Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 147136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 736(@200wpm)___ 589(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 736(@200wpm)___ 589(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
“What’s happening with me and her upstairs is something I want permanent. I’m not fuckin’ around with her. Never was.”
He smirked. “Pretty sure I got that.”
“Good, then you’ll get why I’m asking you to buy my share of Wax from me.”
Smirk vanishing, Jamie stared at me long and hard, eyes unblinking, looking like I’d just confessed to murdering someone he hated and wanted dead, but wasn’t sure if he should like the idea of me murdering someone or not.
Figured this reaction was coming. Hoped for something less complicated like an easy nod and a pat on the back so I could get to finishing Syd’s breakfast, but I’ve never been lucky.
I cut the heat on the stove, not wanting to burn the grease, stepped back until I hit the island, and leaned against it, arms crossing on my chest.
“You …want me to buy you out?” Jamie asked. “What the fuck? Why?”
I pulled in a deep breath to explain.
“Figured I’d continue doing what I was doing at Xstasy, the solo shit, until I could give that kid enough to get by for years, taking some of that burden off and letting that family breathe easy. I need that for them. It’s important. I think you know that.”
Jamie nodded, letting me know he understood.
“That being said,” I continued, “there is nothing more important to me than that girl upstairs. Not one damn thing. Can’t explain why she has me like this but she fuckin’ does and it’s good, the kind of good you’d change your life for. So solo or not, I won’t have ties to something that could hurt her. I won’t chance her feeling this, which puts me in a fuckin’ bind ’cause I need that money and doing shit like I was doing for Xstasy was the only way I could think of to get it fast like I needed and in that quantity without risking getting arrested.”
Jamie shook his head.
“It’s not lost on me what this girl’s doing. I see the good she’s giving you but there’s gotta be something else,” he said. “Another way you can get them that money. A loan or something. Fuck, Dash, this was our dream, owning Wax. It’s something we’ve worked our asses off for and you wanna sell out?”
“No other choice, man.”
Jamie clenched his jaw, nostrils flaring as he looked down.
He was upset and I got that. Appreciated where he was coming from, too. This wasn’t an easy decision for me, but at least I’d still be connected to Wax somehow. I’d still work there.
I wouldn’t have to give up that dream completely.
I watched Jamie set his mug down and hop off the counter, then take a step toward me, hands raised seeking peace.
“Hear me out,” he requested. “There’s another option and it’s one you can take without giving anything up.”
“No,” I said, shooting it down before hearing him because I already knew his suggestion. “It’s not going down that way. I’m not taking your money unless I sell.”
“Come on. What’s the difference?”
“Don’t fuckin’ ask me that again,” I hissed, impatience burning in my throat. “You wanna help me? This is how you can help me. Buy me out.”
He lowered his hands.
Silence settled between us.
Jamie wasn’t going to give me this. He didn’t understand. I could tell by the look on his face.
I shook my head through an inhale, jaw tight and shoulders tensing.
“Forget it,” I mumbled, moving back to the stove with heavy steps. “I’ll figure something else out.”
What the fuck that was gonna be, I had no idea. Last night this seemed like my only option.
I stared down at the pan, hands braced on either side of the stove and head down.
Maybe I could sell everything I had. Might get a little over ten grand for my Jeep. Not as much as selling my share of Wax, but it was better than nothing. I could take the bus or bum rides, that or walk everywhere. Getting the exercise wouldn’t hurt.
“I’ll do it.”
I slowly lifted my head and turned my neck.
Jamie held my eyes when he said, “I’ll buy you out. Get the figure and let me know.”
Tension poured out of my limbs. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thanks, man. Seriously. Means a lot,” I told him, straightening my back.
He nodded once, twisted to grab his mug, then took a sip.
I could get in touch with our accountant today, no problem. The guy worked seven days a week. As for Xstasy, that shit could be handled with a simple text. I’d get on that as soon as I got Syd back home in case Mike decided to be one dumb motherfucker and call me to discuss.
There would be no discussion.
And this was going to work out.
Thank fuck.
“But your name is staying on all the promotional shit. I don’t care if you want it removed, it’s not happening,” Jamie informed as I was clicking the burner on. “It would be a pain in my ass getting it changed so deal with it.”