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)
“Dad, can we go get Sonic?” Coop asks dragging me from my thoughts and I look over at him.
“Your mom is going to be here to pick you up any minute to take you and your sister to dinner.”
“Oh, right,” he mutters.
“We can get Sonic tomorrow after school.”
“I want Sonic,” Zuri says in the background, and Coop grins, then looks at me.
“Can we eat with Zuri again like we did the other day when you picked us up?”
“Sure, if Nalia says that’s cool,” I mutter, wondering if Nalia is going to be pissed that the kids being friends means she can’t avoid me like she might want to.
“You should ask her,” Coop tells his iPad.
“I will, she’s on the phone right now.” She says as the doorbell upstairs rings and Dozer starts to bark.
“That’s probably your mom, bud,” I sit up and get to my feet.
“Ugh, Zuri, I have to go my mom’s here.”
“Okay, bye, see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, later.” He gets to his feet and then tosses his iPad down on the couch.
“You ready?” I ruffle his hair.
“I guess.” He trudges towards the stairs, and I follow him up to the first floor and find Dozer waiting by the door but Billie nowhere in sight.
“Go on and get your sister and put on your shoes.”
“Okay, Dad.” He heads up the stairs while I go to the front door and swing it in.
“Hey.” Kristy smiles.
“Where’s Aaron?” I step back to let her inside.
“Home, I thought it might be good for just me and the kids to hang out.”
“You think that’s smart?” I ask quietly as she leans down to rub the top of Dozer’s head.
“Yes, why?”
“They need to get comfortable around him; that’s not going to happen if they don’t spend time with him.”
“They’ve spent time with him, but things have been tense, and I just want to enjoy an evening with my kids. We can all hang out another time.”
“Alright,” I mutter, knowing that I’m not going to be able to change her mind. That is something I learned while we were married, and it used to frustrate the shit out of me. Not because I needed to constantly be right but because there was no give on her end.
“How is your friend’s daughter?” She changes the subject.
“Zuri’s alright, she got a few stitches, but she’ll be okay.” I don’t correct her on the relationship between Zuri and Nalia, it’s none of her business.
“That’s good,” she says softly, then adds. “Cooper was worried when he found out what happened to her.”
“Yeah, he and Zuri have become pretty good friends this year at school.”
“Is that how you know her and her mom?”
“Ready,” Cooper says, bouncing down the stairs, cutting into our conversation.
“Where’s your sister?” I ask him as Kristy opens her arms for him to give her a hug.
“I’m here,” Billie says from the top of the stairs, taking them much slower than her brother did, then her eyes scan the foyer. “Is Aaron in the car?”
“Nope, he stayed home, it’s just us tonight,” Kristy tells her, and Billie visibly relaxes at the news.
“Where are we going?” Coop asks.
“I was thinking that we could go to the bowling alley in Franklin and eat there while we bowl.”
“Cool.” His whole face lights up.
“Did you want to come?” Kristy asks, focusing on me.
“I have some stuff to do, I’ll probably head over to the shop for a couple hours.”
“Aww, come on, Dad, it will be fun,” Coop pouts.
“Another time, kid.” I ruffle his hair as Kristy opens the door. “Go enjoy some time with your mom.”
“Fine,” he mutters, following Kristy out of the house.
“Are you sure you can’t come?” Billie asks quietly.
“I’m sure.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Go have fun with your mom and brother.”
“Bowling is only fun when you’re ten.”
“Then pretend that you’re ten.” I lead her out the door.
“Shotgun,” Coop calls as he jogs towards his mom’s car.
“Great,” Billie groans, and I laugh.
“You’ll be fine.” I kiss the side of her head, then open the back door for her.
“I should have them home around seven-ish,” Kristy says, looking back at me as she gets into the driver’s seat.
“Sounds good, have fun.” I step back and slam Billie’s door then wait with Dozer at my side as they back out of the driveway.
“Come on,” I call Dozer and head back to the house. As I’m changing out the kids’ laundry a few minutes later, my cell beeps with a message so I pull it out of my back pocket.
Nalia
Zuri just told me that we are going to Sonic after school tomorrow
Grinning, I message her back a single word.
Yep!
Eight
NALIA
Sitting in my home office with my laptop open, I slide through the spreadsheet on the screen while I go over the hours that were turned in by the guys who work for Bax and Talon. If there were one thing I wish I could avoid every week, it would be payroll. Only because I have to double-check each and every single person’s hours and calculate overtime if they have any, then double-check to make sure things are correct before I send the information over to the accountant. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it’s time-consuming and usually takes me all day to get done.