Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“Deal. Say, six o’clock at my place, then?”
“I’ll be there, buddy. And if you’re not going to invest in my project, I’ll just have to take you to the cleaners and get the money that way.”
“Talking shit already, are we?” I taunt, grinning a little. “If I remember right, last time we played, I walked out ten thousand dollars richer.”
“Ten thousand? Big deal. Pocket change.”
“Pocket change now,” I remind him, and on the other end of the line, he hums. Deep inside, Austin’s still the hustler he was years ago. In all the best ways. “I know you don’t forget.”
“And I know you won’t,” Austin replies. “See you Saturday.”
As I hang up, I’m all too aware that even with plans made, I feel a loss at not having Raven to myself.
CHAPTER 17
RAVEN
“Ifeel so… fancy,” Mom says, giddy, as she steps out of her room and double checks the door. Tucking her keycard into her purse, she looks up and down the heavily carpeted hallway, almost swooning at the luxury surrounding her. “How did you make this happen, sweetheart?”
We’ve been over this, both last night when I met her at the train and detoured us to the hotel, where I helped her get checked in, and again, this morning over our room service breakfast. But she’s not letting it go that easily.
“I told you,” I reply, my heart swelling in my chest at seeing my mom’s happiness. “My new job gave me a bonus.”
“A bonus?” Mom asks, and I nod. “Already?”
I should’ve known the little white lie wouldn’t be enough to satisfy her curiosity. I hate to let it snowball, but I can’t exactly go back now and tell her my new boss paid for the room. That’d be even worse. “When you make the company six figures in profit in the first week you’re there, they’re grateful,” I reply, thankful that’s the truth, at least. We turn and start down the hallway toward the elevator. “The timing was perfect. I got the bonus, and then you texted me. Seemed sort of karmic to use some of it on treating you. I’m sorry Dad couldn’t make it.”
“Well, you know your father,” Mom says as we reach the elevator and she pushes the down button. “He’s not exactly Mr. Spontaneity, so he was all too willing to stay home with Mark.”
I have to agree. I love my Dad, and he taught me a lot about hard work and preparation, qualities I’ve put into my work. But he’s about as predictable as the sunrise and sunset. So, an unplanned trip down to the city, even to see me? Well, that just doesn’t fit in his schedule for life. And with him and my brother at home, they’re probably ordering take-out, holing up in their respective rooms, and nerding out in their own ways—Dad, with bowling on TV, and Mark, with his computers.
But Mom loves the opportunity to get out and experience life in the city. She’s wearing one of her best dresses, there’s a smile on her lipstick-pink lips, and she has a sparkle in her eyes. She’s ready to tackle the evening and whatever may come.
I’m more than grateful for my mom and for the fact that we’re able to spend some girl time together.
The elevator comes, and we step inside. “Mom?” She looks over at me, and I feel a little choked up, how much I’ve missed her hitting me unexpectedly. “I just wanted to say thanks for coming,” I tell her honestly. “I know you’ve been worried about me.”
Mom chuckles and takes my hand. “You’re always going to be my little girl, sweetheart, so I’m always going to worry about you. That doesn’t mean I don’t have faith in you, but even when you get enough money to buy whatever you want, I’ll worry.”
"So this’ll never end?” I tease, hoping it doesn’t.
“Well, if you ever want to buy your parents a motorhome for our retirement, I wouldn’t say boo.”
I laugh. “Tell you what. If I can ever afford it, and Dad agrees to actually use it and not just let it sit in the driveway, we’ll talk.”
The elevator dings again, and we come out into the lobby of the Hotel London. Why London? I have no clue. But the hotel’s nice, and the room is definitely bigger than my apartment.
Dylan went above and beyond, and silently, I thank him. Some people might think he’s sugar daddying me, but I know the truth of Dylan. He did it because that’s who he is. He’d do the same for his few friends as well. If anything, he’s been too generous with me, because if the Hotel London is three-star, I’ll eat a big ol’ bowl of lima beans. Frozen.
I just wish I knew what caused such a big heart to become walled off and so hard to most of the world. Even as I waited for Mom to finish getting ready for dinner tonight, my thoughts turn to him. I miss him, and seeing the joy he’s brought to my mother, even without her knowledge, is something I want to return to him as soon as I can.