Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 132933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“You mean the Gerber Gerbil. That thing cries like a newborn baby but soooo much worse.”
She’s not wrong. That hamster has kept me up plenty of nights, but I don’t complain. I’m just glad to have a roof over my head, a soft spot to sleep on, and a place to come back to.
Farrow is giving me a look across the table. “And you still don’t want to move into the guest room?” The penthouse guest room.
Jane and Thatcher aren’t using it as a nursery like I thought they would, but I can’t move into the penthouse. Into that room.
It’s the closest room to Luna. If her dad hears, what’s he going to think of me? I’m already walking on fire.
“I’m fine,” I remind him.
He hates that I’m sleeping on a pull-out. With no room. When he has a free space for me, but I’m okay.
I’m doing okay.
“When did you get a hamster?” Oscar asks his brother.
“I’m pet sitting,” Quinn shoots Frog a look. “Fluffy isn’t that bad.”
“Nessa needs to collect her rodent.”
“She can’t until the apartment finishes getting painted. The fumes…” Quinn’s voice tapers off as three people walk onto the rooftop.
I stand up, clapping. Everyone is applauding too.
Thatcher, who comes in behind Banks and Akara, starts joining the applause. It’s the first time all of Omega has been together since Banks and Akara married Sulli.
I clap the hardest. Gotta love love.
“Alright, alright.” Akara fits a baseball cap on, smiling. “That’s enough.”
“Nah, we can go harder,” I say.
Everyone laughs.
Banks nods, toothpick between his lips. “Thanks, gents and lady.”
Frog grins.
While they all disperse for the food, Akara comes over to me and snaps his finger to his palm. “Donnelly. Can we talk before the meeting starts?”
Farrow goes rigid, and severity hardens Oscar’s features. Can’t be that bad, right? I just toss my napkin on the table.
“Sure.”
Following Akara to the edge of the rooftop, I lean an arm on the railing. Philly is gorgeous today, and it’s hard to take my eyes off her effervescent beauty.
“I have some news that you might not like,” Akara tells me. “Originally, I didn’t want to bring it up, man, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized you have information that I need. For the security team.”
My first thought: has to be my fucked up family.
I don’t know what other news I wouldn’t like. I don’t know who else could be a threat to the security team.
I keep my eyes on Philly. On something good. I say, “Give it to me.”
“We know the person who stole Sulli’s Jeep. They stripped it for parts and left it in the Poconos.”
No.
“Colin Donnelly. Does that ring a bell?”
I keep my eyes on Philly. “Yeah, we’re related.”
He doesn’t ask me how.
“Is he going to be a problem?”
Yeah.
“No,” I say. I’ll take care of it.
Akara nods. I think he trusts me, and I want to be worthy of that trust.
I am.
I can be.
I hope.
DONNELLY’S DAILY PLANNER
THURSDAY, SEPT 20TH
Today’s Focus: get better at writing these things. Stop focusing on you-know-who. Only focus on the little Elf. Got a school day ahead of him.
To Do:
Drive Xander & Kinney to school (try not to joke with her bodyguard. Sinclair is a big Grinch baby and doesn’t like fun.)
Buy Salem doggie treats. Peanut-butter flavored. Who doesn’t love peanut butter?
Remember to tell Xander’s calc teach about Gretchen (or is it Greta?) abusing the bathroom hall pass system. No one likes a nark but ya gotta do it.
Figure out Gretchen’s real name so calc teach takes you seriously.
Keep avoiding Delilah (her teacher isn’t gonna do anything, confirmed).
Text date for meet-up time tomorrow. Might need to pick her up.
Figure out when to go see C.D.
Notes: Thatcher looked gassed at the gym this early a.m.—think he’s not slowing down enough after surgery. No one’s saying anything to him that I’ve heard. He’s got that serious looking glare if you try. Also!! Studio 9 gym is permanently shut down to the public. Boss is starting to create some workout routines there for future vids with Banks & Sulli #KickingItWithKitsulletti. Banks strained his back this morning trying to do a deadlift lol (hope he’s okay tho). Akara is still letting security work out at his gym—even Price’s guys. This special union of 2 security firms is good and all but I can’t be running into O’Malley while I’m trying to get my sweat on. So remember, he might be there.
Meals: Wawa in the morning (grab a hoagie to-go for lunch), Wawa in the evening? See what the penthouse crew or my roomies are up to.
Water: hydrate, you gorg mfer
Question of the Day: Does Papa Cobalt ever sneeze?
14
PAUL DONNELLY
The living room pullout creaks beneath my weight, and I strain my neck to see the kitchen. Microwave clock blinks a bright red 11:41 p.m.—and I let out a tired sigh. Can’t go to sleep. Not for lack of trying.