Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
“Of course. We could even get a table to put in your bedroom, so you can work on it there.”
TT released an exasperated breath as if she’d been worried that I would say no.
Jo was the only one that had remained quiet.
I tried not to look disappointed as I turned her way. “So. . .what about you?”
“You don’t think you’re moving fast with this guy?”
“I’m moving insanely fast, but that has nothing to do with this house. It is legally mine. Whether I’m with him or not, this is our home.”
Einstein watched our exchange.
“Banks doesn’t trust this, Lei.” Jo placed her hands in her pockets.
"Jo, Banks doesn't trust anyone," I replied, sighing. "And he's not living here. This is all about us."
“But—”
“How about this?” I swallowed. “Give it a try for a month and if you end up not liking staying here then we will talk. You’re old enough to be on your own.”
Jo frowned.
I tried not to sound like my heart was broken when it was. “But. . .I would rather you hang with us.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Chloe frowned. “Oh my God, Jo. Stop playing. Always being so extra. You know you’re staying with us. After the funeral, we all promised not to separate until TT was older.”
Jo looked around at the opulence that surrounded us. "I’m not breaking the promise. I’m just trying to be the clear-headed person here. Everyone is all nice and giving us stuff. Maybe it’s like that movie when rich white people bring the black people out to their mansion to take over their bodies. How do you know those aunts don’t want our bodies or something?”
“Wow.” Chloe chuckled. “This is why I will never smoke marijuana. Never.”
“Anyway. . .” I shrugged, not even willing to address Jo’s body snatcher theory. “Jo is staying and you all are cool with moving in tonight, so now it is time for the best part.”
They all watched me.
“Time to pick your rooms.”
“Oh wait. What?” Jo smirked. “How many bedrooms?”
“On the second floor, there’s four bedrooms. My master suite is on the third floor so you all have a good pick from the four. And let me tell you all something else.”
Chloe went giddy.
TT just stared at the front door, clearly not caring anymore about the house or the bedrooms.
I pointed upstairs. “All of the rooms are awesome with their own private bathrooms. That means that Jo and Chloe will not be waking me up every damn morning fighting over the bathroom.”
Jo rubbed her hands together. “Oh shit. And I can bring my girlfriends here? Right?”
Chloe frowned. “Not every skank, just the ones that I really like.”
Jo sucked her teeth.
I shrugged. “Let’s just get moved in and then of course you can bring people over.”
I knew I would have to figure out the whole visitors to the East part, but it would all work out. The only thing I cared about right now was that my sisters were warming to the East.
“Alright.” I clapped. “Pick your rooms.”
“I get first choice!” Chloe let go of TT’s hand and bolted up the stairs.
“The hell you do!” Jo raced after her. “I’m older than you—”
“We’re not going by age!” Chloe yelled back. “We’re going by beauty and determination!”
Meanwhile, TT headed toward the front door. “Moni, you can pick my room. I’m going to work on the puzzle—”
“No.” I stopped her. “TT, pick your room.”
“But—”
“As soon as you pick your room, then I’ll have Lei’s men bring the puzzle to you—”
“But what if they mess it up.”
“I guarantee it will be safe. Lei has four guys guarding it right now. And we’ll make sure you have a nice table to set everything out on.”
“Okay.” Sighing, TT headed up the stairs.
My sisters are moving in.
This all-consuming joy filled me. I knew Lei had ulterior motives for having my sisters come today, but none of that mattered. In the end, I needed them more than I had ever realized.
Good. Everything is going to be just fine.
I directed my view to Einstein who was still taking in the surroundings.
Now I can handle this problem, before we finish up this cookout.
Chapter thirty
Family and Favors
Moni
Einstein stared at the grand entrance, but I could tell his mind was elsewhere.
There was something in the way his shoulders slightly slumped, the way he seemed to be taking in the details not with the awe of someone impressed by wealth, but with the detached observation of someone who had long ago stopped expecting much from the world.
As I watched him, I couldn’t help but remember the old days.
Einstein’s real name was Jerimiah, but no one had ever called him that.
And behind his bookish exterior was a childhood marked by loss and neglect—one that had probably shaped him into the reserved person he was today.
His older brother, Daniel, had been everything to their parents.
Daniel was the golden child, a natural athlete with a promising future ahead of him. He was the star of the neighborhood, a high school baseball prodigy who could have gone on to play professionally.