Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Okay, Vernice, but just so you know. I might actually like you now.”
“Woo-hoo. Lucky me. You see that, J. Your clown likes me,” she murmurs.
I cover her mouth and try not to laugh. He asked for it. Jeff always has something slick to say to the kids and they aren’t too shy to fire back.
“What did she just say to me?” He seethes, his face turning red.
“Get over it. You’ve said worse,” I laugh. “True, Cat, come on. Let’s go. We need to get to the center.”
I release Vernice’s mouth. She turns to glare at Jeff. He sticks his tongue out at her like a five-year-old. I shake my head at him.
“Hey, you dating anyone yet? Isn’t your time running out?” Jeff asks.
“I have it covered. I’ll be good.”
“So you’ve found someone? Is it the chick you danced with at the ball? Is that going to work out for your grandfather? I mean, she wasn’t Greek, you know what I mean. All that melanin isn’t going to be a problem, is it?”
“This is why you need to allow me to handle this.”
He holds his hands up. I look down at my watch. “Guys,” I bark up the stairs.
“We’re coming,” True calls back.
* * *
“Thanks, Mr. Nikolaou,” the little boy, Adam, says as I hand him his lanyard string after starting a snake for him.
“Oh, me next,” Kennedy, one of Vernice’s little friends, says and comes running over to take a seat next to me.
I look around for the millionth time to see if Shawna has arrived. She texted and said her mother needed her to make an appearance today. Zoe had to go to the same event.
I’m not mad, just frustrated. We’ve both been busy and haven’t had a lot of time to spend together. Dating as a CEO and single father has been hard.
I pull out my phone to check for messages. Seeing none, I turn my attention back to Kennedy. She pushes her little glasses up her nose and blinks at me expectantly.
“How have you been, Kennedy?”
“I’m good. Mom’s getting better. I think it’s because I can come here while she gets rest. She doesn’t have to worry about me.”
“That’s great. I’ll send some flowers.”
“She’d like that. She’s going to be sad she didn’t come today and missed you.”
I laugh. A lot of the moms hang around to ogle me. I don’t mind. It makes them happy. Most are dealing with so much. A smile on their faces is the least I can offer.
I look up from the lanyard in my hands and see the program’s head counselor headed my way. I groan. We used to have a great HC, but she got engaged and moved away. This one isn’t my favorite, but she’ll do until I find a replacement.
She makes it halfway to the table I’m sitting at in the craft room when Shawna rushes in, looking around. A smile comes to my face. She looks amazing in a pair of nude brown heels and a black pencil skirt with a brown sheer puff top.
I love seeing the politician’s daughter version versus the shy photographer version of her. I stand and saunter over. She locks eyes with me and sighs in relief.
“Josh,” Tiana, the HC, calls and holds up a hand to get my attention.
I shake my head at her and continue to move to Shawna. I can’t help myself. Her gloss-painted lips call to me. I dip my head and peck her lips.
“Miss Tiana, Miss Tiana, Ma’am,” I hear Vernice call.
I close my eyes and groan. I turn to keep Shawna’s first impression of this little girl from being some smart-mouthed shit. I find her with her hands on her hips, looking up at Tiana.
“Not now, Vernice,” Tiana says in frustration.
“Yes, now. Ma’am, he’s not worried about you. You need to do your job. Kennedy asked you for a snack twenty minutes ago.
“Clearly, her sugar is dropping. Billy peed his pants again and has been waiting for the change of pants you promised you were going to get, but I’ve watched you staring at Mr. J like you’re stupid, trying to build up the courage to say something to him. Get it together. You have kids here who need you.
“Old musty butt. Need to be chasing soap, not men. Can we get that snack and them pants, please? We got enough problems in our lives. We don’t need to deal with you.”
“Vernice,” I groan.
The kid hasn’t told a single lie, but damn. I feel like I let Mary down because this kid is like a manifestation of my brain. However, she’s more unfiltered than I am.
“I can help,” Shawna says.
“Oh, thank God,” Vernice says and comes to grab Shawna’s hand to lead her to the cafeteria, where the snacks are. She tugs Shawna over to Tiana and holds her hand out for the key to the pantry.