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)
“She’s going to have to figure that out, Ma,” I mutter, and the truth is, I don’t give a fuck.
“I know.” She sighs. “I just feel bad for her, and I don’t understand what happened. I thought that the kids liked Aaron when they first started dating.”
“I thought so too,” I mutter. The truth is, the kids did seem okay with Aaron in the beginning, but not long after Kristy moved him in, something changed. Neither of the kids have told me if something happened that changed their opinion about him, not even when I’ve asked, so I’ve made my own assumptions. But with how cool they both are with Nalia, I wonder if those assumptions were wrong. And if it’s not about them wanting their mom and me to get back together, but that something happened they aren’t telling me about.
“Maybe you could talk to them.”
“I’ve spoken with them about spending time with Kristy.”
“And?”
“And they’ve been spending time with her without Aaron. I’m not sure if that’s their choice or if Kristy has been avoiding having all of them together.”
“I guess it will all come out in the wash eventually,” she tells me as we reach her car in the parking lot.
“Yep.” I agree dropping the bucket of balls I’m carrying so I can give her a hug. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She hugs me tight. “Ask Nalia if she’d like to come for dinner this next week with you and the kids.”
“I’ll ask her.” I agree, then let her go. After telling her goodbye, I head for my Jeep and dump my shit in the back.
Twenty minutes later, as I’m pulling into the soccer complex, I search the fields until I find the one that Nalia told me her and Zuri would be at and park. As I’m walking through the parking lot, I say hi to a few people I know, then make my way to the field. It only takes me a few minutes to find Nalia standing on the sidelines with her dad, mom, and her brother Bax, and another guy who looks a lot like Nalia. I’m pretty sure it’s her brother, Sage, but I’m not sure.
Lifting my chin to her brothers and dad as I approach, she turns to me and her whole face lights up with a beautiful fucking smile that takes my breath away.
“You made it.” She hugs me, then leans up on her tiptoes, pressing her mouth to mine, catching me by surprise. It must surprise her, too, because her cheeks get pink. “Zuri is going to be so happy.”
“How's she doing?” I glance out to the field.
“The game hasn’t started. They have just been practicing,” she tells me as I turn my attention to her mom and kiss her cheek, then shake her dad’s hand and pull Bax in for a one-arm hug.
“You and my sister,” Bax mutters, and I chuckle.
“Sorry.”
“It’s all good.” He pats my back. “She could do worse.” I smile at that, then turn when Nalia says.
“I don’t think you’ve met Sage.”
“I haven’t. What’s up?” I shake his hand he holds out towards me.
“Good to meet you, man.”
“You too.” I let his hand go.
“How was Cooper’s game? Did you guys win?” Sophie asks, leaning into her husband’s side.
“It was good, but we lost today.”
“Darn,” she whispers, shaking her head.
“Was Cooper okay?” Nalia asks, leaning into me.
“He was a little bummed but fine.” I wrap my arm around her waist and turn my attention to the field when a whistle is blown.
As the girls run out and line up to kick off, Zuri looks in our direction and waves with a smile. Then, Zuri wipes the smile off her face and turns to face the opposing team.
“Shit, she’s not playing around,” Bax mutters, coming to stand on the opposite side of me with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Has she played before?” I ask Nalia as Zuri juggles the ball down the field avoiding the girls attempting to take the ball from her.
“In PE at school, but besides that no.”
“She’s a natural,” I mumble and hear Nico hum his agreement when she jukes another player, making them believes she’s going to go one way then sending the ball to another player who’s able to get it in the goal.
“Shit, she is really good,” Sage says as the parents on the side start to cheer and the girls on the field high-five and hug each other. By the time the second half is coming to an end, the girls are all slowing down. It’s hot, and they have all been running hard for the last hour, with only a fifteen-minute break between rounds. And with only ten girls on the team and seven required to be on the field, it hasn’t given some of them much of a break. When the final whistle is blown, Zuri’s team celebrates their win by all collapsing into the grass out of exhaustion.