Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
I’ve done my very best getting everything together so Bentley and I can enjoy our lives here in Manhattan, but there’s no denying its expense. I consider the sign-on bonus I’ll get from Dutton and how I could spend it.
I’ll save most of it, but perhaps I’ll finally be able to buy myself a bed frame. The thought opens my eyes to all the things I could add to the house to make it feel homier.
I pour the instant coffee into my mug and stir. Hell, I couldn’t even get the espresso machine I’ve been eyeing for two years. But none of it seemed to matter as long as Bentley had everything he needed.
I tip my head back and sigh.
What job could I do for Dutton? I don’t want to be his personal assistant because that would involve way too much time with the asshole. I glance to my left at my laptop, and an idea springs to mind. I’ve recently gotten back into graphic design, and my interest in social media has again been sparked. Perhaps I can offer something there? I mean, I’d much rather not have to deal with clients, so maybe an office job that’s creative is something I could enjoy.
My mind starts racing with a bunch of ideas. I grab my coffee and go back into the living room, where I open my new Instagram account. I only opened it so I could check out what other people were doing. My eyebrows dip as I take a sip of my coffee and look at the new friend request.
Amy is the only friend I have on there. My profile is blocked and isn’t under my real name, but I have one new friend request. My jaw unhinges as I see Dutton Taylor has tried to add me as a friend.
Oh, fuck off.
Over my dead body.
I pocket my phone, ignoring the friend request as I have all the texts he’s sent me throughout the day. I’ll reply to them eventually when I decide how to handle this situation on my terms.
“Look, isn’t this cool,” Bentley says as he sets the game up in the living room. I take a seat on the floor despite us having a kitchen table. There’s always been something cozy about playing games on the floor. Or maybe it’s because it takes me back to my childhood with my parents. We used to play games every Christmas. I stuck to the same tradition but decided any time was a good time for games.
“It’s so cool!” I say with a smile. “Did you play this with Amy last night?”
He nods. “Yeah, she said I’m way too clever for a five-year-old,” he says proudly. “I asked if we could ask the girl next door to play, but she said it was too late.”
I smile, but something lodges in my throat. I always feel bad for not giving Bentley more opportunities to be social. He doesn’t really have friends, and I haven’t been able to afford any type of schooling. I know he would thrive in the right social environment.
I swallow as I place the coffee down. “Are you excited to go to school with other kids your age?” I ask him softly.
He looks up, his big brown eyes sparkling. “Yes! But I hope everyone will like me.”
My heart falls and shatters into a thousand pieces. “How could they not? You’re like the coolest!”
He giggles as he looks back at his board game. “You have to say that because you’re my mom,” he says with a slight blush. I hide my smile.
It’s only a few weeks until he starts kindergarten, and I’m terrified as much as I am excited for him. I’d planned on getting a part-time job during school hours to save more money, but with Dutton’s offer, I’d be earning almost triple anything I could earn anywhere else. Maybe I could put Bentley in a private school the following year if I’m able to put enough funds away.
“Will I be able to bring my new board game to school?” Bentley asks.
“We could ask the teacher.”
“What’s the teacher’s name?” he asks.
“I don’t know yet. We’ll have to find out together,” I say, and he giggles as if we’re in cahoots, and his laughter does everything to relieve my worries.
My priority has been and always will be this boy. I’ll do whatever I can to save the money he needs for his future.
Suddenly, Dutton’s offer doesn’t look so bad.
It’s only one date, and he never stipulated when it had to take place.
CHAPTER 14
Dutton
“Iheard you’re going on a date,” Eli says as he sits behind me. I choose to ignore him.
A row of ten women and four men stand before me in lingerie. I assess each of them to make sure they’re in sellable condition.
“Does your father know about this date?” he asks.