Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“By running from your ugly mug,” the girl snaps back.
“Oh,” Kelex croons and laughs.
“Whatever, you’re the one who looks most like our sperm donor. Big-ass head.”
“Bro, my forehead might be big, but look at your ears. If you didn’t have that big dome for a head, you might fly away.”
Kelex continues to laugh. The kids turn to look at him. I try my best to hold my laughter in.
“I don’t know what you’re laughing at. You fake-ass Greek. Look at his hair. I mean, decide what kind of white boy you want to be. Them roots are trash,” the girl fires.
“Pretty ass. I think the trash-ass dye job is to tone down his looks. Mr. They-Can-Want-Me-For-My-Money-But-Not-My-Looks,” True says.
“Okay, Thing One and Thing Two. At least the two of you are smart enough to double-team me.”
“You’re not worth our time. Firing on you is too easy. Look at them slim-ass jeans. Looking like a lost Duran Duran member,” True says.
“What do you know about Duran Duran?” I laugh.
“Ma’am, you don’t want to do that,” the girl warns. “Please don’t make yourself a victim.”
I hold my hands up and laugh.
“Okay, Punky Brewster. I’m minding my business.”
“You should and get them red bottoms painted while you’re at it. Looking like you too broke to own them things. Ms. I’m-Gonna-Wear-These-Shoes-Til-The-Soles-Wear-Off.”
“Honey, you might want to tighten them braids up before you come for me.”
“Oh,” Kelex and True croon out.
“You’re not about that life, don’t come for me, sweetie,” I chuckle.
She rolls her eyes and folds her arms over her chest. She narrows her eyes looking me over. I can see her looking for her next clapback.
“Nah, chill, Cat. She’s cool. We’re not gonna flame her.”
“Look, the food is here,” Kelex says, taking the attention off me.
I shake my head and move to my phone. I find a text from Kid. My heart stops when I see AJ had a fall and Ant freaked out. I go to call but see another text saying they’re both fine.
I bite my lip as I find a picture of Ant in sweats with no shirt on. He’s holding our baby in his arms with a smile on his face. Damn, he looks good with our son in his embrace.
I shoot Kid a quick text just to check in.
Me: He looks so happy with his dad. He’ll be fine. Thanks. Kiss my baby for me.
“You hungry?” Kelex calls.
“If I say yes, are y’all going to spark me?”
“No,” the siblings say in unison.
“Sure, I could eat.”
We all sit and eat. These kids are hilarious. Kelex is pretty funny too. I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.
True has a ton of questions about writing for others. He even decides to try his hand at a hook. The song he comes up with is great.
I bob my head while we listen back to the track. This kid sounds like he’s been through so much for a sixteen-year-old. His pain bleeds into his lyrics.
“It’s hard enough losing your mother at a young age, but to lose her to cancer and having two younger siblings. The system seems hell-bent on trying to separate them. He’s holding the world on his shoulders,” Kelex says while sitting beside me.
Cat is on the other couch, passed out. She tired herself out snapping on her brother and Kelex. I grin as I look at her with Kelex’s blazer thrown over her. It’s clear these kids have a special place in his heart.
My grin falls as his words sink in. “They don’t have anyone to take them in?”
“No. It’s a fucked-up situation. Their dad split once their mom was diagnosed. She fought hard, but in the end, she lost the battle. True will be eighteen in two years.
“I’m going to do everything I can to keep them together until then.”
“That’s a lot to place on his shoulders.”
“Yeah, but I’ll be there for them. I’m not going to just abandon them.”
“How old are the girls?”
“Fourteen and ten. You think these two have jokes? Venice is ruthless. That little girl can make a grown man cry.”
“You’re fond of them.”
“I am. I’d do anything for these kids.”
I smile. I may have been wrong about him. I’m not sure how he fits into Ven’s assholes. He seems like such a cool dude. He definitely has a big heart.
“They’re lucky.”
“Nah, that’s me. They’re the only thing left keeping me from becoming a ruthless bastard like my dad.”
O…kay. I take my thoughts back. His words come out showing that dark side I’ve always picked up on.
I’m going to leave all of that alone. Not my business, not in my job description. His blue-gray eyes speak of things I don’t need to know, the types of things insuring I can’t go back home.
Chapter 26
Thanks
Alexis
I groan as we stand right outside the airport doors as Kid returns AJ to me. “What am I going to do? He wanted to come with you?”