Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Putting my sunglasses on, I’m almost ready. Thank God I didn’t act like a child throwing all that girl shit on the bed. “I need to be calculating if I want him.” And I do want him.
“Want who?”
I spin toward the door and gasp out “Holy shit you scared me.”
Dewey smiles and stands in the kitchen—a grown man with happy child eyes.
“Dewey! You can’t let yourself in like that. You scared me.”
He looks confused. “But I texted you and you didn’t come.” He shakes his head. “It’s my job to watch over you.”
I grit my teeth at the reminder that he’s right. Jason doesn’t trust me. Not I that I can blame him. I’m all over the place in the emotions department right now.
“Well, next time knock.” I wave my hand at the door.
“Sorry. I was worried.” His brown eyes are sincere. And again, I have that sensation that’s hard to express, almost like… compassion or responsibility. I don’t know, but I hate it so I push it away.
He nods and holds the door open as I step outside. I look back and have to glance away before I steal Dewey’s keys. I’ll have my own set soon enough. That’s if I play my cards right.
“Are you hungry? I’m supposed to make sure you eat.” He opens up the Tahoe door for me.
“Actually, I’m starving. Why don’t we go to that bagel shop over by Dolly’s salon and I can get my dad some bagels.”
“Um, that’s kind of the wrong direction.”
“I know, but I should probably stop by and see Dolly anyway. You know how I need to stay waxed and all that.”
Dewey’s face turns red as he clears his voice. “Prez said to feed you and take you to your dad’s but… I guess a bagel is food.”
I bite back a smile. Like tampons, anything to do with the vagina makes men stupid. “Sorry, Dewey. I’m only trying to keep Blade happy.”
He coughs into his shoulder and cracks his neck like Jason does.
“Hey, no problem.” He pushes the button for the window to go down and turns on the radio. I almost groan out loud at the country music he seems to love. Instead, I look at the narrow street and its incredible houses. I’m fascinated at all this. Jason has a house in a neighborhood that appears to be wealthy. People are jogging and walking their dogs.
“How long has Jason had this place?”
He shrugs and keeps his eyes on the road. I always forget that Dewey needs to focus way harder than most. I’m beginning to recognize the shops and restaurants on Ventura Boulevard. We pass a huge CVS and I almost scream for him to stop. But come on, I need to be thinking about diamonds, not hand lotion. Speaking of diamonds, there’s a pawn shop across the street from Dolly’s place. Not that it does me any good. Pawn shops are filled with cameras and everything is locked up with super thick glass. Yeah, the way you can rip them off is if you take a hammer and smash the glass. Grab whatever you can, praying you don’t get shot. I don’t work that way. The guy who ran the fun house at the carnival had a son who did that. He took a long wrench and tried to rob a pawn shop in Arizona. He’s still in jail I think. Anyway it’s desperate, sloppy, and stupid. I’m not stupid.
“So, do you want a plain bagel? Might be good for you and your dad’s stomachs? You always get the everything bagel and I don’t know…” Dewey has parked the car and is preparing to get out.
“Oh, um.” Jesus, how long have I been in my head? I had no idea he even stopped.
“Yes, plain bagels.” I hop out and head over to Dolly’s salon, calling over my shoulder, “And something sweet if they have it. My dad loves anything sweet.”
He nods and looks at his boots as he shuffles to the bagel shop. This is it. Holy shit, I’m free. Adrenaline pumps through me all the way to my fingertips and I have to breathe for a second. It’s been way too long. I’m not Eve anymore. I’m a dirty-haired blond girl who used to be able to pick people’s pockets in seconds. I turn and make sure I’m alone and enter a small boutique. Incense hits me as soon as I enter and a small bell alerts that I’m here. A woman in her late forties sits behind the desk on the phone as I nod and quickly scan the place for cameras. I find one pointing toward the shop. God, it’s almost too easy. Like stealing candy from a baby.
I brazenly walk over to the racks of actually pretty dresses and start to grab a bunch. I hear the woman say she has a customer and has to go.