AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If that’s how you feel, you’ll hear something you’ll like tonight at dinner. Certainly not stealing your thunder.”
“Steal away. You’d be doing me a favor. I thinkLayton is no longer a druggieis a bad theme for family dinner anyway.”
When we pull up at Pop’s, I grab my bag and slide my phone into the side pocket. I look at the stairs I can climb nearly pain-free, without a walker or a guide dog or drugs, and think about what a difference several weeks has made.
The front door opens and, much like the hospital, I’m accosted, but the humans take a back seat this time, mostly because they’d be bruised by how Kyle wields his tail and by Looney fending off everyone who isn’t named Luna.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Come in,” Pop calls from the kitchen over the racket of a houseful of Rangers.
“I’m trying, but the dogs need love.” I give Kyle a good head scratch and reach for blondie when Kyle launches up on his hind legs like a horse, drops both paws onto my shoulders, and licks my face from chin to hairline.
“Luna, don’t even attempt it,” my sister corrects her dog before watching Sola imitate Kyle and try to lick my face.
“Kyle!” Livy looks horrified. “Down. You know better.” She turns to me, hands still on her hips from her canine reprimanding, and asks, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t mind a wet paper towel.”
“Let’s go.” Bright makes quick work of ushering the three dogs into the house, before looking back over her shoulder. “Well, you’re not a vampire. You don’t need an invitation.”
Elias meets me at the door and gives me a firm handshake and a knowing look, and I’m curious about the progress our threesome has made while I’ve been away.
Brighton returns with a paper towel. “You spoil the dogs too much.”
“And?”
She rolls her eyes at my response and heads back to the kitchen.
I find Livy giving Kyle a dissertation on acceptable behavior in the corner. He sits, head hung low, taking it all in. I make my way to her, give her a kiss, and tap my thigh on Kyle’s side until he leans into me. “Honey, I’m home.”
“Finally,” she whispers against my lips and circles her hands around my neck.
“I’m going to finish saying my hellos and I’ll be back. Don’t fuss too much at Kyle. I’ve missed him.” I rub his head and get a spot under his chin that has him reaching for more.
I stop at Willa on the sofa with Kimpton wrapped in a sarong thing. “Hey, Mama. How are you doing? How’s the work of art?”
“He’s perfect. I haven’t slept in a month and can smell the number green, but he’s perfect.”
“You gonna let me babysit soon?”
“Soon. But your brother gets jealous of me holding him. You two can scrap for it.”
“Where is Exton anyway?”
“He’s on a Zoom call in the bedroom. He’ll be out in a bit.”
Emberleigh stares at Willa and her new nephew and back to Colt, who’s walking everywhere. Stomping is more accurate, but either way, it’s cute. “He looks so big compared to his cousin,” she says.
“He is.” I lean down, give her a kiss on the cheek, and whisper so only she can hear, “Imagine how big he’ll look next summer.”
Her eyes bug out, and she looks down before meeting my gaze.
I give her a wink but don’t wait for a response and return to the corner of the sofa where Livy has placed herself. I sit next to her and grab her hand, lacing our fingers, taking all the touch I can before my dick decides he needs to say hi. I lean close to her ear and whisper, “How long do we have to stay before we’re called rude?”
A shiver runs through her, and her teeth come out to bite her bottom lip. She shakes her head ever so slightly.
Still whispering, I say, “So way too fucking long then?”
She nods subtly.
