Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
“How’s that?” he asked, teasing her as he smoothed out his face, hoping to ease his brows that always seemed to draw together when he thought about the tightrope of his undercover assignments.
“Better,” she said, sniffling.
“And I’m not an inch taller than I was before. I think you’re getting shorter,” he teased, reaching for the apple in a basket of fresh fruit she had out for him.
He’d topped out at six feet three inches tall and did everything he could to keep his body strong and healthy.
“I’m gonna take a shower. I have a car picking me up in about forty minutes.” He took a big bite out of the juicy apple. A sweet treat by his best estimation.
“Car’s picking him up? Do you hear that, Mama?” his father asked. His nose was still buried in his reading. “He’s made it big if cars are coming to get him.”
She nodded, reaching out, carefully taking him into her arms without dousing him in bread flour and dough. She hugged him tight. He returned the hold, letting her goodness fill his heart. She always gave the best hugs.
“Promise me you’ll come back soon. I miss my son.”
He put his cheek on the top of her head, not agreeing to her promise. He refused to tell her another lie.
Chapter 3
Dev pulled his Harley Davidson Heritage Cruiser underneath the open pavilion at Fish Trap Lake. He let the pipes rumble for several long seconds, marking his territory for the few people brave enough to bear the heat with a takeout lunch at the lake. A chick sitting quietly in the corner quickly got the hint, gathering her things.
A dude fishing nearby required a couple more revs to gain his attention and get him moving on.
He should probably feel bad for pushing them out. The chick looked like a professional sneaking out to have a quick bite and a moment of solitude. He was doing her a favor. She shouldn’t be on this side of town, alone like she was.
The rumble of Keyes’s pipes signaled his approach, the grumble increasing as he closed the distance. The woman’s sensible high-heeled shoes marched a little faster at the apparent realization more trouble was coming. Dev cut the engine, lowered the kickstand, and got off his sled in one fluid motion. The bike rested at an angle as he pulled the sub sandwiches from his saddlebag. He’d crammed the two sandwiches, chips, and soda cans inside together. The chips didn’t feel like they’d fared too well. Keyes was sure to give him shit about it but would no doubt scarf them down anyway.
Back in the day, he and Keyes used to cut class to come hang out at this lake. They’d learned to swim and fish here. After watching some older Boy Scouts earn their badges, they’d also learned to build a fire and cook the fish they caught. Keyes had even called this pavilion home several times throughout his life when his old man had kicked him out of the house as a child. Dev used to sneak out to join him and sleep under the stars. Funny how it had never occurred to him to have Keyes just come stay at his house. He’d always been the one to follow wherever Keyes landed.
They considered themselves rebels, two people born to be wild. Dev raged against anything and everything the world had to offer, while Keyes was in a truly dire situation at home. How had he missed the complexity of his friend’s life while joining him in every step he made? As a kid, it all seemed normal for them. But looking back on it… the words fucked up rang truer.
Why did a balanced life look so attractive these days yet feel so far out of his reach? Because he’d been goddamn trying to find one and only got a serious case of road rash for all his efforts.
His phone rang as Keyes’s sled came into view, turning down the walking trail leading to the pavilion.
He palmed the device, seeing the name he’d given his ex-wife: Raging Cunt. It was as if the universe had heard his question about a normal life and wanted to remind him of the shit he still had to deal with.
In the long list of really bad decisions of his life, she currently held the number one position.
Just thinking about talking to her made his shoulders tense, instantly on guard, as he swiped a thumb across the screen to answer. He brought it to his ear, her tirade already in full swing on the other end of the line without him issuing any greeting. Dev sighed.
“This is the fuckin’ suburbs. You’re fuckin’ Devilman. Get it, the devil. What the hell are you thinking putting us out here? There are actual soccer moms who live on this street. I can’t do it. I’m not going to do it. Where the fuck is Sunnyvale anyway? I can’t fucking get here without getting lost. I thought you were joking, you fucking pussy.”