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)
Tori had looks you’d have to be blind not to notice. She was a tall, blonde knockout, who had it even when she wasn’t smiling. Even when she was running her mouth, she fucking had it. But add the grin, and dickheads she’d wait on practically threw their wallets at her.
The grin I was getting was natural and came easy, I could tell. Just like the sweetie shit. Wasn’t the first time she’d used that on me. But the grin was also the kind you’d give a person you were appreciating. It held meaning.
Shayla had filled her in on what was going on and what I was offering to do. That was clear. And Tori was letting me know how she felt about all of it.
So that shit wasn’t private after all. Shayla was telling everyone, not just me.
Feeling like an asshole for thinking different, I glared at Tori.
Seeing that, a laugh burst out of her mouth. “Oh, my God,” she cackled. “I think you have more attitude than me, you know that?”
“Now that’s fuckin’ funny,” I muttered.
“Keep it up, Stitch. We all know you got a squishy little heart of gold under all that edge. You ain’t fooling us.” Tori winked at me before stepping away, leaving space for Shayla to slide in.
But she didn’t just stand in front of that window. Shayla hopped up onto that counter and leaned over that steel ledge, getting as close to me as she could get without actually climbing through that window.
Just like she used to.
“Yo,” she said, smiling, elbow propped on the ledge and chin resting in her hand.
I liked her sitting up there more than she’d ever know. I liked her cute little greeting too. Wasn’t sure why, but I did.
And liking everything I liked, I gave her my attention. Just like I used to.
Her lips were shiny now and peach colored, and she’d braided the front pieces of her hair and tucked those strands behind her ears.
I liked all of that too.
Focusing on Shayla’s smile and remembering Tori’s appreciating one, I quit listing shit in my head I liked and said what I needed to say. “You got her helping you now, or am I still doin’ it?” I asked.
If she’d rather Tori, then fuck it. Probably for the best anyway.
Shayla lost the smile and pushed off her hand, sitting back. “Uh, I didn’t…she’s not helping me. I just told her you are.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Yes,” she replied, no hesitation. “Unless you can’t now…”
I shook my head. “Didn’t say that. Just figured I’d ask since you told her what all’s goin’ on. That’s your girl. I’m sure she’d help you out.”
And maybe Tori should. It would keep me out of this.
“I didn’t tell her everything,” Shayla said. “Just that my nana passed away and I had some family stuff going on that was getting hectic, and you’d offered to help me out with it. That’s it. That’s all I said.”
“That’s all you said,” I repeated, disbelief heavy in my voice. “You didn’t go into specifics?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I…” She tilted her head, thinking on this. “I don’t know. I just didn’t.”
“You wanted me knowing and not her. Explain that.”
Shayla sat up taller and stared at me. “No.”
“No?”
“You’re offering to help me, but won’t tell me why. Explain that,” she countered.
I blinked. What the fuck? “That’s not what we’re talkin’ about.”
This was some brain ninja shit. Mind games. Well, fuck that. I wasn’t falling for it.
Shayla looked at her nails. “You explain, I’ll explain,” she mumbled.
I shook my head, then got back to work on forming the crab cakes, holding tight to my ground. No way was I revealing a damn thing. I’d sound like a fucking idiot.
“Maybe there’s just no way to explain something you don’t understand,” she whispered, seconds later.
It wasn’t just the volume of her voice that made me stop and lift my head again, it was the words she’d said, mainly to herself but also as an offering to me, for me to take and use as my own.
And I did. I took them, because she was right.
“Yeah,” I muttered, seeing understanding in her eyes, and something else. Relief, maybe.
“So, we leave it at that,” she suggested.
“Works for me.”
“Good.” Shayla smiled again, then slid off the counter and joined Tori over by the tables to distribute silverware.
“Dude. That’s the most I’ve heard you say. Like ever,” J.R. said, stepping up beside me and looking through the window. “You staking claim to that one? She’s cute. Like a little pixie you could carry around with you. She’d probably fit in your pocket. Pants pocket, you know what I’m…” His voice trailed off when he turned and met my glare, head tipping back since I stood taller than him. “You know, I think I’ll go ahead and wash some dishes. Or your bike. Whatever. I’m down for anything.”