Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
I grin to myself. I should’ve known she’d want to get involved. Taking care of people is what she does.
Maybe when we all go on our trip, we can brainstorm about the charities I can start. Zoe has given me some time to think and come up with something.
Lex had to decline the trip, but I’m hoping Shawna is still game now that the dates have changed. I want to put a face to the name. I frown.
Just keep your promise. That shit doesn’t touch her door.
Pit’s warning comes back to me. I would never bring my shit to Skittles, but wouldn’t I be doing so if I got involved with her little cousin?
Little Cousin. I have her by three years. It’s not a lot, but I know my friend, in Skittles’s head, that’s like ten years, but I can’t ignore this pull.
“The endgame hasn’t changed. Keep your fucking distance, Harvey Dent,” I mutter to myself.
I look out of the window as the car stops in front of Achilles’s house. Blake has provided me with a driver and a car since that asshole father of mine sold all mine off.
It’s cool. I’m over it. If you have something once, you can always come by it again. I’ll get my collection back and more.
I smile as the kids playing out in front of the house next door come into view. This is a nice little neighborhood. Or at least it seems like it. I did notice it bumps up against a few rougher-looking blocks.
I step out and start for the door of Achilles’s home. The little boy is fixing the chain on the little pink bike while the little girl eyes me walking up her neighbor’s driveway.
“Hey, Mr. Makris,” the tiny little girl sings and waves at Achilles as he steps out of his front door to greet me.
“Hey, Cat. What’s up, True? You guys good?”
“Yeah, we’re fine,” the little toothless boy says and nods.
“Who’s that man?” Cat asks, pointing at me.
“This is my friend Josh.”
I give the two a small wave and they wave back. A dark-skinned woman with a huge swollen belly comes out of the house, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
“True, if you can’t fix that thing, wait for your father to come home and do it,” she calls.
“I got it, Mom. He’ll just say he’s tired. Cat wants to ride with me. I’ll fix it.”
I hold a hand up to Achilles. “You want some help?” I offer.
“That’s nice of you. We don’t want to put you out,” the mother says.
“It’s fine. It will only take me a sec,” I reply.
“Oh, thank you so much. Cat, come on inside. We’ll make the nice man some lemonade.”
I give her a smile as she holds her hand out for her daughter and rubs her belly with the other hand. Cat follows her mother inside and I get to work on the bike with the boy.
“You’re a cool big brother,” I say to him as I get the chain on.
“It’s my job to look after her and when my new little sister gets here, I’ll take care of her too.”
“They’re lucky to have you.”
“Thanks.” He gives me a smile that fades as a white BMW pulls up. “I’ve got it from here. Thanks, mister.”
“Anytime. You can call me Josh or J.”
I stand, seeing he’s a little nervous all of a sudden. A man steps from the car and starts for the house. I don’t miss the glare he gives me and the kid.
“What’s up, Roger? How’s it going?” Achilles says, seeming to catch the tension.
The dude grunts and loosens his tie. He comes over and places a hand on the top of the kid’s head. “Did you clean that room?” he says to the kid.
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you head into the house and stop bothering Mr. Makris?”
“He’s not bothering me. My friend was giving him some help with Cat’s bike.”
The dude pulls out his wallet and takes out a few bills to hand to me. I hold my hands up and take a step back. “No, I’m good. Thanks though.”
“I insist,” he says smugly, with a fake smile on his thin lips.
I look into his brown eyes. I see so much of my father as I look at this man. He’s a real piece of work.
I can tell in True’s body language this dude is going to give him a hard time. He shoves the money at me again. Achilles takes it. I look at him and narrow my eyes. He gives me a small shake of his head.
Roger turns for their house and starts for the door. True looks at me and gives a sad smile. I take the money from Achilles and beckon True to come closer.
“Here, you take this and get some candy or something for you and your sister,” I whisper.