Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I mean, I guess we should,” I tell her. “He’s really into trucks and cars right now, too,” I tell her. “And he still loves football.” I can’t help but grin.
“Perfect. Can we do our thing? And by 'we,' I mean Corie, Rowan, Sloane, Amanda, and me. Will your parents be there?”
“No, they’re on a summer cruise and won’t be back until the end of August. And yeah, you can, I mean, if you don’t mind.” Lifting, I pull my wallet out of my shorts pocket and hand her a credit card. “Go crazy.”
She grins. “You sure you trust me with this?” she teases.
“Do your worst.” I chuckle, just as Reid and Camden come racing toward us. Camden is on Reid’s hip, giggling as he bounces.
“Baby!” He points to Coral. Reid places him on the bench next to me, and he sits with his back straight against the backrest, his legs pressed together before patting his lap, then holding out his arms. “Baby.”
“You have to be gentle,” I remind him. I kneel before him and place Coral in his arms. Bellamy leans in close to offer Camden support on the bench.
“Wove baby.” Camden smiles.
“Yeah?” Reid asks. “Maybe he needs a little brother or sister,” he mumbles under his breath.
I should glare at him or tell him to shut his mouth, but I know Camden didn’t hear him, and it’s more than that. I’d love to give him brothers and sisters—yes, plural. Being a dad is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I wish I’d had him with the woman I loved, and we were raising him together, but I’d never trade this little guy for anything. If there is ever a woman who comes into my life, she’ll have to love him as if he were her own. I won’t settle for anything less.
Chapter Four
Sloane
* * *
“My heart hurts for him,” Bellamy tells us. “He seemed so sad and at a loss for what to do. That’s why I volunteered, and I knew you all would be down to help me.”
“Of course, we would be,” Rowan replies.
“Did he give you any details at all?” Corie asks her.
“Nope, but he gave me his credit card and told me to do my worst.” Bellamy laughs.
“While the idea of making that black card of his smoke, we all know that’s not what he really wants, right?” I ask the group.
“What do you mean?” Amanda asks.
“He wants it just to be us, his Rampage family. Baker isn’t a showy kind of guy. So nothing over-the-top elaborate.”
“Oh, you mean nothing like what my husband would do.” Rowan chuckles.
“Exactly!” I say, as we all join her in her laughter.
“What are you thinking, Sloane?” Corie asks.
I shrug and look over at Bellamy. “He said that Cam’s into trucks and cars, right?”
Bellamy nods. “And football.”
We all smile at that. “Well, I think a lot of what we decide hinges on what we can get here in time. Even using his card for overnight shipping. He wants to have the partybefore training camp starts.”
“Good point.” Bellamy points at me.
“I see your wheels turning, Sloane Peterson. What are you thinking?” Corie asks me.
I grin at my bestie. “Okay, so, Cam’s into football, and all of your men are, too, including Baker and Foster. Since it’s just his Rampage family, I say we go with the football theme. With a twist,” I add.
“What’s the twist?” Amanda asks.
“Spit it out already.” Rowan laughs. “The suspense is killing me. You have the best ideas.”
“It has to be something personal. Make it unique, for him. I’m thinking football for sure. Little guy love sit.” I explain. “Make it Cam’s Team, we can get matching t-shirts, or something.”
“That’s genius, but we only have a week,” Corie reminds me.
“Surely we can find a place to overnight some plain jerseys. I can do the rest,” I offer.
“Why don’t we see if we can find a place to do it all? That’s less work on you,” Bellamy suggests.
“I don’t mind. Besides, it’s not like I’m working right now.”
“Have you heard anything about your job?” Corie asks.
Shit. I should have kept my mouth shut. “Yeah, last week, actually.” I wince, knowing what’s coming next.
“What?” they all reply in unison.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Corie asks.
“I meant to last weekend, but it was still fresh. I’d heard the news the day before, and I was still processing it. They got rid of my position,” I tell them. “They cited budget cuts.” I shrug, trying to pretend like it’s not a big deal. It is. It’s a big damn deal that I no longer have a job.
“Oh, Sloane, I’m so sorry,” Rowan says. She stands and hugs me, then the rest of the ladies do the same.
I accept each of their hugs. These ladies, they’re my tribe, and I love them dearly. Corie marrying Knox brought them all into my life, and I’ll forever be grateful for each of them. “It’s okay,” I tell them. “I live above my parents’ garage, and while I pay rent, it’s at my insistence, not theirs, so it’s not like I’ll lose my home. I get paid until the end of the summer, so I have some time to find something new. I’ve been looking,” I add.