Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 129881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 649(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 649(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“If you’re not fine, you’ll tell me,” he says, making it sound like I don’t have a choice about sharing stuff, but I know that’s not how he means for me to take this.
CJ wants me knowing I can always go to him, about anything.
“You know I will.”
“Good.”
He’s more at ease now, and it comforts me.
“What are you doing later? Let’s hang out tonight.” His tone changes to something hopeful. “Reed is having a bunch of us over for game night. Good food and good people. You should come.”
I take two seconds to think on that.
“I’m not sure I want to hang out with my boss. Honestly. That sounds like it would suck for me.”
Especially after last night.
Shit. I wonder if he knows about it.
Maybe he’ll be excited about me breaking Jason’s face? Issue me a raise?
How fucking dope would that be.
“Come on. Reed’s cool. Sort of.” CJ laughs. I know he enjoys cracking on his brother-in-law. “Do you have a meeting later?”
“There’s one at nine I was planning on going to.”
“Hang out with us first. I want you to get to know my friends. Make them your friends. They’d be good to have in your corner.”
“What time are you going?”
“Six.”
I really don’t feel like doing this, but CJ would appreciate me going, and when does he ever ask me for anything? It’s usually me asking him for favors.
I shrug. “Okay. I guess I’ll go.”
Besides. I don’t have any other plans before my meeting. I know Felix is working.
“Good.” CJ reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “And next time you break some dickhead’s face, give me a head’s up about it.”
I smile.
If Jason is involved, there will definitely be a next time.
Later that night, I follow CJ and Riley to Reed’s house and park at the end of the driveway, preventing anyone from blocking me in.
I don’t know how long everyone is planning on staying tonight, and I might need to leave before anyone else does.
And how annoying is it to ask people to move their cars? I hate doing that shit. It’s embarrassing for no reason, too.
CJ pats Riley on the ass when I reach them at the back of his truck, and she walks ahead, leading the way up the drive.
The house is full-on decorated for Halloween, but nothing scary.
Inflatables are anchored in the yard—a cartoon ghost with oversized eyes and Mickey Mouse dressed up like a vampire. His eyes glow. Cobwebs cover the bushes beneath the windows. Two carved pumpkins are displayed on the porch, and a third smaller one has the name Layla painted on it in white.
“Does Reed have a kid?” I ask, stepping up behind my brother.
“Yep,” Riley answers. She rings the doorbell. “One on the way too. A boy. Beth is due this month.”
“Our group keeps growing,” CJ says, his hand covering Riley’s stomach.
The door swings open, and a guy I vaguely recognize from CJ’s wedding greets us.
He’s a little taller than my brother but matches him for bulk.
I’m betting he’s a cop. Most of CJ’s guy friends are.
“Ben, you remember my brother Jake.”
CJ moves aside, allowing me room to enter behind him, and I shake the hand that’s being offered.
“How’s it going?” I say.
“Good. Can’t say the same for that guy you gave a beating to.”
I wince, releasing his hand. “Shit. That was you that got the call?”
“Yeah.” He laughs it off. “I’m sure your brother gave you shit for that, but honestly? I couldn’t even stand listening to that prick, so I get why you hit him. He whined more than my youngest.” A kid runs up to Ben, tugging on his shirt and asking for a juice box, and Ben picks him up. “In a minute, buddy.”
The kid climbs on him like he’s a piece of playground equipment. Hanging off one bicep with his hands and linking his ankles around his neck. He kicks off, back flips, and lands on his feet in a superhero pose.
Damn. That’s actually impressive.
“This your youngest?” I ask.
“Middle.” Ben points into the open family room where everyone seems to be gathering. “My wife, Mia, has my youngest over there. She’s feeding him. And my oldest is next to her.”
I notice the woman sitting on the end of the couch with a blanket covering her front. Two little feet kick out beneath the cloth. An older boy is sitting beside her, and she smiles at him when he shows her something on his phone.
On the other end of the couch, a red-haired woman is holding a young boy with dark olive skin and the lightest curls on his head. He’s holding a toy football and watching a little girl play on the floor a few feet away. She’s blonde and tiny. When she knocks over a block tower and squeals in delight, the little boy smiles.
Behind the couch, CJ has his arm around Riley while they talk to Reed, a woman I’m assuming is his very pregnant wife, and another guy. He’s holding a little girl in his arms. She appears to be the youngest one here.