Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“So he wants to give you everything?”
“Yep.”
“And you don’t want that?”
I laugh lightly, but it’s anxious. “I just never saw myself doing anything but running my youth programs: summer rec clubs with games and easy life lessons, fall dance classes, and winter competitions where all my free times is spent sewing costumes or at late-night practices or early-morning makeup. It’s about as polar opposite as you can get from running a billion-dollar company.”
They’re all quiet a moment, and I nod. “Yeah. It’s a lot.” But that’s not even all of it.
“I hope this isn’t, I don’t know, rude, but does your grandfather appearing and having what he has mean you’ll be able to repair your studio?” Ari wonders.
I swallow and give a simple “no.”
Would he pay for it all? Of course he would, in a heartbeat.
After I agreed to his terms.
Some might call that selfish or unfair, but it isn’t. It’s 100 percent understandable. Like me, he’s backed into a corner with only one way out. He needs me and I need him.
But the cost? The cost is high, and I don’t even know that I can pay that metaphorical fee, even if I decided I wanted to.
The rest of the ride back to campus is pretty quiet, and by the time we’re climbing out at Mason and Payton’s new suite in the family dorms, they’re back to talking outfits for the musical.
“I call red!” Cameron wiggles her brows. “Paige, I get to do your hair and makeup, Miss Minimalist.”
“Should I be nervous?”
“Yes.” Ari nods. “You most definitely should be nervous.” She squeals suddenly, and we all turn to her as she tucks her phone to her chest. “Noah can come to the show! He’s going to fly in and meet us there!”
“Aw, yay.” Payton pushes open the door. “Honestly, guys, I think I’m going to have to pass. I have six-hour sessions all week, so my mornings and evenings are going to be my only time with Deaton this week.”
“He can’t come?”
She laughs. “No way. He’ll be running down the aisle and hanging over the banister in no time.”
“Still obsessed with Spider-Man?”
“Even worse since Mason dressed as him for Halloween last year.”
I laugh, stepping into the little living area, my eyes instantly snapping up and locking onto a pair of green ones. “Hey.” I nearly blush at the low tone the word leaves me in.
Small creases form at the corners of Chase’s eyes, and he looks away.
“Hey.” He pushes to his feet. “Yo, Mase. I gotta go.”
“What?! But we we’re just about to—” He comes around the corner, Deaton in his arms, and stops in his track. “Look who’s home.” He smiles at Payton and his sister, slowly moving his attention my way. He nods, almost to himself, and turns to Chase. “Yeah, all right, man.”
What was that about?
“Wait.” Cam jumps in front of Chase. “First we need your schedules cleared for Tuesday. We’re going to a live show. Paige’s grandpa hooked us up. Be at her dorm by 5:50. You might have to take your clothes to practice with you.”
“Damn, Cam, take a breath,” Ari teases. “But what she said, and Noah’s coming!”
“Hell yeah.” Brady grins. “I look good in slacks. Wait. We gotta wear slacks, yeah?”
“Yeah.” I chuckle. “It’s business casual, but I think Cameron is going full-on red carpet, so you should match her energy.”
Mason sets Deaton down, and he runs up to his mama, wrapping his arms around her legs.
She bends, kissing his puckered lips with her own. “Hi, baby. Did you have fun at the pizza place with Daddy?”
“Yep! I winned all the candy.” He tugs from her arms, having no idea every person in this room is staring at him like the precious little thing he is.
He runs over to me next, pulling me down by the hand.
I sit on my knees in front of him, and he smiles, running his little hands over the sides of my head and tangling his sticky fingers in my hair.
“Hi, Paige.”
“Hi.” I smile.
“Me and Uncle Chaser like your hair,” he says.
My eyes widen, cheeks heating, and my gaze snaps up when not only Mason but also Brady cough to cover their laughs. Not really following, I still play along. “Well, I like your hair. So curly.”
“Do you like Uncle Chaser’s hair, too?”
A low laugh leaves me, and I look over at Chase, who is staring at me with that same frown I can’t quite read. “Yeah, I like his hair, too.”
“Oh,” is all that Deaton says, releasing me and running back down the hall, disappearing from sight.
I shake my head, smiling at Payton as she tells Mason he better go with us to the show.
He tries to refuse, but she whispers something, and he grins, spinning my way. “I’m in.”
Ari scoffs, shaking her head. “Chase? How about you?”