Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 53238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
“You have the perfect face for that cut,” I tell her as we walk to my car from the ice cream shop we just went to.
Carter gave me a credit card to use for all the girls’ expenses, and today, I didn’t just use it for Charlotte’s hair. I also took her shopping for new clothes and shoes. She’s a natural at thrifting, and I got to hear about some of her mom’s great finds at secondhand stores. It’s the most Charlotte has ever talked to me, and it feels like an all-around win.
“Time to pick up your sisters,” I say as we get in the car. “Let’s not mention the ice cream.”
She gives me a conspiratorial smile. “I won’t.”
We pick up Hallie first, who spills all the first-grade tea. Apparently Stormi broke up with Aiden and Aiden immediately asked Stormi’s best friend, Ella, to be his girlfriend and she said yes.
“Ella, no!” I cry in mock dismay. “Sisters before misters!”
“They aren’t sisters,” Hallie says.
I grin at her in the rearview mirror. “Sometimes girls call their girlfriends sisters.”
“Do you like my hair?” Charlotte asks, turning around so Hallie can get a good look.
Hallie gasps. “I want pink hair!”
“Uncle Carter will say no.”
I give Charlotte a nervous look. “Crap. Should I have asked him before I let you get pink hair?”
She shrugs and sits back in her seat. “Too late now.”
I should probably break the news to him myself so Charlotte’s happiness over her hair isn’t ruined by his ire when he sees it.
When I pull up to Olivia’s middle school, she’s waiting for us. She sighs heavily as she gets into the back seat. “Suki, are you good at math?”
“Uh...I should be able to help if it’s sixth-grade math. What are you working on?”
“Areas of shapes. I have to memorize formulas.”
“I can definitely help with that.”
“Charlotte, your hair!” Olivia squeals. “Let me see it!”
Charlotte turns around. “Suki’s hairstylist, Andi, did it. Isn’t it great?”
“It’s pretty,” Olivia agrees. “Much better than before.”
I give Olivia a grateful smile in the rearview. “Girls, what would your mom think about Charlotte’s pink hair?”
“She would laugh!” Hallie says gleefully.
“I think she’d like it, but she wouldn’t have liked me cutting it,” Charlotte says.
“Hey, at least it’s not a tattoo,” I say. “It’ll grow back.”
“But I want to keep it pink, even when it’s long.”
I’m not sure that’ll fly with her uncle, but I don’t mention it.
“What should we have for dinner tonight?” I ask them. “I have groceries for spaghetti or tacos.”
Hallie and Olivia vote tacos and Charlotte votes spaghetti.
“Could we do spaghetti tomorrow night?” I ask her.
“Sure.”
When we get home, all the girls head off to do their own things. I know the silence won’t last long, so I take the opportunity to text Carter.
Suki: Hey Carter, just wanted to show you what we did with Charlotte’s hair. She’s very happy with it and I think she looks great.
I exhale hard before sending him the text and one of the photos I took of Charlotte at the salon. I’m about to set my phone on the counter and start dinner when I see that he texted me back right away. That’s probably not good.
Carter: OK.
I squint at my phone screen, reading his message again. OK? What the hell kind of response is that? I want to like the guy--really, I do--but he makes it hard. Just because his nieces are here because of an unexpected tragedy, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for him to show so little interest in them.
A pastel hair color deserves something more than OK. Ignoring my voice of reason, which is telling me to be quiet and not piss off my new boss, I fire back a quick response.
Suki: Hope you have an OK game tonight.
I set my phone back down on the counter, my pulse pounding. That wasn’t smart. Should I try to unsend it?
It’s probably too late. I turn my phone screen-side down and start gathering my ingredients for dinner. I’m not going to waste another moment thinking about Carter’s feelings.
If he even has any. Carter very well may be one of those cavemen who only think about sports, food and sex. In which case, he won’t even know that was an insult.
Problem most likely solved.
CHAPTER FOUR
Carter
“Horseshit!”
I stir and sit up, blinking to focus in the darkened interior of the plane. My teammate Leo, who woke me up, is carrying on about losing a hand of poker. I glare across the aisle at him.
“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” he asks.
“You woke me up.”
He shrugs. “We’re landing soon anyway.”
I pick up my phone and look at the screen. It’s 4:36 a.m. With a deep exhale, I lean my head back against my seat rest, hoping I can go back to sleep. I’m not ready to start another long day yet.