Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“I pway,” Piper announces. We all get a chuckle out of that. The tears instantly dry up, and that’s all that matters.
“Alright, go grab your things, and we’ll color on the kitchen table,” I tell Cammy and Piper. Both of the girls take off to the room Forest converted into their playroom. It’s off the living room and has dual pocket doors coming from both sides to shut away the mess if people come over.
“I guess she’s allowed to be here in order to get her stuff. Though, she was supposed to negotiate things through attorneys. Her showing up was an extremely dumb move and could potentially put her back in jail for trespassing,” Mom says as soon as they’re out of earshot, letting me know what’s going on. Forest was smart in getting a restraining order, but look what good that even does. If no one had been here, she could have just walked right in.
“Son of a bitch. As soon as she leaves, I’m going to the hardware store. I bet Forest hasn’t even thought about reprogramming the garage code or changing the locks.” We’ve all been busy, trying to go about getting our lives back in order and keeping the girls on some kind of a normal schedule, so other things have been put on the back burner. Plus the shit that Hendrix pulled. It still smarts. When going after a girl you thought you were going to build something with goes to hell after one night, it doesn’t exactly keep your head in the game. Not to mention the fact that it’s the memories of our night together that have me jacking my cock night after night. And then there are those moments when I swear I can still taste her flavor in my mouth. That woman fucked me, in more ways than one.
“Not a bad idea. Your dad had to go outside before I did, or else I’d make good on my promise,” Mom replies.
“Jesus, how Dad handles you, I have no idea,” I reply, knowing she’s full of piss and vinegar when she’s riled up.
“Honey, your dad doesn’t handle me. I handle him.” She winks that devious wink of hers. That’s when I throw my hands up in the air and back away.
“Nope, not going there, and you’re not going outside either. If anyone does, it’ll be me,” I tell her as I hear the soft pitter-patter of feet coming back towards us.
“Forest will be here soon anyways, ruining all the fun, too. My boys are a bunch of sticks in the mud. Clearly, attracting psycho women is a genetic trait that’s handed down through the Hughes men—Forest with Krissy, who’s turning out to be a whack job and a half, and me with Hendrix and her penchant for dramatics, not giving zero fucks about anyone but herself or Jolene. And then there’s the scary part that Mom might be the most normal one in the bunch.
TWENTY-SIX
Hendrix
I’m sitting on the floor in my living room, cross-legged, a bottle of beer in my hand. The other is occupied with scrolling on my phone. Jolene is pressed firmly to my side, snoozing away the evening. And me? Well, I’m currently questioning my life choices. I’ve reflected a lot this past week or so, seeing how it’s ben ten days since I’ve last seen or heard from Madden. I guess he really meant what he said in his text message, and wouldn’t you know it, I’m second-guessing every single thing. Was it smart to push Madden away? Or how about acting like he was the scum on the bottom of my shoe? Because frankly, after talking to my mom, Journey, Celeste, and Tyra, they were all severely disheartened. I did get the “D” word when I broke down on my mom earlier today after all, telling her what’s been going on with me lately and how I’ve been a raging lunatic to Madden. It was not a great conversation. I was crying when it was all said and done. That didn’t mean Mom still didn’t hug me close to her chest, shushing me in only a way a loving family member could, then telling me to quit acting like a raging bitch, get myself together, and that if I wanted Madden in my life, I better be prepared to work for it.
I slide my screen over until our text message appears, the one where he not so nicely told me to ‘Fuck off’ without actually saying those two words. My stomach has a lead ball swirling inside it. Nervous doesn’t even begin to relay how I feel at this point in time. So, I puss out, dropping my phone to the carpeted floor, finding my floof ball’s fur, and petting Jolene.
“Does my girl need some attention?” My days have been longer than ever, keeping me away from Jolene. I have a dog walker come twice a day to take care of her as Journey and I work our tails off while we get ready for an influencers’ conference that’s happening next week. I mean, eek! We have to get outfits together for Journey’s three-day trip, which also means multiple outfit changes while staying fresh and relevant, working on her keynotes for the class she’ll be teaching on how to get started. It’s been a lot. I’ll be there working behind the scenes. Nico will join on the second day, stating he won’t be away from his wife any longer than that. What a growly alpha male he is, but I know for a fact Wylder and Mace would be the exact same way.