantly, like the little traitor hadn’t been texting him all week.
Aunt Ashley let out a strangled laugh beside me.
“Yeah, you too,” Richie said with mock dismissiveness. “Hey, go check the front seat of my truck.”
“Why?” Cian asked suspiciously.
“Birthday present,” Richie said, getting up from the couch.
“Seriously?” Cian said in surprise, his voice a little higher than normal.
“Go,” Richie ordered, tossing Cian his keys. He walked over to me and wrapped an arm around my waist.
Cian left the house and less than a minute later, we could hear his yell of excitement from outside.
“What?” I asked curiously, looking up at Richie. He just nodded toward the front door as Cian came back inside.
“Thank you,” Cian said, practically babbling. “Holy shit. You didn’t have to do this.”
“I didn’t,” Richie said easily. “Aoife did.”
He’d picked up the skateboard I’d ordered for Cian before we left and brought it with him.
“Thank you,” I whispered. I’d completely forgotten about it.
“This is too expensive,” Cian protested, his knuckles practically white as he clutched the skateboard. “You shouldn’t have—”
“It’s yours, and it’s custom, so I couldn’t bring it back even if I wanted to—which I don’t,” I cut him off. “Happy Birthday.”