Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“Dude, that’s diabolical and some shit Elle would do.”
“You’re not wrong.”
Noah fills his cup and then motions to fill mine. “Wanna buy my house?”
“Nope,” I say after adding more cream. “I don’t know if I want to stay in mine either but being away from the warmth doesn’t appeal to me. Hell, maybe I’ll move to the Keys or something.”
“Noah?” Peyton calls from upstairs.
He sets his mug down and all but runs to the stairs. “Yeah, what can I do to help?”
“Coffee, please, and I want to give the babies a bath.”
“I’ll be right up.”
As soon as I heard my sister ask for coffee, I started brewing her a pot of decaf. Whatever she doesn’t drink now, we can put in the refrigerator for later and she can make an iced drink later.
“Thanks,” Noah says when he comes back in. “I should’ve made it while we were talking. I forgot.”
“Who helps her during the day or while you’re in Portland?”
“Talisa comes during the day after Amelie has gone to school. Paige after school most days, but the grandmas are here overnight. They alternate nights.”
“And now Elle has twins.”
Noah let out a deep breath. “She at least has Ben. I won’t be here full-time until February at the latest. It’s really bugging me, but this is the best place for Peyton and the babies. In Portland, we’d have to hire people we don’t know and neither of us would like that.”
“No, I can’t imagine you would.”
Noah pulls the pot before it’s done brewing and pours a cup of coffee, replacing the pot under the stream. “Help yourself to whatever. I’m sure the house will be bustling soon.”
As soon as he steps away, my phone chimes. A smile spreads across my face when I see Justine’s name. I open her text, and the smile somehow grows bigger.
Justine Floyd
Oh my, she’s adorable. How’s Elle? We’re all dying to know.
My eyes blanch at her words. I didn’t realize no one told either band. I go to stairs and holler toward my sister, “Hey, Peyton.”
“Yeah?”
“Dumb question, remind me what the other baby’s name is?”
She goes to the top of the stairs, shirt soaked. “What are you talking about?”
“Elle’s boys. I can only remember Sonny’s name.”
Her mouth drops open. “Oh, crap. The older boy is Mason Jett, they’re going to call him Jett. Sonny is eight minutes younger.”
“Jett, that’s a bad ass name. Not as good as Sonny though.”
Peyton shakes her head and heads back to the bathroom. I type out:
I’m so sorry, I didn’t think about texting anyone when I got here. Elle had twin boys, Jett and Sonny, are their names. Sonny Quinn to be exact
Justine Floyd
Twins! Wow, please tell her we all said congratulations. Do you have a picture?
I don’t. It was late so we didn’t stay long. I’ll get one today.
Justine Floyd
Do you have a picture of your other nephews?
I realize after she asks that I don’t. Only me and Juniper.
I’ll take a bunch today and send them. Do you have plans for Christmas?
Justine Floyd
Not much. Keane invited me over for dinner tomorrow.
It takes me a minute to remember she doesn’t have a family or much of one, and once I do, I feel like an ass for asking. Shit.
Do you want to come here? I can pay for your flight. It’s chaotic and wild.
Justine Floyd
No, but thanks for the offer.
I start to type out maybe next year but then delete it. We’re not even dating and I’m already thinking of next year. Thoughts like that are probably what got me in the Nola situation. I put my phone away and head upstairs. Peyton hollers for me and hands me one of the boys.
“Which one is this?”
“Maverick,” she says.
Instantly, I hold him out and make airplane noises.
“Quinn, you’re going to give me a heart attack and make him puke. If he pukes, you’re cleaning it up.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry buddy. Come on, let’s go sit down.” In the boys’ room, there is double everything. Maverick has one side of the room, Jace the other. Their room looks bigger than Juniper’s which I don’t like because I’m going to buy her a princess castle and it’s going to have to go somewhere. As soon as an image of her room flood my mind, I chide myself for not thinking about the boys. Four of them now. To me though, it seems like Juniper is left out. Although I know this won’t be the case. She’ll probably end up bossing all of them around.
Noah comes in with Jace and I assume Peyton has my little princess in the other room. For being a pro football player, Noah’s gentle with his son. Almost delicate.
“Is there anything I need to do with my main man here?”
Noah laughs. “No, I’ll get him dressed next.”
“I should probably check in with my parents and see what’s up for Christmas Eve then stop by the hospital. I don’t want my other two nephews to think I don’t like them.”