Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Elle scrunches her face. “Good. I get enough of that at home with Ben and the boys.”
I laugh. “I’m giving Bex the go ahead, get with her and tell her what you need, want, and all that shit. Order new equipment if we need it.”
“Love you, Uncle Liam,” she says as I close the door.
Bex is in the hall, pacing. “Here’s the deal, the space next to us is empty, and I believe the one on the end is as well. Use it. Work with Elle. Do what you need to do to make us successful.”
She launches herself into my arms. “Thank you, thank you.”
“Now, I wanted to talk to you about your living arrangements. Do you intend to stay in Beaumont or go back to New York and do this remotely?”
“Honestly, I’m loving it here.”
I can’t keep the smile off my face. “Stop by Whimsicality later today and talk to my wife. She handles most everything with our properties. I think the lofts on the top floor of this building are close to being done with renovations. As far as I know, she hasn’t rented them. That’s if you want to live and work in the same building.”
“And not have to drive to work, sign me up. I’ll touch base with her today.”
“And when you do, please bring me some lunch,” I say as I head down the hall toward my office. I close the door, set my phone on the stand, and kick my feet up onto my desk. Harrison answers first.
“My brother. Why in the fuck are you still there when your family is here?”
“Peace and quiet,” he says. “Nap time is plug into Katelyn time. I don’t know what has gotten into her, but on the beach, in the garage on my bike, in the kitchen, shower, laundry room. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she was trying to get pregnant.”
“Is she?” I can’t imagine starting over at our age. Not that we’re old . . . fuck it, we are old.
“Nah, hormones. She wants the D, I give it. She freaking straddled me while I was playing drums the other day. Told me to keep playing. Hardest fucking thing I’ve ever had to do.”
“Okay, something’s in the water. Josie and I reenacted prom night in my truck the other night. I’m not complaining.”
Harrison laughs. “Man, where the fuck is JD? We’re gossiping like schoolgirls and he’s not on.”
“Probably with Jenna doing exactly what we’re gossiping about.”
“When did this become our lives?”
More laughter. “When we became parents because back then it was a quickie here and there. For a while I was able to worship my woman, give every inch of her fine body the attention it deserves, but now, fucking nap time.”
Just then Oliver pulls Harrison’s phone from him and looks at the camera.
“Hey, Ollie. Tell your dad you want to come see Uncle Liam.”
“Go E em house,” he says, handing the phone back to Harrison. It’s close enough for my liking.
“Toddlers.” Harrison rolls his eyes affectionately.
“Seriously though. Are you coming out or what?”
“Yeah, the kids were here last week. Elle’s got a new musician she’s working with, so it’ll be a bit before she gets back here.”
“He’s here now,” I tell him. “He’s good.”
“And Peyton called, added the waterworks. Katelyn’s packing now.”
I pump my fist in the air. “Staying at Michael’s?”
“Nope, your house. We found a house and are likely putting an offer in on it.”
“No way, really?”
He smiles. “Yeah, it’s on the outskirts. Has a nice piece of land and Katelyn said I can put in a wave pool so I can still surf. Winters here though. I’m too old for that cold shit.”
I don’t blame him. I do miss living in Los Angeles during the winter. Maybe once Paige graduates, Josie and I can become snowbirds.
“Listen, the reason I called is business—”
“Oh, not to discuss our sex lives?”
“No and if you tell Katelyn, I’ll hurt you, brother.”
“Don’t worry, she’d cut my dick off if she knew. So, what’s up?”
I fill him in with the creation of the radio station, how there’s a place for him here. As well as JD. We get into the nitty gritty of the expansion, how the show’s going, and how I never thought this would do very well.
“We catch it, occasionally. Mostly we see the stuff Paige posts. You do well with the callers.”
“We could create one for you or you could fill in.”
“I’m down for filling it,” he says.
We chat for a few more minutes, and then I decide to group text all of this to JD when we hang up. He’s a busy dad these days, so I’m not surprised when he doesn’t answer. For all we know, he could be out of the country.
From my office, I have a great view of downtown. I can see the park, Josie’s café and shop, and the other businesses. There are workers in the park, replacing the summer flowers with mums. Someone sweeps the path, picks up garbage, and cuts the grass. We paid for the park revitalization because it’s the center point of our downtown space and I wanted kids to have a clean, safe place to play.