Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Cash had to think, regroup, and decide his next course of action.
He hightailed it across the landing while his thoughts swirled, and his gut churned. He pushed through his front door with all the grace of a bull in a China shop.
Chapter 15
“Why aren’t the girls in school?” Dev asked, staring at Cash’s retreating ass. The guy looked as good leaving as he did arriving. Cash hustled quickly across the hall, almost in a run. Dev only closed his door when Cash’s apartment door shut behind him. As awkward and silent as Cash had become, Dev suspected his neighbor didn’t do ex-wives or kids that often.
He noted Cash never looked back.
“Who was that?” Tena asked curiously, her tone thoughtful, edging on nice. Weird for his ex. She was straight-up sideways all the time.
“You wouldn’t know him,” Dev answered, padding toward the kitchen. He needed a cup of coffee. Staying up all night, gazing in wonderment at his sleeping neighbor had left its mark on his heart and his head. And with an exhausting, long-ass day in front of him.
“No, I think I remember him. Is he that kid that got shanked on the street?” Tena asked, following him into the kitchen. “Dev… Remember, he was the target in a street baptism by that gang in our elementary school. You jumped in and stopped them, because you’re literally meaner than everyone else combined on this planet. It was an initiation, right? I don’t remember what that gang called themselves. But shit, if that was him, he sure turned out fine from that scrawny kid he used to be.”
Dev reached for a K-cup and dropped it in the coffee maker, stopping short of pushing the required buttons to make the coffee. He’d been in so many fights growing up. How the fuck was he supposed to remember them all?
“What the hell are you talkin’ about?”
She shook her head and came to the counter, leaning a hip there. “That’s all I got. You jumped in and saved him from that gang when we were in elementary. That kid would have had a scar like that guy. He had that same hair color and big lips. But the wound was an inverted L-shape. Everybody thought he was gonna die. Your mom went to court. Don’t you remember?”
Dev stared at her, having no idea what she was talking about. Tena had done so many drugs in her everyday life, she could be confusing a movie with reality. Not that it mattered. “He’s from southern California and none of your business. What’re y’all doin’ here so early? I thought they had school today. Next week they’re off.”
“It’s not that early,” she said defensively. He watched the curiosity about his overnight guest fade to defiance. She was like a superhero who could change into bitch mode in seconds flat. Dev ignored her and pushed the buttons to start his coffee before looking at the clock on the wall.
His eyes had to have bugged out of his head. “It’s close to nine o’clock? I gotta get to work. What’re you doin’ here? What’re they doin’ here?”
“The nanny quit last night, and I’m done, Dev. I can’t…”
“Why’d she quit?” he asked, anger building at warp speed. The peace Cash had brought into his heart faded just that quickly.
Tena looked at him, executing the head and neck roll she had mastered years ago, then lifted one brow. Her back stiffened ramrod straight. She was tough as fuck. “You need to hear me. I’m outta here. I can’t do this. The girls are better off with you.”
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about? Are you ridin’ the cotton pony again? You get crazy…”
Her jaw set, proving his point. Goddamn, why did that affect her every fucking month like this? If there was a pill to keep his dick hard, surely there had to be one to make her less of a bitch when she was on the rag.
“You aren’t gettin’ it. I met someone and I’m hittin’ the road.” She gestured toward the front of the building. “He lives in New York and wants me to be with him. It’s a better fit for me than living this life here with you.”
“That’s why they’re here. You’re leavin’ them?” he asked incredulously.
His brain went numb. What the fuck?
“Mama’s boyfriend’s in the fancy car outside, and we’re gonna go to New York to visit her this summer. Maybe spring break if she gets settled in time,” Mae explained. His gaze slid to his youngest daughter who wore her headphones, one leg dangling off the sofa. It kicked in time to whatever she was listening to.
Stars sprinkled through his vision, his blood pounded heavily through his veins. Mae’s voice didn’t hold her normally happy tone. Tears built in her eyes as she stared at him. “I’m gonna miss her, but she’s gonna call us. She said you’ll get us a cell phone.”