Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“I know, Aunt Effie. It’s all right.”
She tugged at her sloth earring. “I’m not sure if your dad would approve of me working for a guy who . . . who doesn’t always operate on the right side of the law. I’m not sure he’d like them around you.”
Especially not after what Brooks’ mother had done.
“Dad isn’t here,” Brooks told her. “And this is different from the woman who birthed me.”
“Brooks.”
“I was worried in the beginning that you might get hurt. That they might hurt you or someone close to them. But . . . the way they were with you last night. Having a guy sitting in a car outside our place all night . . . those aren’t the actions of guys who would hurt you.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so either.” She took another sip of coffee. Damn, she felt like crap this morning. What had happened? Why did she basically pass out? And what else happened?
“I’m gonna meet up with Baron, Royal, and some other friends soon. Are you all right on your own?” Brooks asked her.
“Yes, of course. Is Stella one of those friends?” she asked.
His cheeks went red. “Uh, yeah.”
She didn’t push him any further. “I’m glad you’re friends with those boys. Are you . . . are those boys at school . . . they’re not bullying you anymore?”
To her shock, Brooks grinned. “Nah, Auntie. You don’t have to worry about them. Every time they see me coming, they basically run the other way. And not just because I’m friends with Royal and Baron. But because of who you’re friends with.”
“Huh?” she asked.
“Steele told me he was going to take care of things, and he did. Another reason I’m cool if you want to, you know, get involved with him. Or with Grady. Or with both of them.”
“Both of them?”
“Don’t act so shocked. I see the smut you read.”
“Brooks Keaton!” She gave him a shocked look. “What are you doing looking at what I read?”
“Can’t help it if you leave the books out.” He stood as she mock-glared at him.
“You shouldn’t be looking! And it is not smut.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Oh, yeah.” He grinned. “Should I tell my English teacher that we should study one of your books instead of Othello?”
“Don’t you dare!” He turned and raced out of the room as she grabbed a pillow to throw at him. “Brat! Someone obviously didn’t raise you right!”
He peeked around the edge of the door. “Are you forgetting that you raised me?”
She huffed. But she smiled after he left. Then she lay back on the bed.
What the heck happened last night?
An hour later, Effie was brushing her hair when a loud knocking on the door made her jump.
“What the heck?”
Who would that be? It was midday on a Sunday. Pinkies was closed on Sundays and Mondays. She’d intended to spend the day cleaning the apartment, grocery shopping, then watching a movie. Brooks was at Baron and Royal’s place and wasn’t coming back until dinnertime.
Putting down the brush, she let out an irritated sigh as the knocking continued.
“All right, I’m coming. I’m coming.” She opened the door with a slam. “What do you want?”
“Good morning,” Grady replied.
“More like afternoon,” Steele added, looking her up and down. His lips quirked.
She glanced down at herself, blanching as she realized she had on her house-cleaning outfit. Which consisted of a slightly ratty T-shirt with a picture of a sloth on it, which said: Not to brag, but I got out of bed today.
It was oversized and faded from being washed so much.
Underneath, she wore a pair of tights that had pictures of dancing pigs on them.
Shit.
“Sorry, I didn’t know it was you guys. I’m not . . . I, uh . . . I was about to clean the apartment,” she said lamely.
Don’t just stand there, blathering on, Effie, or they’re going to think you’re not normal.
She plastered a smile on her face. “Good morning. This is a lovely surprise.”
“Don’t,” Steele warned.
“Um, don’t what?”
“Fake smile. I don’t like it.”
“She does it a lot,” Grady said, walking inside. Well, pushing his way in, since she didn’t invite him. “Especially when she’s embarrassed or thinks she’s been rude.”
Steele followed but paused in the doorway to stare down at her intently. “Fucking adorable.”
What?
Did he . . . he didn’t really think that, right? She was a mess.
Although at least she’d had a shower and brushed her teeth.
“Close the door before you let all the heat out,” Steele ordered. He glanced around. “Fuck.”
“What?”
“Thought it might look better in the daylight. Think it looks worse.”
“Hey! That’s not very nice.” Although this place was kind of a dump, at least it was clean. And she was doing the best she could.
“Fuck,” Steele muttered again. Then he was in front of her, cupping the side of her neck again.