Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Maybe we'd take turns, and she'd tease me over my taste in bad action movies.
After a while, we'd get married and buy a bigger place. I'd finish school. Get my MBA maybe. Make new friends, people who read books and pursue traditional goals. But the books help them think differently enough. Other business owners, maybe. Other people who value their independence.
A different life.
One where people respect me for my mind.
One where I allow people to see another side of me.
Where I risk getting hurt.
Mom leaves the conversation, happy and proud. She retires to her bedroom with her head held high.
Even Daniel smiles at my vision of the future. "I should ask Cynthia to replay that," he says. "Show Ivy your romantic side."
"What makes you think she hasn't seen it?" I'm not sure how to play this. Does he believe me or is he pushing me? It's hard to tell with him.
I glance at my phone to buy myself time.
Nothing from Ivy. Disappointment spreads through my stomach. It's mild. After all, it's only a lack of a text. It's not as if I expect to be the center of her universe.
She's busy with Cynthia.
I just—
I want to hear from her. Not as a client or conspirator. As something else.
I send her a message.
Romeo: How's the search going?
Daniel laughs as he takes in the sorry sight of me staring at my cell phone with longing. "You miss her already?"
"No," I insist.
"You really like her, huh?"
"Why would I bring over a girl I don't like?"
He shoots me a please look. "Mama thinks she can keep a secret. You know better."
So, he knows she's retiring, selling the house, doling out his half. I see it all in his eyes. Of course he knows. Hell, she probably talked to him about it. "Why isn't she giving you the house?"
"She offered," he says.
"You declined?" I ask.
He nods. "I told her to keep the money. Buy herself a nice villa. I don't need it. You don't need it."
"Nice of you to volunteer that for me," I say.
"I've seen your apartment, Rome," he says. "You're doing well." He doesn't add mysteriously well. Does it fill the air?
I can't tell anymore.
He leaves me room to brag. When I don't, he asks, "Are you not doing well?"
"No, I am." By any objective measure, I'm in a good place, financially. But it's like Sasha said: I'll have to keep working until my dick falls off. This isn't forever. It didn't bother me a month ago. Why does it suddenly bother me now?
"From your consulting work?" he asks.
"Is it that hard to believe?" I ask.
Mercifully, the buzz of my phone delays his reply.
Ivy: The search for a third for tonight? You're good with two guys, right?
Romeo: If that's a bluff, I'm calling it.
Ivy: And if I bring a guy to your mom's house?
Romeo: We can say it's part of your guest lecture on spicing up your marriage.
Ivy: Can you imagine?
Romeo: I can. It would happen. She'd say yes. "Don't be so upright, mi vito, pleasure is an important part of life. How can you have a happy marriage if you have a stale bedroom?"
Ivy: She would say that to you?
Romeo: I was thinking Daniel. Why? Do I need to hear it?
Ivy: Not yet. Time will tell.
My lips curl into a smile. When is the last time a woman challenged my sexual skill? It feels good, to have someone push me. To not coast.
When is the last time anyone looked close enough to wonder?
And it implies a future together. A future of sex together, yes, but that’s still a future. Even Daniel would agree sex is an important part of a relationship.
I like the vision of a future with her. There’s a beauty to it.
I like her.
Daniel chuckles in that knowing older brother way. Like we’re still close. Like he approves of me.
I try to ignore the pride that fills my chest, but I can't. So, I let it fill me anyway.
Romeo: Are you good to stay out with Cynthia all day? Or do you need help there?
Ivy: I'm good. But thanks for checking.
Romeo: You two talking about me?
Ivy: Constantly.
Romeo: What are you saying?
Ivy: Oh, you know how it goes, "Romeo's dick this, Romeo's dick that."
Romeo: Comparing me and Daniel?
Ivy: We did stop at the supermarket to look at some zucchinis, but that was totally unrelated…
Romeo: Really. Is she okay?
Ivy: I think so. Just nervous about the wedding. She's sweet. She loves him a lot.
Romeo: She does.
I look to my brother, who's, thankfully, now staring at his own phone rather than torturing me.
Romeo: I'm not sure he always sees it.
Ivy: He probably worries. You and Cynthia do have chemistry. Was there ever anything there?
Romeo: Between me and Cynthia?
Ivy: Yes. Did you ever like her that way?
Romeo: Mom thinks Daniel is worried about that.
Ivy: She's beautiful and you're old friends.