Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“What about hiring someone else to run it so all you really have to do is collect a paycheck?” he wondered.
I thought about that.
“Well,” I paused. “The reason that wouldn’t exactly work is pretty simple. The coffee shop doesn’t make enough money to pay me and a manager to run it. I barely make enough to pull in a full paycheck as it is.”
He tapped his chin with his index finger, a move so much like his father that it startled me.
“If it’s not netting you a good profit, then it sounds like it’s not the best investment. If you’re not having fun with this particular endeavor, then it sounds like you should cut your losses and move on to something that’ll give you what you want.” He shrugged. “Dad always says that there are too many variables in life. To control what you can.”
I smiled. “If I quit, then I won’t have any money to live off of.” I paused and corrected myself. “Well, I have the apartment building. That nets me a profit. And it’s passive income. But even that comes with struggles.”
We talked like that for a full forty-five minutes as we waited for the pizza to arrive. Then it finally did, and we devoured it. Me a small pizza, and him a large.
I shook my head when we were finally through, two episodes of Chips down, and said, “I can’t believe you just ate an entire large pizza.”
He pointed at the soccer ball that was on the ground by the door. “I’m a growing boy that works out a lot. I actually had soccer practice right before I came over. It’s like my stomach is a bottomless pit.”
Giggling, I checked my phone, then sighed.
Folsom had texted again.
Folsom: You can’t ignore this. Your dad is a dick. I can’t believe you won’t let me do anything.
I rolled my eyes and typed out a quick text.
Morrigan: You can’t do anything because that’s illegal. Plus, there’s nothing to find. He never steps out of the Stone Age. Trust me when I say, he’s not going to have anything for you to mess with.
Folsom: You could at least let me try.
Morrigan: I could, but I’m tired of dealing with anything related to my father. We’re going to let it go. We’re done allowing him to ruin our life.
Folsom: Fine. But if you ever change your mind…let me know immediately.
Folsom: Also, I set your alarm. Why do you always leave it unarmed?
Morrigan: because we just had pizza delivered. Night. Love you.
“Your friend?” Bowie asked, his eyes on the television.
I smiled. “My friend.”
“She sounds intense when Mom talks about her,” he said. “What’s her story?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know it. I know that she’s a really impressive hacker. I know that she can do things, and get things, that shouldn’t be possible. I know that she’s sweet, and has a three-year-old daughter that’s a genius. But as for her backstory? That I don’t know. She’s never shared it with me and I’ve never pushed her on her unwillingness to share.”
He looked at me again.
“You’re a surprise.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I guess when I heard about you, I expected you to be an asshole or something. I mean, you’re the person that used to love my dad, and he left. I thought you would take that out on him or something. But you didn’t. And you’ve been incredibly nice. I feel bad that I jumped to conclusions where you’re concerned.” He grimaced. “And that I allowed myself to think poorly of you when you didn’t do anything to give me the indication that you were a bad person.”
I patted his thigh, then got up and cleaned up the pizza boxes.
A wave of dizziness overtook me, and I immediately sat back down.
He looked at me curiously.
“Dizzy,” I admitted. “I’m fine.”
He shook his head, then got up and cleaned up the mess that I couldn’t clean up. Then he checked all the windows and the doors, then turned out all the lights.
“Can you get to the bedroom by yourself?” he asked. “Or do you need to hang out and watch some more shows with me?”
I pointed at the couch. “I’ll move up there in an hour or so. I just need to give my body time to regulate.”
He nodded. “I got a job.”
I blinked. “What?”
“I can’t officially have one yet, since I’m not old enough, but I got one anyway. Don’t tell my mom. I’m gonna help pay this back.” He tapped his backpack at his feet. “I’m gonna work while you watch this. That okay?”
I shook my head.
“You’re terrible,” I admitted. “But that’s fine.”
I’d also be bringing it up with both of his parents tomorrow.
Which he likely knew I would.
Hours later, I was finally able to get upstairs to take a load off. I all but collapsed into the bed, and didn’t realize it until the next morning, but I’d slept so well.