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)
“After this third conversation, you are finally going to drop any plans for the South?”
“I don’t want to.”
I pursed my lips.
“But. . .I. . .yeah. . .I’ll let them live.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“Chen and my father thought I shouldn’t do it anyway.”
“What the fuck? You already talked about bothering the South with them?”
“It was brought up.”
I wanted to ask more, but then suddenly, Aunt Min’s voice rang out from outside, echoing through the library like an unwelcomed intruder.
“Monique! Lei! Where are you two?!” Aunt Min’s voice boomed, crackling slightly with feedback from the speakers, making it even more grating on the ears.
The noise was so sudden, so jarring, that it broke the delicate spell Lei and I had been under.
I smiled. “She must have grabbed the DJ’s microphone.”
Lei groaned in annoyance.
Aunt Min’s voice rose even louder. “I hope you two are not doing anything naughty! We are all very hungry and it is time for the Grill Off!”
I got out of his hold. “You heard her. We should head out and watch my new chef whip Banks’s ass on the grill.”
Lei grumbled under his breath, “This fucking cookout.”
Chapter thirty-two
The Cookout
Lei
Will Smith's "Summertime" blasted from the speakers which was an odd choice considering that it was very much the fall.
Yet somehow it fit the vibe of the day.
Moni and I sat at the Judge's table.
Also judging, Jo was on Moni’s left, telling her all about her new job at the South’s comic book store.
Chen lounged on my right more relaxed than I’d seen him in a while.
Duck had told me that he’d gotten some green gummies from Jo on their little joy ride in the East. After our Diamond Syndicate meeting, Duck had given Chen a gummy.
I just didn’t think Duck explained to Chen that there was weed in those gummies.
This will be interesting indeed.
I checked out the rest of the judge’s table.
Chloe was on Chen’s right chatting it up with Aunt Suzi. I had no idea what they were talking about, but they had not stopped since we sat down. And every few minutes there was this boisterous laugh from the both of them that made me want to figure out the topic of conversation.
But more important, what really caught me by surprise with them was the fact that Chloe now wore a sparkling blue gown and tiara that pretty much matched Aunt Suzi’s get up.
Well. . .they’re now best friends. And I’ve got one of Moni’s sisters wearing blue before the end of the night. I’m counting that as a win.
Aunt Suzi snapped her fingers and yelled, “Yas, Queen!”
What? Why did she say that?
Chuckling, Chloe's face lit up with a smile and her gestures became more animated as she broke down some story to Aunt Suzi who was absolutely captivated. Her eyes were wide open and she had a big, delighted smile on her face.
Okay. That’s perfect.
And then right at the end of the table, Dima, Rose and Barbara Whiskers hung out.
We’d added Dima and Rose as the last set of judges, mostly because Banks argued they might be the only ones at the table who could be truly impartial. And TT refused to participate in judging. She wanted to solve her puzzle in her room.
I could tell Moni wanted her to spend time out at the cookout, but she gave in. Next Aunt Min left five of her trusted female guards to watch TT.
Either way, I couldn’t help but stare at our new judges—Dima and Rose. Even more, I had to admit that they were striking together and appeared absolutely happy and joyously lost in their own world.
Hmmm.
Dima leaned in to whisper something to Rose and she laughed.
Then, without a care for who was watching, he tilted her chin up and kissed her softly.
I blinked.
It was a tender, unhurried kiss that made it clear how much he adored her.
Wow. Dima is in love? Dima?
My heart ached a little realizing that Romeo and Chanel would never see this.
Meanwhile, Rose responded to that kiss by falling into it and resting her hand on his chest.
Well I think the reporter actually is falling for him too. This. . .relationship may be longer than I thought. Would he marry her?
I looked down at the cat, Barbara Whiskers and smiled.
She lounged on the table as if she were the real judge here. She even had her own little plate set up in front of her. It was clear Dima had planned to feed her some of the food entries, as if this whole event were as much for her enjoyment as it was for theirs.
Dima. . .with a girlfriend and a cat. I guess now anything is possible.
Completely stunned, I checked out Barbara Whiskers some more. The cat seemed completely at ease. Her eyes were half-closed, although she was still on full alert. And she had her tail lazily rising and then falling back onto the table.