Total pages in book: 170
Estimated words: 168980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 845(@200wpm)___ 676(@250wpm)___ 563(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 168980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 845(@200wpm)___ 676(@250wpm)___ 563(@300wpm)
Sulli guides me and Akara inside her messy family home.
Her parents obviously aren’t strict. My dad would’ve wrung my neck if I left dirty dishes and mugs out in the living room. Blankets are strewn messily over a window nook. Pillows are piled on a hammock (I see where her love of pillows comes from)—and green potted plants are everywhere. Even dangling from the ceiling.
I duck to avoid head-butting a hanging fern.
Hell, as much foliage exists inside as it does outside. With the open floorplan, the kitchen is visible from the living room and I realize no one else is here. A rerun of the original Charmed plays on the TV, and I only recognize the show because it’s my mom’s favorite.
Sulli scans the room. “Where is Dad anyway?”
Daisy rounds the kitchen counter where a mixing bowl is sitting out. “With Winona outside.” She looks more hesitant at me and Akara. “I don’t recommend going out there.”
The dark cloud must still be a dark cloud.
“Recommendation appreciated,” Akara says while pushing his black hair back and fitting on a baseball cap. We all approach the kitchen stools.
I nod a couple times. “We’re not hard up to get screamed at today. We just stopped by to drop Sulli off.”
Daisy gasps at Sulli, then smiles. “You’re staying?”
She didn’t bring a bag since her old room here still exists, clothes left in drawers. “For a couple nights, if that’s okay…” Sulli breathes.
Daisy frowns, pouring a box of Crispy Rice cereal into the mixing bowl. “Of course that’s okay.”
“But Dad—”
“Will be totally fine,” Daisy finishes. “Don’t worry about him. Just live your life how you want to live it, and if that life drives you back home for a couple nights, then all the windows and doors are open for you to fly through.”
Sulli smiles softly and slides onto a stool. Akara and I stay standing.
Daisy opens drawers, probably trying to find a spatula. She’s constantly in motion. “You both are welcome to stay too. The more the merrier.”
As soon as the words leave her lips, the backdoor opens. Bad timing is something I’m getting used to, but this just takes the motherfuckin’ cake.
Ryke Meadows stiffens, jaw hardening and eyes narrowing on me and Akara. What I know about Ryke extends years back on security and Google searches on the internet.
Nothing as personal as Akara.
“Bow chicka wow wow,” Daisy smiles to her husband.
Flirting isn’t clearing away the cyclone that’s rage-fucking over his head. “They’re not staying, Dais.” His voice is cement.
“A couple nights,” Daisy counters. “Just while the penthouse is being cleared of any bugs.” She pours Crispy Rice into the palm of Sulli’s hand.
“How do you know about that?” Sulli asks, chewing on the cereal.
“Your Aunt Rose.”
My brother’s mother-in-law. Queen Rose is what Loren Hale mockingly (and I’d like to think lovingly) calls Rose Cobalt, but fuck, it’s fitting considering she hears all. Gossip in my rowdy family would’ve traveled just as fast.
Ryke glares at me. Why the hell am I the target of his anger right now?
Maybe it’s my height. Being the tallest in the room, I stick out like a beanstalk he clearly wants to chop the fuck down.
Ryke grips the counter. “I don’t fucking care if the penthouse is on fire. They’re not staying in our house with our daughters.”
“It’s okay,” Akara easily slips into the conversation. “We didn’t plan to stay.”
“Thank you for the offer, Daisy,” I add. Gotta remember my manners or my grandma would cluck her tongue all the way from South Philly.
No kidding, after my politeness, I swear Daisy mouths, cutie patootie, to Sulli, who I’m 100% positive whispers poorly, hottie patottie, back. They share a giddy smile, and Akara is near laughter, stealing Crispy Rice from Sulli’s palm and throwing them back in his mouth.
Wish I could delight in my “hottie patottie-ness” but I can’t.
Because Ryke Meadows is burning a motherfucking hole through my head. Murder is on his mind, and I stand guard, not shying from his glare.
His face hardens. “Get the fuck out of my house, Banks.”
Akara and I share a confused expression. Since when did Akara get crossed off his hit list?
“Dad, they don’t have to spend the night,” Sulli says quickly. “But can they at least stay for an hour or thirty fucking minutes? Dessert, maybe? I want you to get to know them better.”
Daisy twirls towards her husband. “Sounds like a great idea.” She slips her husband a look, and he meets her eyes briefly.
Ryke crosses his arms. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Sulli rocks forward excitedly on the stool, her elation infectious.
I smile.
Ryke sees it. “But just Akara stays. Banks can go.”
It’s a kick to the face—my smile is gone. I expected him to shove me out, but for a second there, I held a morsel of hope.
Sulli gapes. “What? You barely know Banks. Wouldn’t you want him to stay so you can get to know him better?”