Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Axel’s eyes narrowed on him, as if he was about to go off, and then, his face went blank, an expression soon replaced by a smile.
“Nope.” Legend crossed his arms.
“But you haven’t even heard what I was going to say yet.”
“I don’t have to. I know that look. I’m not doing it.”
“Please! Look, man.” He grabbed his arm, desperation in his eyes. “I got a bunch of meat in the freezer. I can do a fast thaw in the microwave. We can hook up the grill! You can cook and grill your ass off, Legend! I’ll be your right hand. I’ll prep everything.”
“What do I look like to you? Colonel Sanders? Do I look like I walk around wit’ eleven herbs and spices?! You got like forty people ova here, man!” He pointed at the patio door. “What I look like cookin’ for forty people?! I ain’t even do that in prison when mothafuckas paid me to hook up their ramen noodles.”
“You cooked crack cocaine for at least sixty people in a day, I’m sure. This isn’t your first rodeo.”
“Oh, you got jokes!” Axel’s face flushed with shades of red as he grinned. “See? You always find a way to put me to work!” He wiggled his finger in the man’s face. “First, it was work for you. Your company. Okay, cool. Win-win situation. Then it was help yo’ girl. Fine. You’re my brother. That’s what we do. Then you wanted me to help haul mulch for ya new house. Didn’t offer me a dime. Then it was make these repairs at the rental apartments. I ain’t the damn landlord or owner! You are! Then it was Cameron duty.”
“Oh, come on! Don’t throw my son into this! You like spending time with him.”
“I do, but you only called me so you could put me to work. You literally had me changin’ diapers when you were supposed to do that, while English was at work because you were in a bidding war for a new contract, afraid you’d miss out if you were dealin’ with him at the same time. Oh, but there’s more! Then it was take the truck to the—”
“Okay, okay! You’re right, but I’m desperate, Legend.” Axel put his fingers together in a pleading gesture. “You’re right about everything. I still need your help.”
“You better get cool with Papa John. Get some pizza like English said.”
“Don’t nobody wants any damn pizza, including me, but English isn’t listening. She cussed the owner of the catering company out on the phone, so any chance they’ll make good on this is now down the drain. The food is inedible. You and I both know that. Just cook some ribs, Legend. It kills me to say this, but I beggin’ you.”
“Man! You don’t even have any meat marinated. You can’t just throw shit on the grill all willy-nilly. It’ll be flavorless and tough. Ain’t no sides! No nothing!” Legend snatched the refrigerator door open and peered inside. He slammed it shut, angry as hell. “You better get out the peanut butta and jelly. ’Cause that’s what’s about to go down.”
“We’ll make it work. Whatever you need, I bet we have it downstairs. English has a deep freezer down there with all sorts of ribs, steaks, burgers, hot dogs, you name it.”
Just then, English walked back in and tossed a glance at Legend.
“Legend.” Her lips pursed, she leaned against the kitchen counter. “Did you hit on Chloe, and when she turned you down, you called her a clown ass ho?”
Axel burst out laughing and walked away.
“English… really?”
The woman kept the stern expression going for a while, then broke into laughter, too.
“I didn’t think that’s how the story went.” She shook her head and sighed. “My cousin is a trip. Anyway, time to call for those pizzas.” As she reached for her cellphone, he noticed Axel on the other side of the kitchen, pouting.
“… You son of a bitch.”
“Huh?!”
“Not you, English. Your husband. How much you gone pay me, man?”
Axel swallowed, his eyes widening.
“Pay you for what, Axel? What are you two up to?”
“English, you don’t know this little secret about Legend, but he was born with a spatula in his hand. When we were kids, we would sneak over his mama’s house when she was at work, when we were supposed to be at school, and he would take out frozen fries, ground beef, all kinds of food, and turn it into something AMAZING!”
English spun around toward him, a smirk on her face and one brow raised.
“Really, Legend?! Wow! Now isn’t this a wonderful surprise.”
“Not really…”
“So, I asked him to help save us today, and just barbecue a few things.”
“A few things? Forty people… Four. Zero!”
“Can you do sides, too? I can chop up some onions and celery, Legend. I have some baked beans and—”