Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
“And once in a while, you get to do things like find Elsie Fay,” I stated.
He nodded. “And once in a while, job satisfaction goes off the charts with shit like that,” he affirmed.
“There are people who experienced what you experienced, who, if they had the chance, would be glad to put that behind them and be a banker, Cap. So maybe it also has to do with it being who you were meant to be.”
His lips tipped up, he shook his head, and then he shared, “On the streets of Denver, I was known as Sniff.”
I was confused. “Sniff?”
“I was a runt.”
I hated he talked about himself like that, so I started, “Cap—”
“I’m not the first guy who had his growth spurt late and suffered from acne, Raye. It was what it was. And when Park met me, I was skinny and weak and my nose was always running, so he called me Sniff. He was a good-lookin’ kid, all the girls liked him. Him and Roam. They were cool, they’d been on the streets longer than me, and I looked up to them. I was a goof. I ran my mouth a lot. Now I know I did this because I’d lived a life with a mother who didn’t give a shit what I had to say. And when I was around people who did, it just all came out.”
It was me squeezing his hand at that.
Cap carried on.
“Because of this, I get another part of my motivation is, I don’t ever want to be that kid again. I don’t know what would have happened to me if I hadn’t met Park and Roam, but I’d seen enough boys like me who got used in ways they hated just so they could eat. Park and Roam, and then Jules, saved me from that. I owe that to them. But for me, it’s a constant drive to put that kid behind me.”
“You aren’t that kid anymore, honey,” I said gently.
“I know that, baby.” He gave me gentle right back. “But we can’t escape our pasts, so we have to find a way to use them to our advantage, and that means the good and the bad. I use what I was given to keep striving to be stronger and smarter. I use how I see the men with their women in what I give to you. The key is to make it all work for you.”
He was being so out there, giving of himself, not making me work for it, it was a bit overwhelming, but in a very good way.
I gave his hand another squeeze. “I love how open you are with all of this. It means a lot to me, Cap.”
“Now you know a little bit about how I’ve been feeling with you letting me be a part of all the shit that’s gone down with you.”
God.
This guy.
I tested the footrest on the stool again so I could make it to his mouth.
He pushed farther across the bar so it wasn’t such a feat.
When we both moved back, he said, “You need to do the things you do that you don’t need to do to be beautiful, babe. We got less than an hour before we’re supposed to meet your folks at Snooze.”
I looked at the microwave clock.
Then I cried, “Shit!”
I hopped off the stool and ran to the bathroom.
Then I ran back because I forgot my coffee.
I was sure to close the toilet seat because Patches liked to sit on it and watch me put my makeup on.
And I’d learned the last time I cat sat for him, he liked the feel of my blush brush on his face.
So, even if I was running late (no surprise), we did a little of that too.
I wasn’t getting good vibes when, after brunch, and after we dropped Dad, I climbed in Dad and Deb’s rental car, and she drove us to Fashion Square, parked on the Nordstrom side and took me directly to the fine jewelry counter.
I mean, props to her that she’d scoped out all the local malls so thoroughly.
And sure, in a perfect world, I’d drop a load on my best bitch for her birthday, but I hadn’t had the time to do much dog walking.
However, when we got to the jewelry case she was looking for, and Deb asked the associate if they had the delicate necklace with a tiny initial pendant fashioned from diamonds in the letter L, I knew it was the perfect gift for Luna.
I also knew that Deb didn’t mess around and had done some research since they went home last night.
I further knew this meant a lot to me.
Bottom line, though, I didn’t know the cost, but I knew I couldn’t afford that necklace.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said as the associate went off to see if they had an L. “And you’re right. It is expensive. But I noticed your friend likes to layer her necklaces, and she’s comfortable in herself and her style. I didn’t spend much time with her, but it was obvious. I thought of trying to find someone who could make us a name necklace in a short period of time, but not only would that probably be impossible, it’s too much Carrie.” She shook her hands by her head on her last word. “So, if you’ll allow us the honor, it can be from you and your dad and me. And since there are three of us, it’ll be less than a hundred and forty dollars for you. Can you do that?”