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Chapter 28: Us?
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7 Deadly Sins series Chapter 29: Who does that?
SchuylerI open my mouth; I can’t form the words. I try a second time with no luck, so I nod. I nod and nod and nod. I wrap my arms around the two guys in front of me. “Yes!” I squeak in their ears. “Yes!”Our gathered family and friends cheer and applaud around us. Dallas pulls me from Calvin’s arms to hug me. She’s as excited as me. Holding my hands between us, she speaks of venue, date, color scheme, and so on.“Excuse me, Dallas,” Calvin interrupts, pulling my hands from my best friend’s. “She said yes. I need to slide this ring onto my fiancé’s finger.”Fiancé.I’m a fiancé.I’m engaged to the sweetest man in the world, with an adorable little boy. I’m getting married.How is this my life?Amid all the congratulations, servers pour champagne and pass it to the adults while they give Tyler a glass of sparkling cider. Calvin’s father toasts. We clink glasses and drink. Unaware of how it happened, I find myself at a long table surrounded by women while the men gather on the other sid
7 Deadly Sins series Chapter 30: Bliss
Calvin“Tyler’s down,” I announce as I walk into my bedroom. “I didn’t even get to read him a book. We talked for a minute, I rubbed his back, he closed his eyes, and that was it.”“It was a long and very exciting day,” Sky reminds me. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be awake once my head hits the pillow.”Nope! She isn’t falling asleep yet. She can’t sleep until we privately celebrate our engagement.I watch as she removes her makeup, applies lotion, and brushes her teeth. Amazingly, she doesn’t seem upset about Levi’s baby announcement this afternoon. I’m not letting my guard down; she may have a delayed reaction to the news when the excitement of our engagement wears off.“Dallas told me she turned down the internship in Kansas City,” Sky shares as she places her toothbrush in her cosmetic bag. “She’s going to stay with her parents until she gets her own place, and she accepted the job offer in Des Moines.”“Garret will flip when she tells him. He’s been fretting about it for a couple w
7 Deadly Sins series Chapter 31: Boom!
SchuylerWeeks later, I flop myself down on a barstool at the kitchen island, laying my head in my hands. I’m grateful Calvin’s parents gifted us this house, but it’s much too big for the three of us. The ground floor is all we need large enough with two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a large open living room, dining area, and kitchen. I’m exhausted, and I haven’t cleaned the bedrooms or bathrooms upstairs nor the family room, game room, and bathroom in the basement.Despite both our mothers’ and Dallas’s forced shopping trips, we still haven’t furnished every room, so one would think it would be easy to keep clean. It’s not. More space equals more places for Tyler to string his books and toys out while dust seems to be a constant battle. I don’t know how my mom made it so many years cleaning three bathrooms with four guys in the house. I live with two, and I cringe at the mess. I’m ready to claim one bathroom as girls only.I deserve a tidy bathroom in between cleanings.Lifting
7 Deadly Sins series Chapter 32: My Ball And Chain
SchuylerI look at the clock on the microwave. “Mom will drop Tyler off soon. If you stay, you can tell her all about this, and let her tell you it’s not doable.”I open my cell phone to text my man. He’s going to flip out when he hears what Dallas did. Me: Dallas strikes againMe: need to chat get home ASAPMe: not emergencyIf he’s in the middle of something important, I don’t want him to rush. Although I need him here to back me up, I realize starting his business is much more important than convincing Dallas she’s crazy.As expected, Mom arrives right at four like we planned. I greet her at the door and listen to Tyler tell me everything they did today while I place a snack in front of him on the table.“You were supposed to relax today,” my mother reminds me. “You look worse now than you did this morning. What’s wrong?”I swing my arm wide to Dallas, prompting her to explain. She tells Mom about the letter and the contest I won before showing her the website. She explains everyth
7 Deadly Sins series Chapter 33: Chinook
CalvinThe morning flies by. I met with the contractor and am pleased we are running two weeks ahead of our original construction schedule, and he doesn’t see any delays in our future. It’s the second week of June, and we have nine weeks until the grand opening. Next, I sit down with Garret to plan our first staff meeting, their training, and the soft opening. We update our list of remaining tasks and the dates we need to place final orders by to allow time for delivery before we open.While I wait for Sky to arrive for lunch and share a wedding update, I email our talent scout for an updated schedule. Then, I email our accountant to see where we stand compared to our targeted budget.“Hi, babe,” Schuyler greets, sliding into the chair opposite me.I take in her sexy summer dress that compliments her rockin’ body. The sight of my girl always revs my engine. Her smile lights up her entire face, so I assume everything is smooth on the wedding front.“Before I forget,” she starts, while p
7 Deadly Sins series Chapter 34: A Text From Dani
CalvinThis is the perfect end to a long, hot day. Sky and Tyler play in the pool when I arrive home. As they already ate, I scarf down the leftovers while watching Tyler demonstrate the skills he’s acquired in his swimming lessons.“You’re like a little fish,” I compliment.He proudly smiles, hanging on to the edge of the pool in front of me.“Sky, show Dad what you’ve learned in lessons,” Tyler prompts with one hand still on the edge, the other motioning to her.“Maybe later,” Sky hedges.She’s shared with me she finds it difficult to learn to swim. She’s never been comfortable in the water and finds it hard to trust she’ll float. I’m glad she agreed to take lessons with Tyler. If nothing else, she’ll feel more comfortable with him in the water.I rise from my patio chair, my empty plate and swim trunks in hand. While Tyler swims to the other side of the pool, I crouch down to Sky.“Maybe you can give me a private demonstration later.”Her light-brown eyes look up at me through her w
7 Deadly Sins series Chapter 35: Three Possible Men
SchuylerCalvin nods toward Dani when we enter the restaurant. With his hand on the small of my back, he guides me through the crowded seating area. The warmth of his hand helps to calm me a bit. I’m his; we’re a team.Dani doesn’t stand to greet us or smile as we join her at the table. Calvin pulls my chair out before sitting beside me.“Hello,” I greet Dani.“Schuyler, it’s nice to meet you,” she replies.How?How does she know my name?She knows Calvin lives in Des Moines, and she knows my name; this is weirding me out.A server asks for our drink order as she places a steaming cup and a tea bag in front of Dani. Calvin orders two waters for us. While she steeps her tea, I take in the woman that abandoned her Tyler. In this lighting, I can’t decide if her hair is red with brown tones or brown with red highlights. Dani secures it loosely into a messy ponytail. Her eyes bright green are stunning, and her fair skin looks delicate with faint freckles smattered on her nose and cheekbone
7 Deadly Sins series Chapter 36: Baby’s Father
CalvinI make sure I leave work right at five, as I promised. In my hand, I carry a large brown sack with a meal our chef practiced preparing today. I figure we need most of the evening to discuss our luncheon. Bringing dinner home will free up more time.During my drive, I flash back to the day I found Sky at the wreck site. She shared her deepest fears, the depth of her pain, and I promised to love her. I shared alternate ways we could grow our family. Since that day, I’ve tried to ease her into becoming a mom to Tyler. I watched as she quickly slipped into the role, and I reveled in the immense joy it brings her. She hoped but never dreamed that she would become a mother; she never thought she’d raise a baby.I love every minute of fatherhood. Sure, it’s scary and stressful at times, but I’ve never regretted my decision to raise Tyler on my own. Part of me believes I owe it to Tyler to allow his sibling to join our family. I worry if he found out as an adult that the child exists, h
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