Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Can we take the babies over to the grass?” Zuri asks while Heather bounces on her toes at her side.
“Sure, honey,” Harmony says. “Just make sure you keep a close eye on them.”
“We will,” both girls promise, taking the handle for the wagon from Harlen and pulling it through the grass towards a tall fence that cuts off the ball field from a large green space.
“I’ll stay and keep an eye on them,” Harlen tells Harmony leaning down to kiss her. As he walks off to where the girls are, I lead Harmony up the steps to Gigi and introduce her to everyone then take a seat. A few minutes later the game starts and about ten minutes after that the Heather and Zuri help Harlen bring the babies up to us and I make more introductions.
“Can Heather and I go get something to drink?” Zuri asks, and Heather continues for her.
“My parents gave me some money, and they are okay with me just going over there by myself.” I look over my shoulder. From where we are sitting, I can see the area where the vendors are. It’s not far, and I remember being Zuri’s age and wanting to feel like I was grown enough to go places on my own without an adult.
“Sure, but you two have to stick together.”
“We will,” Zuri tells me, and I pick up my bag and start to search for my wallet.
“I got it.” Harlen passes Zuri a couple twenty-dollar bills from his pocket. “Get whatever you want and if they have any ice pops or ice cream get a couple for the girls.”
“Thanks.” Zuri smiles at him and gets to her feet with Heather, and the two of them head back down the bleachers and stop at Heather’s parents before they walk down the dirt path.
“Thank you,” I tell Harlen, and he waves me off, his attention on both the girls who are using him as a jungle gym and making the people around us laugh because they are so adorable.
I check back to where the girls are just to make sure they are okay and see them in line at one of the food trucks.
“So what team are we cheering for?” Harmony asks, and I know that’s her way of asking what team Logan coaches. I’m honestly shocked she didn’t ask earlier.
“The boys in red,” Gigi tells her then she points out Cooper who is guarding first and Logan, who just happens to have his aviators pointed our direction. “So far this season they are undefeated.”
“That’s awesome,” Harmony says while nudging her shoulder into mine. I can tell that she is dying to say something about Logan, but thankfully, with his mom and the mother of his children within earshot, she keeps whatever she wants to say to herself. Though I’m sure I’ll hear it when she gets me alone.
“Nalia,” hearing my name screamed I look to the dirt path and watch Billie running our way. My stomach instantly bottoms out, her face is pale and she looks scared. Actually, she looks terrified. Getting to my feet I quickly move past Harmony and Harlen and fumble my way down the steps of the bleachers. When I get to the bottom, she meets me out of breath.
“What happened?” I wrap my hand around hers; it’s cold despite how hot it is out today.
“Some kid pushed Zuri, and she fell. She hit her head, and it’s bleeding pretty bad. I think she needs to go to the hospital.”
“Where is she?”
“Down by the food trucks.”
“Thanks, honey.” I take off running down the dirt path. When I reach the area where the vendors are, I see a crowd gathered and push my way through it. I find Zuri on the ground holding a towel to her face, Heather right next to her. Nausea crawls up my throat. There is a lot of blood, so much that the once white towel is stained red.
Falling to my knees next to Zuri, I rest my hand on her back, and she turns her head to look at me through her eye that isn’t covered.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers with her eyes filled with tears.
“Don’t apologize.”
“Someone pushed her,” Heather tells me, and I lift my gaze to her, with my muscles tight. “There was a boy from school being a jerk, and she told him that he was being a jerk, and I think him or one of his friends pushed her when we were walking away.”
I have so many questions but now is not the time to ask them, right now I need to figure out how to get her to the hospital since I didn’t drive, and I doubt that Logan even knows what is going on.
“We’ll sort all that out later,” I tell her gently when I notice that her hands are shaking. “Do you want to go find your mom and dad?”