Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
He frowned as he took all but the smallest package out of my arms. “Why do you say that?”
Did I warn him?
Maybe it wasn’t going to be that bad this time.
“Just don’t freak out. I’m used to it,” I said, deciding not to explain.
When I explained, sometimes it tended to come out sounding worse than it actually was.
That was why Keda had hated my family.
Though she’d been a witness to their actions quite a few times, and sometimes they didn’t present themselves in the most flattering of light.
You can fuck off with that shit. You can fuck straight off to fuck off mountain, while riding your fuck you horse to the land of aww hell no.
—Hollis’s secret thoughts
HOLLIS
“What are their names, again?” he asked before I could say a word.
“My sister is named Humfrid. She’s seventeen and graduated last month. Then there’s my brother, Tayson. He’s a genius, and works in tech when he feels like it. He works from home and helps my parents with the bills—at least, that’s what my parents say.
“My mom and dad are Dael and Broddie. Mom doesn’t work. She’s been a stay-at-home mom for most of my younger siblings life. Dad works in investment banking now. When I was a young kid, though, he worked as a janitor at the same investment banking firm. They’ve all come really far in life, and I’m really proud of my sister for graduating early, and Tayson for finding a job right out of high school.”
Quincy, unfazed by my word vomit, grinned.
“Do I have to knock?” he asked curiously as he jerked his head in the direction of my parents’ door.
“I do,” I said. “I’ve never lived here.”
He frowned and looked over his shoulder at me. “What?”
I jerked my chin in the direction of the house.
“They got this house when I graduated.” I sighed. “I’m guessing, and this is all truly just me theorizing, but I think they spent the money they saved up to buy me a car and pay for my college on the down payment.”
His eyes went hard. “Surely not.”
I didn’t bother to tell him the type of parents I had.
He’d find out soon enough.
I shrugged and we fell into step up the long walk.
The yard was immaculately groomed. Likely by a person someone hired, and not my actual parents.
The only time they used to have a nice yard at the house I grew up in was when I wasn’t working long enough to cut it.
I walked up behind Quincy, my gaze on his ass because it made me feel better, and nearly hid behind him when he knocked on the door.
I hadn’t ever walked right into this house. I bet he didn’t have the same dilemma at his own.
Likely, they left the light on and the door unlocked just for their kids.
The doorbell rang, a gaudy chiming gong sound, and we waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Eventually, the door opened, and my dad eyed the two of us.
His gaze focused on Quincy for a long moment before he said, “We don’t have enough food for two of you.”
Likely, they didn’t even have enough food for either one of us—my mom cooked for four and four only—but I wasn’t going to reply.
Why bother?
I’d learned a long time ago that it was a waste of breath.
My father didn’t care, nor did he listen to anything I had to say unless it was to argue with me about.
“Dad, I’d like you to meet…”
Before I could finish, Quincy interrupted saying, “Her man, Quincy Carter.”
Dad didn’t reach to take anything from Quincy’s hand, nor did he step aside to allow us in.
“Dad,” I said. “Can you let us in? These are heavy.”
He reluctantly stepped sideways, allowing us passage.
I ignored the gaudy decorations that lined the walls—my mom was the quintessential awkward middle-aged woman who liked to put motivational and uplifting quotes on her wall—and headed in the direction of the living room.
I nearly rolled my eyes when I saw the Christmas tree in the corner.
It’d been up for two years because all of them were too lazy to take it down.
And Mom said it was ‘in fashion’ to leave it up all year long, despite the fact that if you did leave it up, you were supposed to decorate it to match the seasons.
But whatever.
I placed the boxes on the coffee table next to what looked like my dad’s phone.
“Where is everyone?” I tried to make small talk.
Quincy dropped his packages next to mine, then caught my hip and pulled me into his side.
I went willingly, unable to stop myself from partially melting into his side and waited for my dad to answer.
Only, Dad was now in his chair after picking up his phone, no longer paying attention to us. Whatever he was viewing on his screen had his undivided attention.
I sat down in the chair that was meant for guests—yes, everyone but me had a special place in the home—and gestured to the seat beside me. “Have a seat.”