Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“And the foul-mouthed parrot?” she asked, hopeful.
I led her in through the front of the house, drawing her into the kitchen where Eddie was trying to act like he wasn’t waiting for her.
One look, though, and his face fell.
“Jade had a little mishap with a wall tonight,” I said, so she didn’t have to repeat.
“Did you?” he asked, clearly picking up on the bullshit, but deciding to let it drop too. “Well, you’re stupid pretty even all bruised and scratched up,” he said, giving her a big smile.
“This is Eddie,” I told Jade.
“I’ve heard about your cooking,” she said. “I’m really excited to try some.”
That was the exact right thing to say. Eddie literally puffed up at her words then started to babble about everything he was going to have ready in an hour. Which involved three more dishes than he had previously planned.
You had to love Eddie.
“Fuck… fuck… fuck you,” Mackie grumbled to himself, making Jade whip around to find him sitting on top of his cage, his feathers all puffed up as he was likely trying to get some sleep.
“Oh, aren’t you the most beautiful thing?” she cooed, moving closer to him.
“Here,” I said, fishing a grape out of the bowl of fruit on the counter and handing it to her. “If you want to be friends with Mackie, his love can be bribed with food.”
Mindful to be careful with her fingers, Jade set the grape in her flattened palm and held it out to Mackie who woke suddenly up and rushed over to take it.
“Does he curse because of you guys?” she asked, looking over at me.
“No. He’s a rescue. We figure his previous owner really hated someone named Benny. Because that’s who he is usually saying Fuck you to.”
“It sounds like there’s a pool party going on,” Jade said when there was a break in the music and we could hear a squeal followed by a loud splash.
“Want to go check it out?” I asked.
“Sure,” she said, nodding. “Save a plate for me,” she said to Eddie.
“You’ll get the first one,” he assured her, then set to working at warp speed to get the extra meals going.
We moved out into the backyard where the girls and guys were all in or around the pool. There were almost twice as many girls than guys this time and I was curious how that was going to play out later. Though it wouldn’t be unusual for Coast to take more than one girl to bed with him.
Seeing us standing there, Velle—who was sitting on a chaise and seemingly in charge of the music—turned the stereo down.
“Hey, guys. Just wanted to introduce Jade to those who haven’t met her yet,” I said. “Over on the chaise, that’s Velle. And that’s York,” I said, pointing toward the lumberjack with a woman sitting on his shoulders. “This is Candy and Cherry and… their friends,” I said, not recognizing the other girls.
“What happened to your face?” Coast, who never suffered with a filter, blurted out.
“Fell into a wall on the way in to my building,” she said.
My gaze slid immediately to Velle, catching him eyeing her with his brows pinched.
“Sounds like you need a drink,” Kylo said, waving toward the dispenser where Eddie’s famous margarita was waiting for her. “It’s raspberry,” he added.
“Oh, that sounds so good,” she said, moving away from me to go get her drink.
When she seemed occupied by talking to Kylo, I made my way over to Velle, dropping down in the chaise next to him.
“She’s lying, right?” I asked.
“About the wall? Absolutely,” he said, nodding. “But I think it’s more than that.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Doesn’t seem like she’s slept in a week,” he said. “She’s already loosening up,” he added, watching her laugh at something Kylo said. “But she’s tense as fuck too. You don’t know what’s going on?”
“No. But it hasn’t been… serious,” I said. “And I maybe see her once a week, so… I dunno. But I don’t buy the story about the wall for a second.”
“I wouldn’t push, though. She seems a little fragile. She’s probably here to try to get away from whatever it is bothering her. Be that getaway for her. If she’s comfortable enough, she will let you in eventually.”
I wouldn’t pretend to understand how Velle got so much insight into a complete stranger just by observing her. But everything he said rang true to me.
“How long do I need to be the comfort person?” I asked.
“As long as she needs,” Velle said, getting up off of the chaise to walk over and join Kylo and Jade.
I sat back for a moment, watching, ready to step in if Jade looked uncomfortable. There was no chance of that, though. She was someone who seemed able to easily get along with strangers. I mean, look at the close bonds she already made with her neighbors in such a short amount of time.