Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 126602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“Hey, E,” I said against the top his head. “Did you have a good day?”
He pulled away and nodded.
“Getting straight A’s?”
He shrugged.
“Girlfriends? How many? I see a couple cute ones over there…”
Red-faced, he quickly looked left and then right. “S-Shay.”
I smiled and ruffled his dark hair, which he always kept longer so it reached past his ears and fell a little in his eyes, something I always thought he did to hide when his voice drew him attention.
“Come on. Let’s get going,” I said, ushering him around the car and opening the back door for him.
I tossed his book bag on the passenger seat and climbed in the driver’s side.
“Okay, so here’s the plan,” I announced, pulling away from the school. “We’re going to swing by the house and get everything you guys need for the week, and then we’ll—”
“Why are we grabbing our stuff?” Dominic asked curtly. “Why aren’t we staying there?”
I glanced in the rearview mirror, expecting to see the top of Dom’s head since I was sure he was messing with his phone still, but he wasn’t messing with his phone. He was glaring at me.
I sighed. “Because I’m working out of my apartment, and I need to be there as much as I can right now,” I explained. “People might stop over to get a haircut or something. It’ll just be easier to stay at my place instead of going back and forth.”
“I thought you were a waitress,” he returned.
“I’m a hair stylist, who just so happens to also wait tables, ’cause I’m badass like that.”
Eli chuckled. I met his eyes in the mirror and winked.
“Whatever,” Dominic grumbled. “I don’t want to stay at your stupid apartment.”
“Think of it as an adventure, Dominic. Like a mini vacation.”
“A shitty vacation,” he mumbled.
“Hey,” I snapped. “My apartment isn’t shitty, or stupid. And don’t say shitty.”
“You’re saying it.”
“I’m ten years older than you. I’m allowed to say it.” Jeez, I get having a little attitude, but what is his problem? I turned us onto the highway, picking up speed so I could merge. “It’ll be fun. You guys can even go to work with me at Whitecaps and hang out.”
“Oh, that sounds like a lot of fun,” Dominic mocked.
My hands wrapped tighter around the wheel. Why do people even have teenagers? What’s the appeal? I’m not seeing it.
“Well, I’m excited to be spending time with you guys,” I said, swallowing my annoyance and sticking with the whole kill them with kindness routine. I’d wear Dominic down eventually with it. “You’re excited, right, Eli?”
He nodded fast in the mirror. I seriously loved that kid.
Shifting my eyes, I watched Dominic scowl and shake his head before putting his attention back on his phone.
It was nearly five o’clock by the time we got all their stuff and made it back to my apartment.
As I crossed the room, I slipped off my coat and draped it on the back of a kitchen chair. “You guys are staying in the bigger bedroom, so if you want, go ahead and put your stuff in there. I’m going to figure out what we’re having for dinner.”
“We’re sharing a room?”
I lifted my head and met Dominic’s eyes. “Yes. What’s wrong with that? It’s a full-size bed.”
“I’m thirteen,” he said. “I should have my own space.”
Exasperated, I held up both my hands and told him, “Well, I’m twenty-three, Dom, and when I was your age, I thought I’d be married to Justin Timberlake by now. Obviously, he’s moved on, and I’m having to deal with that. Just like you’re going to have to deal with sharing a room with Eli, unless you would like to sleep on the futon in my salon.”
“What’s a futon?” he asked, brow tight and already disapproving.
“It’s like a couch-bed thing. I don’t know. Go check it out.” I motioned at the door to the second bedroom, and he quickly stalked in that direction.
“You don’t mind sharing a room, do you?” I asked Eli when we were alone. “I really don’t want you guys sleeping on the couch. You should be in a room.”
“I’m g-good,” he said, smiling.
“You’re also my favorite,” I whispered.
His smile grew into a grin.
“I’m not sleeping on that,” Dominic griped, storming back out into the living room and hooking his thumb behind him. “That room smells like straight-up chemicals. I’ll probably wake up choking on my own puke.”
I sighed and dropped my head back.
Who knew thirteen-year-old boys could be this dramatic?
“I’m not telling you to sleep in there, Dom,” I said, moving into the kitchen and surveying meal choices in the fridge. “I was just giving you the option. Either take my bedroom or choke on your own puke. It’s your call.” I pulled out the butter, ham, and sliced cheddar cheese. When I turned around to grab the bread off the counter, I flinched, startled by the slamming of my bedroom door.