Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“Let them know I’ll be just a minute.” I’m not in my office attire today, knowing it was going to be a furniture move-in day along with the other bullshit that you’re never prepared for when you become a business owner. The supplies, the network setup, insurance that seems like a red-tape nightmare, one I’ll never fucking sit in again. King can deal with that shit. I’ll take on another project. Fuck, I’ll put furniture together that needs two hundred screws with one screwdriver before that happens.
“Daddy, Daddy!” I hear Von’s voice echo through the hallway. I put the box on the counter, figuring I’ll take care of it later.
“Von, I thought you and Mom were hanging out at home?” Which reminds me, I need to ask Tyra if we should move the bedroom furniture from my place into hers or put it in storage until we decide on what we’ll do about a house. One thing is for sure: an apartment isn’t going to cut it much longer.
“Mommy decided you needed lunch and we should help.” I bend down to pick him up. The crinkling of paper tells me it’s about to drop, but I grab it before it does, as well as his iPad. Von is smart. I’m talking he’ll probably need to be in classes that challenge him before too long, or he’ll be teaching the teachers mathematical equations that will blow their minds. Sometimes, though, he gets so caught up in the moment that everything falls around him, literally.
“That’s a great idea. What’s this?” I ask, holding the paper up. My eyes move from Von, whose hand is holding my chin so we’re face to face, to Tyra as I watch her walking towards me. She’s got a smile on her face and is wearing a black tank top, jean shorts, and sneakers. To top it off, she has her hair up in a high ponytail, a bandana wrapped around, giving off the fifties-style vibe.
“That’s a family of triceratops. See, there’s all three of us. The dad is the biggest one, then there’s the mom one, and a younger one between the two,” Von explains. I hold my hand out for Tyra’s, taking a hint and pulling her closer.
“It’s awesome. Is it for me?” I ask.
“It is, and we have lunch coming. It’s my favorite. The Sandwich Shop. Mom said it’s a surprise, so surprise!” Von wiggles his feet, the universal sign that he’s done being held, and truth be told, he’ll be to the point soon where he’ll not want to be picked up at all, being too cool for it. And he’s also getting older, not accepting it as much either.
“Oh really? Did you know that’s my favorite place, too?” I ask as my lips move to Tyra’s, kissing her softly while awaiting Von’s answer.
“Yep. Why do you think it’s my favorite, too? Mom always takes me when she doesn’t want to cook, which isn’t often, so this is awesome!”
“Another one of those things that make you, you, siren,” I tell her. “Want a tour of the place? I’m still waiting on the furniture, so the stock room is keeping me busy, but I can take a break and show you two around.”
“I’m going to sit by the door. The food is almost here, and Mom said if I eat all my lunch, I can have my tablet.” Von flips the iPad around. “See, there’s a new dinosaur documentary on I want to watch.”
“Alright, I’m going to show your mom around. Don’t go outside the door and come and get me or Kingston if you see a delivery driver.” King raises his head up from the laptop he’s working on and nods, letting me know he’s got it handled. His daughter is grown and in college. A single dad since his baby mamma dipped out when their little girl was four years old, he did his best to raise her while working in a career that can dominate your whole life.
“You got it,” Von replies.
“Mace, put me to work. I didn’t come here for you to entertain me. The faster we get things taken care of, the earlier you’ll get to come home. And I’ll let you strip me out of my bathing suit once Von’s in bed tonight.” The need in her voice and her eyes tells me she’s serious.
“Fuck yeah, but how about we work together? Team work makes the dream work, and all that.” I guide her to where I was in the stock room. Not two steps inside the room, and Tyra stops.
“Mace Ayala, go do something else. This is a freaking nightmare. Anyone who would potentially work for you would look at this place and walk away.” Tyra’s got a bit of organizational crazy in her. She’s not wrong, but it would have done the trick until we hire an office assistant.