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)
She likes me now?
I tried not to get too excited.
“Alright, alright!” DJ Hendrix's voice boomed over the speakers, “How’s everyone feeling today?! We got the Grill Off about to start soon, but first, let’s keep this vibe going!”
I turned his way.
DJ Hendrix stood tall behind his equipment with his hands moving in fluid motion as he mixed and scratched records. “This next one is for all my 80s babies out there! We’re my 80s babies at?”
A couple of people clapped, but I couldn’t tell who.
Then, the DJ smoothly mixed in an R&B song that I didn’t recognize.
But Moni was rocking to the song and singing some of the lyrics.
I leaned her way. “What’s this?”
“Anita Baker’s ‘Sweet Love.’” She then proceeded to grab my shoulder and have us both rocking as she sung more of the lyrics.
I laughed at her enthusiasm and let myself get lost in the rhythm.
Jo also swayed to the beat and raised her cup high above her head. "To cookouts and chill vibes!"
Okay. Good. She’s having fun.
Chen whispered in my ear, “Listen to this part. Sky, you cry tears over the years, but it is just rain to us. Your sadness helps our crops grow.”
Oh God.
I bobbed my head. “Keep working on it.”
“But you like how it starts, cousin?”
“I do.”
This deliriously joyous expression hit him. “Yes. Not bad at all. This is the poem.”
I widened my eyes.
“I shall take Fen out under the moonlight tonight and recite the poem to her, but only once it is done.”
I almost told him that he shouldn’t, but I knew that when midnight came, he would be passed out in his bed. “I’m sure Fen will love it.”
Speaking of Moni’s ladies-in-waiting. . .
I scanned the space for them.
DJ Hendrix transitioned into another Every Breath You Take by The Police and Aunt Suzi was clapping along as Chloe continued to talk to her.
Where are they?
My attention drifted from the Judge’s table to the setup for the Grill Off competition.
The big stage sat in the center.
On the left side, Chef Foo was in his element, flanked by two members of his staff. He was having a great time, dancing behind the grill to the beat of the music, his hips swaying and spatula flipping burgers with a kind of effortless grace.
O-kay.
In all the years that Chef Foo had been employed at Lotus Blossom, I’d never seen the man dance.
This is a crazy fucking event.
On the right side of the stage, Banks manned his own grill, his face was set in determined concentration as he wiped sweat off his forehead and bobbed his head to the beat.
His three special guests—Sweet, Salty, and Savory—formed a trio of entertainment in front of his grill, dancing together in perfect synchronization, hips swaying and hands waving in unison.
While Rowe Street Mob barely glanced the women’s way as they enjoyed themselves.
Sweet, Salty, and Savory had grabbed a good bit of my men’s attention. Several Four Aces hung around the three women, lurking just close enough to get a good view of those hips and legs.
I really need to give everyone a few days off. They’re fucking hot and horny.
I moved my view over the rest of the area.
Aunt Min sat at a large table with her focus locked on the Mahjong game she was playing against Einstein, Hu, and Lan.
Alright. There’s one of Moni’s ladies-in-waiting.
I just hoped Hu wouldn’t be trying to snipe Lan this evening. We already had Duck going pretty hard with courting Thandi.
I assessed the Mahjong table. From the way Aunt Min’s fingers drummed lightly on the table every time she picked up a tile and the way her left eyebrow twitched ever so slightly, I knew she had a winning hand.
Those were her tells, subtle enough that most people wouldn’t notice, but I’d seen them enough times growing up to know exactly what they meant. I spotted the stack of money on the edge of the table and knew she would be pocketing most of it by the end of the night.
At the next table over, Banks's mother was engrossed in a game of Spades. One of the women that she’d brought with her sat right across and was dealing out the cards.
They were playing against Gunner and Marcelo.
Once Marcelo picked up all of his cards, he slid his gaze Moni’s way.
Careful, you piece of shit.
Marcelo stared at Moni longingly, not even noticing that I was watching him.
It took everything in me to remain calm, to remind myself that I’d made a decision in the library—a decision to actually listen this time, to heed Moni’s words, even if every instinct in me screamed to do the opposite.
Marcelo put his attention back on the cards and I undid the fist that I hadn’t known I’d even made.
Forget about it. I’ll get him back another way. Where’s Moni’s other two ladies-in-waiting?