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)
Whichever boy she has fusses. She bounces up and down to soothe him. “This lobby area is clear, and the security team will keep the fans at bay. There are a lot of fans in the hotel so if at any time you want to go somewhere, let me know and I’ll get you an escort. 4225 West is also here so the fans and their moms are very happy.” Elle rolls her eyes.
“We have the lazy river reserved today for a private party,” she adds. “It’ll be all our families.”
“Are Jamie and the kids here?” Ajay asks.
Elle nods. “Yep, and all settled in their suite. Just waiting for you. And your parents are here,” she says looking at Wynonna and Priscilla, who look elated. My heart dips a bit knowing no one is waiting for Justine. I know bits and pieces about her life but haven’t asked for more. Someday, she’ll tell me.
I hold Justine’s hand as we get off the bus, loving the way it feels in mine. As soon as we get into this part of the hotel, a security guard directs us toward an elevator. He steps inside, swipes a card and the presses the button from the second to top.
Next to me, Ajay rocks back and forth, with anticipation. I can’t imagine being on tour and not having my family with me. I don’t know how he’s made it.
The door opens and Evelyn screams my name. “Quinnnnnnn!” She launches herself into my arms, ignoring her dad.
“Hey, sweet girl. I hear we are going to the pool later.”
She nods. “Grandpa said I can sit on his lap.”
“No, me,” James says as Ajay scopes him up.
“You can sit on my lap,” Ajay says. “I’ve missed you.”
“K,” James says as he hugs his father. Ajay’s moving down the hall fast toward his wife, who runs toward him. I watch the for a second and then tell Evelyn to go to her parents.
“Mom and dad are in here,” Elle says as she comes up behind me. I lift the blanket covering one of my nephews and peak at the sleeping baby. “Jett?”
“Why do you think it’s Jett?”
“Because Jett is a very Elle name,” I tell her.
My sister cackles and nods. “Yes, this is Jett.” She pulls the blanket all the way off so others can see him. Dana melts, Chandler says she wants to babysit, while Hendrix says Hendrix would’ve made a badass name.
“He’s very cute,” Justine says as she touches his dark hair.
“Thanks. Sonny’s with someone,” Elle says, waving her hand very nonchalantly.
“Shouldn’t you know where your other son is?” I tease.
“I left him with his father, who was left with our mother and a room of aunties.” Elle shrugs and opens the door to a suite, and there, in this massive room is my entire family.
The one thing I’m going to say about my family is, they do subtle well. Knowing full well that this is the moment I’m bringing someone knew into lives could be awkward for Justine, they choose to ignore. Except they’re not truly ignoring, they’re going about their day as they normally would, which right now is being immersed by the babies.
Thankfully, Ollie knows what’s what.
He comes running as fast as this toddler legs can manage. I pick him up mid stride and earn two chubby hands on my cheeks. “I badopted.”
The word, created by the twins, many, many years ago settles over me warmly. “Wh-what’d you say, bud?”
Oliver leans back slightly in my arms and looks at me. “I badopted.”
At the repeated word I scan the room for my parents, spotting my dad first. His smile beams as he walks toward us.
“Ollie said badopted.”
The smile—if at all possible—grows wider. “This morning,” Dad says. “Your mom requested an emergency hearing after the state finally signed off. He’s officially ours.”
My parents could’ve easily kept this from Oliver, but he’s known for as long as he could comprehend. He has books in his room about adoption. Mom and Dad want him to know that we chose him. I hug Ollie tightly, and then dad pulls us into a hug.
After our moment, Dad clears his throat and steps back. “Hi,” he says to Justine. “I’m Quinn’s dad, Harrison.”
Justine laughs. I appreciate my dad’s sense of humor. Ollie squirms out of my hands when JD, Jenna and Eden come into the room. He runs toward JD, which is probably cause for concern, but whatever.
My mom comes toward us, with a baby in her arms. “I’m happy to see you,” she says as she gives me the best hug she can with a baby in her arms. “I’m Quinn’s mom,” she says to Justine. “You can call me Katelyn and this bundle is Jace.” My mom holds my nephew up slightly to show him off.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Justine says. “Jace is Peyton’s?”