Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“I know what you were doing, Gigi girl, and it’s good to practice.” I tweak her nose with my thumb and finger. “But the kitchen is not the place to do it. And you’re going to be at ballet class in thirty minutes, so you’ll be doing lots of practice then.”
“We need a dance studio here, so I can pwactice all the time.”
I smile at her. “Now, wouldn’t that be something?”
“Can we have one?”
Her face lights up, and I chuckle.
“No, Gigi girl. Maybe if we lived in a mansion, but not here, in Granny Elle’s house.”
She twists in my arms, turning her face to Aunt Elle, who’s standing at the counter, making coffee. “Granny Elle, can I have a dance studio here, pwease?”
Aunt Elle comes over and takes her from my arms. Gigi wraps herself around her like a blanket.
“Pwease, Granny Elle. I weally, weally want one.” She plants her hands on Aunt Elle’s cheeks and gives her doe eyes.
She has Zeus’s eyes. Big and blue and hard to say no to.
“Of course you can.” Aunt Elle folds like a pack of cards.
“Yay!” Gigi squeals, and I groan. “Granny Elle, you da best!” She smacks a kiss to her cheek. Then, she wriggles out of Aunt Elle’s arms and runs out of the kitchen.
“Stop running! And don’t mess your hair up or get your clothes dirty! And get your ballet shoes from your room. We’re leaving soon!” I call after her.
“You know that girl isn’t listening to a word you say, right?” Aunt Elle chuckles.
“Yep. Because someone just promised her a dance studio in the house.” I give a pointed look, and Aunt Elle laughs again.
“She’s impossible to say no to. Especially when she’s dressed up, all cute, in her ballet clothes. She reminds me of you at that age. Guess I’ll just have to convert the dining room into a dance studio for her.”
I bark out a laugh. “Yeah, and we’ll eat in the living room, balancing our dinners on our knees. Why do you have such a problem saying no to her? You never had any problem saying no to me when I was growing up.”
Aunt Elle pours me a coffee and hands me the mug. I take it from her.
“Because you’re my kid, Cam. It’s easier to say no to your own kid. Grandkids, impossible.”
My heart always swells to combustion when she says things like that. And feeling emotional after last night’s events, I put my coffee down on the counter and wrap my arms around her.
“I love you,” I tell her.
She presses a kiss to my temple. “Love you, too, girl.”
As I move back, she takes my face in her hands and stares into my eyes. “Everything okay with you?”
I bite my lip and shake my head. “I saw Zeus last night,” I say quietly. “He was at the club.”
A multitude of emotions flashes through her eyes. Anger being the main one. “That’s why you were home early last night.”
“Did I wake you when I came in?”
“I was in bed, reading. I never sleep until you’re home. You should know that by now.”
I touch my hand to hers. Then, I step back from her, pick up my coffee, and take a sip.
“Did he speak to you?”
I nod.
“What did he say?”
“He asked what I was doing there.”
She frowns. “At the club?”
“Yes.”
“And what did you say?”
“I said that I was working.”
“Did he ask about…” Aunt Elle nods in the direction of the door where Gigi just disappeared through a minute ago.
I let out a heavy sigh and put my cup down. “No.”
Her eyes blaze, nostrils flaring. “That mother…effing…craptastic…A-hole!” Aunt Elle whispers out her fire.
We’re a curse-free zone here. Gigi has the ears of a bat and the voice box of a parrot. She hears and repeats everything. And I mean, everything.
“I’m not surprised, Aunt Elle. You shouldn’t be either. He made his feelings perfectly clear five years ago.”
“I know, but still…” She grits her teeth. Jaw working angrily.
“It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t matter.”
“No, he doesn’t. You and Gigi have done just fine without him,” Aunt Elle adds.
“Yeah,” I agree. But Gigi shouldn’t have had to, I silently add.
Aunt Elle puts some bread in the toaster.
“Can you put a slice in for me? I’m just gonna go grab Gigi’s ballet shoes and get her ready to leave.”
“Sure thing.”
I stop at the kitchen door. “You want to go out for dinner tonight?” I ask her. “You, me, and Gigi. Girls’ night?”
“You’re not working at the club?”
“No. I think I’m gonna quit. Just in case…you know.”
Her face softens. “I know. And I’d love to go out for dinner with my girls. Where are you thinking?”
“DiMaggio’s?” I suggest.
“Italian’s always good.” She smiles.
“Oh, and I need to ask for a favor. Would you mind watching Gigi for a few hours on Wednesday night?”
“Sure. No problem. You seeing Rich?”