Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Soon. I’ll let you know how things are going. I’m going to reach out to a few law firms, and if I don’t hear back from them, I’ll hit you up to put a good word in,” I tease because we both know I could call King myself even if it might be a bit awkward at first.
“Alright. Love you, drive safe,” she replies.
“Love you. Don’t suck today.” The joke is something we’ve told each other every time either of us has a big test or a tough class ahead of us.
“Yeah, yeah. Bye, girlie.” We hang up with each other. The thoughts running through my head aren’t the best; they’re full of should-haves, would-haves, and could-haves. Three years is a long time to not lay things out, and while the mature thing would have been to talk about things that happened, that’s not how things went. And King is just as much at fault as I am. Immature to blame him while also doing the same, of course it is; that bridge is just one I’m not willing to cross yet.
Instead, I bury my head in the sand even more, pack up the few things I brought in from the car last night, throwing stuff in haphazardly as I go, already knowing what’s to come once I’m back at home. The good thing is my parents are literal godsends. The space above their garage was just converted to an apartment with a kitchen. Dad grumbled while the contractors worked on it, saying the amount Mom was spending was ridiculous. Until Mom told him he can’t be walking around naked like he got used to while I was away in college and this would help everyone. The actual ick factor that came about during the FaceTime call was excruciating, and I’m thankful Mom pulled out the big guns. Still, it was gross at the time. So, knowing my parents, by the time I pull up in their driveway, most of the heavy things will be off-loaded and all I’ll have left to do is to unpack, settle in, and start the hunt for a job as a newbie paralegal looking to make decent money while also gaining experience. No big deal, right? Sure, then why is there another lead ball sitting inside my stomach?
2
KINGSTON
“Dad, you really need help. I can see it with the bags beneath your eyes. Who’s helping you besides some of the junior associates? And even then you know they’re going to get pissed if they keep doing the work of a paralegal after spending thousands of dollars to work as a lawyer.” Mae is talking a million miles a minute. My head isn’t in the conversation; it’s solely on work and how we’re going to go after this talent agency that’s trying to fuck one of our most influential clients out of millions. “Dad, are you even listening to me? Jesus, when is the last time you slept or even ate? A well-rounded diet does not consist of sandwiches and liquor.”
“I’m listening. We have ads out for paralegals, but no one is biting. And yes, I’m eating, but the real question is, how much sodium and caffeine have you consumed this week, young lady?” Mae isn’t wrong. She’s right to look out for me, seeing as how it’s been the two of us for as long as she can remember. I’ve been a single parent since a few months after she was born, when her mom left a note in our once shared apartment along with Mae in the crib for who knows how long. I left to go to work then take a class afterwards, pulling double duty while Jade stayed home with Mae, when I returned to our place one night, hearing Mae cry quietly in her crib, wearing a soiled diaper, and who knows how long she had gone without a feeding.
“About as many sandwiches and alcohol you have. So, that leads me to my next question: Are you looking for inexperienced paralegals?” My eyes stop looking over the contract. Mae may look a lot like her mother, but the girl is ruthless, can negotiate like her father, and knows what she’s doing before anyone else sees it coming. It’s also why once she’s done at Columbia, I’m going to do anything possible to have her come to work for Mace and myself.
“What are you trying to convince me of now, Mae? You maxed out on what I’m sending you?” I tease her jokingly. She hasn’t asked for a lot being away at college, probably because I’m paying for the small apartment she lives in now instead of being stuck in student housing or rooming with a pile of kids who could be doing God knows what, coming and going. This was the better option. Her college is mostly paid for because of her grandparents, my parents starting a prepaid college fund when she was an infant, and while working is hard with her schedule, Mae manages to work as a teacher’s assistant, making enough to pay for food and extras she may want or need.