Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Not to sound like a broken record, but seriously what are you doing here?” It’s not that I don’t want to see my dad, it’s that he’s incredibly busy buying up dilapidated buildings in Beaumont and turning them into either affordable housing or office space so businesses can come to town. Most of us in the family think he’s gearing up to run for mayor. Which is a bit comical. Sure, the prodigal son returned home, but he’s a musician. Even though 4225 West hasn’t toured in a few years, every album they’ve released has gone platinum. I think Liam Page would have a hard time sitting behind a desk every day, stamping his name on documents.
“Can’t a father visit his son?”
I scoff and eye him suspiciously. “Sure, he can. Where’s Mom?”
“With your sister. She’s on vacation for another month.”
Ah yes, no more traveling without Miss Betty Paige. At least not since Mack asked my dad permission to take her on a date. Mack confided in me that he kissed Paige. I had a hard time not wanting to wring the boy’s neck and hers. The problem is, I can’t be in the middle of this relationship. I love them both but will always side with my sister. I was a teenager once. I’m not even playing stupid when it comes to those two. Which reminds me, I want Peyton to talk to Paige about protecting herself. I can’t do it because . . . hello, embarrassing. And I’m not mentioning it to my parents.
“Anyway,” my dad sighs. “I thought we’d hang for the weekend.”
“Okay,” I say, still suspicious. “Want something to drink? Eat?”
Liam shakes his head. “Were you about to leave when I got here?”
I nod. “I was going to head out for a run. Peyton went to an appointment with Elle. I need to clear my head or keep it clear. I hate this entire process.”
“Let me change and I’ll go with you.”
Before I can protest, he’s grabbed his bag and disappeared down the hall to the room he and my mom stay in when they’re here. I sigh. The last thing the streets of Malibu need to see is Liam Page running.
“Fuck my life,” I mutter as I head into the kitchen for a glass of water. My dad joins me minutes later and helps himself. He drinks heartily from the glass and then sets it in the sink.
“Ready?”
“Yes, but don’t be embarrassed when I kick your ass,” I tell him.
The ever-charismatic Liam Page grips my shoulder and bends over in laughter. He heaves, feigns being out of breath, and fans his imaginary tears away. “Son, you slay me.”
“Who taught you that word?”
“Your sister.”
I shake my head. “Come on, old man.”
“Who are you calling old?”
We get outside and begin to stretch.
“Hi, Noah,” one of my neighbors from down the road waves as she power walks by wearing those incredibly tiny workout shorts. I have no idea what her name is though. I wave, being a friendly neighbor and all.
“Who’s that?”
“Dunno,” I say, shrugging. “They all say hi when they go by. It’s not like I’m standing out there introducing myself.”
“Who else lives around here?”
I look around at the houses. Some you can see because they’re perilously perched on cliffs. Others you can only see gates or driveways. “Uh, Cyrus, Streisand, Leo, the Hiltons, and that tequila maker, what’s his name . . .”
“Mr. Crawford,” Liam says, fanning his face.
“No, that’s not it.”
My dad rolls his eyes. “Randy Gerber. He’s married to Cindy Crawford.” He lets out a low whistle.
“Does Mom know?”
He shrugs. “She has her freebie list.”
“What the fuck is a freebie list?”
“You know a list of people you can sleep with and can’t get into trouble for.”
I stare at my dad as rage boils. “You fucking kidding me with this bullshit?”
“What?” He shrugs as if he didn’t just admit he has a list of people he wants to sleep with.
“I’m going to kick your ass, old man.”
He holds his hands up. “Your mom has a list, son. Not me. I did all that shit a long time ago, found the error of my ways and haven’t looked back. Your mother is the only woman I want to be with.”
“Then I’m going to have words with her.”
He shakes his head. “It’s just a thing. No one actually acts on it. It’d be like you finding another celebrity attractive.”
“Never gonna happen,” I tell him as we head toward the street. “And if Peyton thinks like you do, we’ll have words.” We start with a slow jog. “Is this really a thing?”
“It was back in my father’s time. Must have died out.”
“Thank god for that. I can’t imagine my wife having a list of people she wants to be with, and if she does, I better never learn of it. No, I take that back. The list better contain ten Noah Westburys.”