Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Jesus.”
“Her fuckin’ parents, man,” I said, shaking my head. “What a couple of psychopaths.”
“They were always fuckin’ weird,” Rumi replied. “You remember when we had that big Halloween party in elementary school, and they said Em couldn’t eat any of the candy?”
“Yeah,” I said, remembering Emilia in her pigtails, smiling as she eyeballed all the shit she wasn’t allowed to have. “Thing that always stuck with me was the fact that she didn’t eat any of it even though they weren’t there watchin’.”
“I woulda fuckin’ gorged myself,” Rumi said with a shrug. “Worry about the fallout later.”
“Me too.” Hell, any kid would have had at least one treat and damned the consequences, but not Emilia.
“Seems like they were good to Rhett, though,” Rumi said, reaching up to pull his hair out of his face into a ponytail. “He mentioned them a few times earlier. All good things.”
“Yeah, except for the fact that they manipulated his mother into keepin’ him a secret from his father,” I replied flatly. “I’m sure they were a fuckin’ joy to be around.”
“I’m just sayin’—” He put his hands up in surrender. “He has happy memories of them. That’s a good thing. Wouldn’t want to have to dig ’em up just to piss on ’em, you know?”
“You’re a fuckin’ nutcase.”
“Yeah, well, guilty.” Rumi shrugged, unconcerned. He looked at me over his beer bottle. “Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”
“There’s no elephant.”
“What are you gonna do about Em?” he asked, talking over me.
“Nothin’.”
“She’s just gonna live with you platonically?”
“She’s not livin’ with me,” I snapped. “She’s staying the night. One night.”
“You’re gonna kick her out tomorrow then?”
“Of course not.”
“So she’s stayin’?”
“For now.”
“Bullshit.”
“Until she gets a place, she and Rhett can stay here,” I said, grinding my teeth. “Why are you pushin’ this?”
“So,” Rumi said thoughtfully. By his tone, I knew he was just going to irritate me further. “She’s gonna stay until she finds a job and saves up enough to pay first and last on a rental somewhere? She lives here, brother. Just lean into it.”
“She’s not fuckin’ livin’ here,” I snapped. “Would you leave it alone?”
“Just tryin’ to figure out if you’re about to make a big fuckin’ mistake or not. You gonna keep it civil and let her stay until she can find a place or are you gonna see if you can get back in there and play house with the only chick you’ve ever looked twice at and never gotten over?”
“I’m not makin’ any fuckin’ mistake,” I shot back. “She can stay until she’s on her feet. My son lives with her. It’s not like I’m gonna let her be homeless.”
Rumi just watched me like he knew something I didn’t. “Never said which scenario I thought was a mistake,” he said finally.
“And I’ve looked twice at plenty of women,” I barked. “It’s not like I’ve been waitin’ around for Emilia to show up. I get laid plenty. I’m sure she’s been fuckin’ other people too. It’s been three fuckin’ years.”
“Actually, I’ve been a little busy,” Emilia said from behind me. “Raising a kid and working doesn’t leave a lot of time to get laid.”
I closed my eyes and held back a groan.
“Hey Em,” Rumi said in amusement.
“Hey, Rum.” She walked into the kitchen as I opened my eyes again. “Sorry, Rhett woke up thirsty, and I didn’t think anyone would be down here.”
“Right of the sink,” I told her as she opened up the wrong cabinet looking for a glass.
“Thanks,” she muttered.
“You know,” Rumi said, turning around in his chair to watch her. “I bet Mom would watch Rhett if you’re plannin’ on findin’ a job.”
Emilia laughed. “What the hell else would I do? We have to eat.” She filled the glass halfway with tap water. “But thanks, that’s actually a good idea. I’ll ask your mom about it. It would be fucking awesome if I didn’t have to pay for daycare.”
“When did you start swearing?” Rumi asked in surprise.
Emilia rolled her eyes. “Your brother asked me the same thing.”
“You were such a princess,” Rumi said with a smile.
“I was a kid,” she countered. “I’m gonna take this up to Rhett. Night guys.”
“Night,” I muttered as she walked past me.
“Night, Emmy Lou,” Rumi sang, making her wave over her shoulder.
“Emmy Lou?” I asked my brother. “Really?”
“What?”
“You’re just gonna act like everythin’ is fine?”
“You want me to treat her like shit?”
“I want you to be on my side,” I muttered, knowing I sounded like a twelve-year-old.
“I’m always on your side, Michael,” Rumi said seriously. “But I knew her almost as well as you did before. Fuck, man, she was family. Am I supposed to act like that’s gone now?”
“Isn’t it?”
“You tell me,” he shot back. “For all you know, she’s spent the last three years robbin’ people or bein’ a fuckin black widow, yet she’s still sleepin’ in your house.”