Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“If she’s pregnant by the end of the night, we’re gonna have problems,” Tommy joked, grabbing his junk.
“Ew,” I yelled. “Stop fondling yourself!” Everyone knew Tommy had a vasectomy because he hadn’t shut up about his precious balls for weeks afterward. We really didn’t need the visual.
“Where’s Trix?” I asked, tipping my head back to look at my brother.
“Kissin’ the ring,” he joked.
I snickered and scanned the room for Poet. Sure enough, Trix was there, crouched down by her grandfather, saying something that made him laugh.
“Come on,” Cam ordered. “I’ll buy you a drink.”
“You know, that joke is never funny when the drinks are free,” I replied, letting him tow me to the bar. “It’s a dad joke.”
“I am a dad.”
“Yes, I believe I saw your son somewhere around here. But where could Curt be?” I rolled my eyes. “He’d never miss my graduation party.”
“Don’t start,” Cam warned.
“It’s bullshit that none of us know where he is,” I complained. “He could’ve at least come to graduation.”
“No he couldn’t,” Cam said calmly. “Stop acting like a baby.”
“Easy for you to say – you know where he is!”
“Stop hasslin’ your brother,” my dad ordered, setting his hand on my shoulder as he came up behind us at the bar. “You know he’s not gonna tell you shit.”
I clenched my jaw and didn’t respond. I’d been doing okay having Curt gone. I missed him, we all missed him, but we’d gotten into a rhythm and I was dealing. But in the back of my mind, I’d kind of thought that he’d show up and surprise me at my graduation. I’d even set aside a ticket for him, just in case.
“How’s the leg?” my dad asked, giving my shoulder a squeeze.
“It’s fine,” I replied, scooting over slightly so his hand slipped off my shoulder. “I want Jager and Redbull,” I told the prospect behind the bar. I could have just one, right? “On ice, please.”
“It’s gonna be that kind of night, huh?” Cam asked dryly.
“Don’t talk to me,” I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You’re too old to be actin’ like a toddler,” he replied, his tone even.
“Fuck off.”
“Farrah,” my dad yelled, making me jump. “Come take care of your daughter.”
“Which one?” my mom asked.
“Guess,” dad said sarcastically as he walked away.
“You ever think that it’s better you don’t know where he is? That it’s for your protection?” Cam said quietly, leaning down so our faces were close. “Grow up, Charlie. The world doesn’t revolve around you.”
I kept my mouth shut as my eyes burned. Fuck him for making me feel small just because I wanted to know where the hell Curtis was.
“Hey,” my mom said, pushing Cam a little as she reached us. “What’s going on?”
“Charlie’s makin’ everythin’ about her, as usual.”
“Don’t be an ass, Cameron,” my mom snapped.
Cam lifted his hands in surrender and walked away.
“I hope you weren’t the ass here, since I just stuck up for you,” my mom said, wrapping her arms around my waist as she rested her shoulder on my chin.
“I just want to know where Curt is,” I said quietly, smiling at the prospect, Justin? Jake? Joey? Something with a J. “He’s been gone a long ass time.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling,” my mom grumbled. “But you know what I’ve learned after a lifetime surrounded by these guys?” She tightened her arms. “There’s a reason for everything they do. If they’re not telling us where he is or when he’ll be back? They’ve got a damn good reason.”
“Sometimes I hate this fucking place.”
Mom laughed. “Baby, you’re preaching to the choir. But the good outweighs the bad, always.”
“Did you ever wish for a less complicated life?” I asked, leaning back against her.
“I go where your father goes,” she whispered, kissing my shoulder. “I wouldn’t ever wish for anything but that.”
“You could’ve been married to a businessman,” I pointed out. “A rich, Yale educated one.”
“I wouldn’t know what to do with a man like that,” my mom said with a chuckle. “So boring. I’d probably be fucking the pool boy and popping pills like gummy bears.”
I snorted and then coughed, making my mom shake with laughter.
“He’ll be home soon, honey,” she said with one last squeeze. “Asking questions is just going to piss you and your dad off.”
“I still think it’s bullshit,” I said, turning toward her.
“Hell, I think a lot of stuff is bullshit,” she said with a shrug. “I don’t go picking fights about it though.” She looked at me closely. “I think there’s more going on here. You were fine a few minutes ago.”
“I was distracted a few minutes ago,” I said, gesturing to my leg. “I wasn’t even mad when I asked Cam about Curt. I didn’t get mad until he acted like a condescending ass. And then dad chimed in with his two cents.”