I held up my phone. “Five minutes, seven seconds.”
She did one of her favorite shimmies. “I can’t wait to have a cat.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, missy.” Ivy gave Addie a perfect mom look.
“What will Chief say?” I asked, highly entertained by this entire situation. I loved our determined daughter and hoped she never lost her gives-zero-fucks personality.
She put her hands on her little hips. “Chief likes friends too.”
I nodded like that made sense, and I supposed it did.
Ivy bent down to look Addie in the eye. “So… your dad wondered if you’d want to stay here for a few hours and then come back to our house.”
Addie looked from Ivy to me, clearly torn. “Will Emily and Jennie get there before me?”
I put my hand over my heart. “You want to see your cousins more than me?”
“Of course not!” Addie said, her voice indignant.
“I’m kidding, peanut.” I smoothed down her ponytail. “No, sweetheart, you won’t miss any time with your cousins.”
Addie relaxed. “I like spending time with you too, Daddy. It’s just I don’t see them much.”
I bopped her on the nose. “Then we will make sure you get there in time.”
Addie looked at all of us. “So I get to spend time hereandhave cousin time tonight?” Her voice betrayed her excitement.
Jules spoke up. “I could go get O’Malley and bring him over here too if that’s okay.” She looked my way, and I nodded as I braced for what I knew was coming.
“Best. Day. Ever!” Addie exclaimed, her arms shooting up as she spun around.
Ivy laughed. “And with that, I’ll leave you all to it. See you in a couple of hours.”
Chapter 23
Spilling Secrets
Jules
I lay on the jewel-colored sofa in Noah’s living room, not sure if I even had the energy to lift my head.
“You okay, kitten?”
Noah’s voice came from somewhere above, but opening my eyes seemed like too much to ask of my body, so I just kept them closed and replied with what I could. “Mm-hmm.”
His laughter might irritate me if I could muster enough spirit to tell him what I really thought. Instead, I continued to enjoy his couch, and surely at some point I’d have the verve to get up and head home. Or maybe stay here and head upstairs because I really liked our earlier plans, which had been derailed. But could I even make it up the staircase? And if that was possible, would I need to convince Noah to do all the work? I wasn’t opposed to being a pillow princess and all, but this early in a relationship, was it even something I could ask for? Lord knows I didn’t want him to think healwaysneeded to do the work.
“Earth to Jules,” he called, tracing a finger over my cheek. “You okay, babe? What can I get you?”
I fought my nature to blush considering where my mind had been. In my head, Lou repliedthe gutterto that comment with a cackle. I was clearly delusional.
“Coffee,” I said, then thought what else would help. “Or maybe a Diet Coke. Ohh, from McDonald’s because they’re the best. Or how much caffeine is in chocolate? Should I start drinking energy drinks? Are they terrible for you?”
Good grief, what had gotten into me? I had no energy but was now rambling about drinks and thinking of what my aunt would say. Was I slaphappy? No, but I was torn between staying on this couch for the foreseeable future and raiding his kitchen. The first whispers of hunger and a desire for something to drink were starting to make their presence known and warring with the urge to jump his bones. Decisions, decisions.
“So what took it out of you?” Noah’s voice was closer and made my busy mind calm down. I felt the couch move with his weight as he sat near me, lifting my upper body so he could slide below and let my head rest in his lap. Then he tugged my hair tie out and began running his fingers through my hair. That did it. No more cares about soda, food, sex, or relatives. I’d pay good money for someone to do this on the regular; I was never moving again.
“Hmmmm.” My slight moan was more in pleasure but also a little in response to a question that I’d already forgotten.
