Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Do you want a glass of wine while I order our pizza?”
“If I have wine, I’m falling asleep.”
“So, no wine?”
“No, for sure wine, but also a Diet Coke.”
“Got it.” He laughs, letting me go.
With my head resting on Logan’s shoulder, an hour later, I listen to Zuri and Billie bicker with each other about the bathroom they share when we sleep over as Ghostbusters plays in the background. I don’t know what started the conversation, but it sounds like it’s something the two of them have spoken about before, and it’s obvious that Billie is dead set on getting Zuri to help her clean the upstairs bathroom tomorrow while Zuri is fighting in her corner saying that she hasn’t slept over enough to where she thinks she needs to help with the weekly chore.
“Okay, but you guys are going to move in soon, and when that happens, I’m not going to be the only one cleaning the bathroom we both use.”
“Yeah, I know, but we don’t live here yet.” Zuri looks at me. “When are we moving in?”
“Ugh.” I freeze, and swear I hear Logan laugh. “I don’t know.”
“You’re here every day. It’s kind of dumb that you don’t just live here,” Cooper mutters with his eyes glued to the TV.
“He’s not wrong, baby,” Logan chimes in smugly, and I turn to look up at him. “What?”
“Do you think this is maybe a conversation that we should have in private?”
“No.”
“No,” I repeat, frowning at him.
“It’s something that involves all of us.” He looks at the kids. “How do all of you feel about the five of us living together?”
“I’m good with it.” Cooper shrugs.
“It already feels like I live here,” Zuri tells us.
“I’m alright with it, but I’m not the only one who is going to clean the bathroom if I have to share it.”
“Oh my god, you’re so annoying.” Zuri rolls her eyes, and Billie tosses a pillow at her.
“No, you’re annoying.”
“What do you think, baby?” Logan asks, and all eyes turn my direction. I’m not surprised that he’s putting me on the spot in front of the kids; that is totally his style.
“I…” I look at Cooper, Billie, and then Zuri. “Are you really okay with us all living together?”
“Yeah,” Zuri says.
“Sure,” Cooper mutters.
“Yes, especially because I won't always have to clean the bathroom,” Billie says, and Zuri tosses a pillow at her.
While the kids laugh, I look at Logan. “And you?” I ask, and his face gets soft.
“You know I want you girls here.” I do know that, not because he’s brought it up even once, but because, like everything with him, he’s made it clear in the best ways that he wants me around, that he wants Zuri around.
“Okay, I guess we’ll start figuring out when we can move in so that Billie can have the extra help,” I say and everyone laughs but me because I’m so caught up in the moment, it’s one I know I will remember for the rest of my life because it’s the moment I got everything I never knew that I wanted. A family of my own.
Epilogue
NALIA
Sitting in the dark living room with only the light of the Christmas tree casting a soft glow around the room, I watch Logan put together the last piece of the makeup table we got for Zuri from Santa. Billie’s new writing desk is already set up, along with her chair. Cooper’s basketball hoop was installed outside by my dad and Logan’s before they left few hours ago after our first ever Christmas Eve party.
“Alright, let's see how this works,” Logan says, quietly flipping on the light, and the mirror lights up.
“She’s going to love it.” I finish putting the stuff in the kids’ stockings, that are hung on the makeshift mantle, that Logan hung on the wall and decorated with garland and lights. As I step back, I look around the living room and take in the real Christmas tree, because you cannot have a fake tree (Logan’s rule, not mine), all the decorations, and the presents under the tree. It looks like something out of a catalogue, the way that all the wrapping paper matches and the decor is classical red and green with touches of gold. I thought that my mom was crazy about Christmas, but Billie might be more obsessed than her when it comes to decorating, and she was adamant about her vision, so we all let her take the lead.
Well, that, and because she is an amazing decorator. That’s why, before we officially moved in just a few weeks ago, Zuri asked Billie to help her decorate her room, something Logan insisted she do because the other kids had before they moved in. After lots of thinking, she decided that she wanted something girly without the traditional pink, and Billie came through with a cute idea of painting the wall behind her bed to look like fluffy white clouds with light touches of pinks and yellows, and a drape of lights and a huge macramé piece.