Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Who in their right mind turned down home-grilled burgers for a goddamn ramen cup?
No one. Absolutely no one. I had told them explicitly about the dinner I’d been preparing, and River had “suggested” I take the night off from cooking and just “nuke some noodle cups.” For the record, boiling water was poured into those cups; there was no nuking involved, and it was a reminder not to let him near our microwave.
They’d received their damn noodles—along with some grilled cheese sandwiches—but I had prepared my own meal anyway.
Unlike those two, I had standards.
Checking my watch, I guesstimated we’d have the patio to ourselves another half hour or so. The group play was in full swing, and the attendees had disappeared into one of the suites on the third floor that consisted mainly of mattresses and pillows.
To be honest, I was relieved we were sitting this one out.
I’d recommended Tate sit this one out too, but he’d insisted on joining the others. Getting under several others wouldn’t help him get over Kingsley.
Almost ten o’clock… Tate had lasted longer than I’d expected.
“You’re looking at the time a lot,” Shay noted.
“He’s worried about Tate.” River drank the last of the disgusting broth straight from the cup.
I made a face. “You’re animals.”
Shay found that funny and drank from his cup too.
“And it’s not just Tate,” I drawled. “I’m waiting for Greer to get back to me. He said he’d text the shipping confirmation before he went to bed.”
“Ah.” River nodded in understanding and reached for his smokes.
“Is Greer the founder who wears a black kilt sometimes at munches?” Shay asked.
I inclined my head. “When he comes straight from work. It’s a utility kilt.”
“Is he Scottish?” Shay waggled his eyebrows. “He’s not a ginger. Much, anyway.”
“Not all Scots are gingers, you nut,” I chuckled. “He’s of Scottish heritage, at least.” It wasn’t like he had an accent. He’d been born and raised on the East Coast. “He and his brothers run a company together, and he’s the warehouse manager. They sell supplies to bars and restaurants. It’s through him we keep our bar stocked.”
“Got it.” Shay bit his lip and side-eyed River as he lit up his smoke, and I waited for the boy to ask… “I’m gonna go get a lollipop.”
That’s my boy. The urge to reward him hit me right in the chest, and I stood up. “Follow me. I’ll show you something better—speaking of bars.”
He gave me a curious look but followed me inside the main house without question.
Shay and River had stacked all the chairs and tables in the club area today, then covered all the kinky furniture and implements with black sheets. Tomorrow, Ivy and her Little Crew would come to clean the downstairs area for a series of demos that were taking place this weekend. A vendor who made his own leather straps and whips was coming too, and I just might buy something for Shay. He’d been mesmerized by our wall of floggers and whips earlier.
“Here we go.” I stepped behind the bar in the corner and grabbed the key I needed next to the register. One wall was reserved for shelves upon shelves of alcohol, but the other wall belonged to our community’s precious Littles. I removed the bright pink padlock Ivy had given us and pushed aside the sliding doors to reveal what we called the Little Bar.
Because we were funny as shit, we’d had a massive decal of a white van affixed to the doors.
“Holy crap,” Shay exclaimed.
The entire cabinet was roughly the size of a pool table, and it had several shelves of everything a Little could want. Fun-size was the theme, obviously. Ivy was in charge of it, though I could admit I enjoyed adding items to it as well. Lollipops, syrups for sugary drinks, enough cocktail decorations to make a bartender in Hawaii proud, little candy bars, miniature glassware, edible glitter that made drinks sparkle, cotton candy…
Ivy’s favorite was the candy necklaces. Kit had very politely requested a small selection of sprinkles, and I hadn’t been able to deny him. Now there were about a dozen glass jars of different types of sprinkles too. Ella, Penelope’s girl, had squealed when I’d shown her the boxes of Pop Rocks.
I hoped Gael would join us out here soon. He was one of our newest members, invited by Ivy, and I’d seen the two discuss their favorite candy online. When he’d dropped a link to a lollipop you were supposed to dip in some sour powder, I’d bought a container.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much candy for children outside a store.” Shay grinned and touched the box of Pop Rocks. “Levi, my youngest brother, loves these. I liked them when I was a kid too.”
Nothing wrong with reconnecting with your inner kid.
I grabbed a packet and handed it to him. “Humor me.”