Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“All over,” he said and took another bite. I handed him a napkin. “Boston, Newark, Buffalo, Wilmington… Mom liked to move around a lot. She said it was better than paying back all the money she owed people.”
Well, all right. “Where’s she now?” Please don’t say dead, please don’t say dead.
“In prison.”
Oh Christ. Was that better?
“One of the guys she owed money to found her, so she shot him in the head,” he finished.
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. My brain had nothing. I had enough wits about me to take the next exit, but what the fuck did you say to something like that?
“When did this happen?” I asked next.
“Uh…” He squinted and sucked grease from his knuckle. “Maybe three years ago…? Then Aunt Carol took us in so I could go to school, but…um. It didn’t work out for very long, and Tony said it was better if we were on our own. Plus, I wanted to make money so I could buy a new computer.”
Right. Right, yeah, of course. Perfectly normal.
When he finished his food, I automatically handed him mine, ’cause fuck if I had any appetite left.
“You’re not hungry, sir?” he questioned.
“Not really. Go ahead.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t waste a second in tearing that roll open. “So where are we going?”
I cleared my throat. “My ex-husband’s house. I just gotta talk to him for a minute, and then we’re going to my place.”
There was no way I was picking up the kids at this hour.
“You’re gay?”
“Yeah, that’s why I married a man.” I side-eyed him. “You’re not gonna have a problem with that, are you?”
He shook his head as he chewed. “I don’t care. Except once—when a girl I liked turned out to be a carpet muncher. That sucked.”
I coughed and sent him an incredulous look, and then I couldn’t fucking help it. I let out a laugh too, ’cause the way he said it—it was too funny.
“I think they prefer lesbian,” I told him.
“No shit, ’cause she sure as hell didn’t prefer me.”
Oh my God. I did my best to smother my amusement, but in that moment, I saw so much of myself from when I was that age. I’d lost count of the times Ma had smacked me upside the head because I’d said something offensive.
“Okay, well…” I killed my last chuckle by clearing my throat, and now I had to be the grown-up. “I’m a dad, so I try to set a good example, even when my kids aren’t around.” Not an ounce of me believed Colby posed a threat, so chances were, he’d meet Trip and Ellie tomorrow. “I curse all the time, but I’m working on not doing it in front of them. You will do the same. Okay? No motherfuckers or retards or cunts near young ears. And—actually, no retards at all. My cousin’s kid has a developmental disorder, so that one’s personal.”
Colby nodded slowly and swallowed what was in his mouth. “Yeah, aight. Sorry if I offended. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“You’re fine,” I assured. “Trust, I’m no saint when it comes to being offensive. I just don’t want my kids to learn words they shouldn’t repeat.”
In addition, I didn’t need to give West another reason to think I was a shitty parent. If the kids picked up a new curse after a week with me at this point, he’d hold it against me.
In the long run, I had no fucking idea what to do with Colby. It was going to be difficult enough to convince West that it would be totally fine for the kid to stay with me for a while, at least when our kids were around, but I had to do it. That said, after a few weeks, a more permanent solution should be in place, and I didn’t know what that might be. Maybe his aunt and uncle could take him in again? Maybe he could stay with JJ?
When push came to shove, I didn’t believe Colby and Tony had left any location due to problems that Colby had caused. I was convinced he’d been under the influence of his brother—so with him gone…
We’d just have to see.
We arrived at West’s house right about when Colby finished the second hoagie like it’d been a snack. He looked out the window and wiped his mouth, and he seemed impressed by the house.
“When I grow up, I’mma get a house like this,” he said.
The kid wasn’t as skittish anymore.
“Didju live here too?” he asked.
“Yup. It wasn’t my thing.” I pulled up next to West’s car, and I killed the engine. “I prefer the city.” Kind of.
I mean, I did. I did prefer the city. I just…missed some perks that came with having a yard. Particularly in this summer heat. Even in the middle of the night, it was hot. We were having one of those brutal summers that would set records.