Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
So here I sat, definitely not listening to the women in my life conspiring against me.
"He was such a serious little boy," Mom continued. "When his father passed, Orion decided he had to be the man of the house. He was only twelve, but he started wearing a tie to school every day. Said he needed to look professional so people would take him seriously."
The laughter faded. I could feel Ember's eyes on me from the kitchen doorway, but I kept my gaze fixed on my phone, scrolling through emails I'd already read twice.
"After that," Mom's voice softened, "he put everything into making sure Remmy and I were taken care of. Even tried to get a paper route, but they said he was too young."
"So he started his own business instead," Remmy added. "Went door to door offering to organize people's garages. Can you believe that? What twelve-year-old thinks of that?"
"He made pretty good money, too," Mom said proudly. "Though I had to make him stop when Mrs. Henderson from three doors down started asking him to organize her bedroom."
"Mom," I warned, heat creeping up my neck.
"What? I'm just telling Ember about what a good son you've always been. And how you've always taken such good care of us."
“After the garage thing, Orion branched out into all kinds of little businesses. By the time he was sixteen, he had become involved in investing and day trading. At seventeen, he paid off mom’s mortgage.”
“And I still think about how amazing that is almost every day,” my mom gushed.
“Okay,” I said. “Ember doesn’t want to hear you two exaggerate and paint me as some boy genius of business.”
I finally looked up to find Ember watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read. There was something soft in her eyes that made my chest feel tight. It was the same look she got sometimes at work when she thought I wasn't watching—like she was trying to figure out a particularly complex puzzle.
“I think it’s interesting,” Ember said softly. “Some people don’t make sense until you understand the dark places they won’t show.” She gave a shrug, as if trying to lighten the otherwise serious topic. “Maybe I can use this juicy information to earn a promotion somehow.”
“Ambitious, too!” my mom said, wiggling her brows at me. “This one’s a keeper, huh?”
"More wine?" Remmy asked, already refilling Ember's glass.
"Oh, I probably shouldn't..." Ember said, but she was already accepting the full glass. "I tend to get a little... honest when I drink too much."
"Perfect!" Mom said. "Maybe you can tell us what my son is really like at work. Does he still measure things with rulers?"
Ember's eyes went wide. "Who told you about the skirt incident?"
I nearly choked on my water. "That was a legitimate dress code violation."
"Sure it was, Mr. Boarding School Principal," Ember said with a grin.
"See?" Remmy stage-whispered to Ember. "He's doing that brooding thing again. Probably thinking about work. We need to get him to relax more."
"Some of us have responsibilities,” I said in a dry voice.
"Some of us have sticks up our—" Remmy started.
"Dinner's ready!" Mom announced.
Two hours and several bottles of wine later, Ember was trying—and failing—to convince everyone she was fine to get home on her own.
"I'll walk her," I said, already standing.
"Aww," Remmy cooed. "Look at my big brother being all gallant."
I shot her a look that promised retribution, but she just grinned.
"I can walk myself," Ember insisted, then promptly bumped into the coat rack, nearly knocked it over, caught it, and then she nearly fell over. The bumbling incident ended with Ember laughing and pretending to dance with the coat rack before both tipped into the wall with a thud.
“Oopsie,” Ember said softly as she unsteadily got herself upright and fixed the coat rack.
"You’re not walking yourself home. End of discussion," I said, steadying her with a hand on her lower back. The contact sent an inconvenient spark through my palm.
“Yes, Da—” Ember coughed suspiciously, cleared her throat, then continued. “Yes, Sir, Mr. Orion Sir.”
Mom and Remmy were watching with folded arms and knowing grins. I ignored them, ushering Ember out of my mom’s apartment before she could cause any more damage.
The walk to her apartment was... interesting. Ember apparently became even more talkative when drunk, filling the night air with observations and wild theories. "You know what's weird?" she slurred. "The stars. They're so... sparkly tonight. Did you do that?"
"No," I assured her as she leaned against me, one arm around my back for support. I was trying very hard not to enjoy the warmth of her pressed against my side. “I have no authority over the stars, Ember.”
"You know you have dimples when you smile?" she asked. "I saw you smiling once in your office. I bet someone told you they made an employee cry. Was that why you looked so happy?"