Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
The kid was right. I was overreacting. “You sure? I don’t want to piss off your Aunt.”
He nodded, a knowing smirk on his face. “I’m good. Five minutes, I promise.”
“All right.” It didn’t feel right, but when the kid shoved the reusable bags at me, I knew I had to trust him. It was the right thing to do since he was thirteen years old, after all. Still I walked slowly and looked back often. When he ducked inside the shop I decided to grab a cup of coffee first so I wasn’t too far away.
“Derek Gregory in the flesh.” The voice was feminine and slightly familiar, but also very young. “Over here.”
The shop was fairly empty this time of day, so it was easy to spot one of Valona and Trey’s girls. “Keri. Aren’t you a little too young for coffee?”
“Aren’t you a little old for coffee? Won’t it keep you up all night? Give you high blood pressure?” She pulled her smiling lips between her teeth, but it didn’t stop the smile in her eyes.
“Funny.” I turned and ordered a large black coffee, leaving it up to the young barista to figure out what that meant in coffee shop hipster lingo. “What are you doing?”
“Reading about modern feminism.”
My brows dipped. “I can’t tell if you’re kidding or not.”
“I’m not.” She held up the book so I could see the title myself, and I grinned. “Impressed or horrified?”
“A little bit of both.” She laughed and I joined in. “It’s too nice out to spend the day in air conditioning.”
“Maybe, but there are no bugs in here.”
“Good point.” I edged towards the door. “I’m just waiting for Ev, he’s at the print shop. Want to enjoy the sun with me?”
“I guess.” Keri rolled her eyes and pushed off the seat with a frustrated growl.
I stepped out and held the door open for the mouthy little girl. She glanced up the street, and then gasped as she spotted the same thing I did. “Who the fuck is that?”
I wanted to admonish her for her language, but the truth was she took the words right out of my mouth. An older woman with silver curls hung out the passenger side of a boxy brown car that appeared to be straight out of the nineties. “Get in this car right now young man!”
The young man she was talking to was Everest, and my feet began to move towards the chaos.
Everest shook his head. “Get the hell away from me!”
The older man with thinning hair and a pot belly stepped out of the driver’s seat with a frown on his face. “This is what’s wrong with you kids today, no damn manners.” He shook his head and walked towards Everest with what could only be described as evil intent. He grabbed the kid’s arm and yanked. “Get in the damn car, boy!”
“Get your fucking hands off the kid old man.”
He glared over his shoulder. “Or what?”
“Or I’ll put you down like the old pit bull you are. This is my town, I can promise you I’ll get away with it.”
The old man scoffed. “And what business is this of yours?”
“This is a friend of mine, and I’ve never seen you around, which means you’re no friend of his.”
“Friend,” he snorted. “Damn right I’m not his friend, I’m his grandfather.”
It didn’t take a genius to figure that out. “The same grandfather who refused to see him as a kid because he wasn’t born inside a marriage? Or the one that sent photos and holiday cards back unopened? Some fucking grandfather.”
He got in my face with a finger stuck in my chest. “You have no idea what in the hell you’re talking about, so mind your business. I’m not too old to kick your ass, boy.”
I laughed and pulled my phone out to snap a photo of the old guy and his still yelling wife inside the car. “You can try and I won’t hesitate to put you in the hospital if you don’t leave the kid alone and get the hell out of here.”
“He’s my grandson!”
“Yeah? From what I know he has a legal guardian, and you don’t look anything like her.” I took one step closer, forcing the old man to look up at me. “I’m good friends with the Sheriff and the Mayor, so if you want to fuck up your day, I’m all for it.”
“Don’t kill the old guy!” Keri shouted from a thankfully safe distance. “I’ve got it all recorded.”
I smiled, but never took my eyes off the sneaky old man. “Thanks, kid.” I finally looked to Everest. “You all right?”
“I am now,” he shrugged. “Guess it’s a good thing you’re a nervous nelly.”
“A nervous nelly? Is that the technical term?”
“Sure. It can even be your nickname if you want.” He smirked and I knew he was all right, at least as much as he could be given the almost kidnapping that had almost happened.