Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Who wants to earn a king-sized Snickers?” Tara asks as she shuffles over to my desk. “I have some files that need putting away ASAP or they’re going to topple over and bury me in my chair one day.”
Kaden, who loves food and anything to take away the boredom, nods eagerly at Tara. I give her a thankful smile.
As my nephew walks away with her, I try my sister for the millionth time.
No answer.
Surprise, surprise.
“Holy shit,” Kaden says, whistling. “These people are loaded.”
“Don’t say shit,” I grumble. “And please be on your best behavior. Dempsey’s dad can be a bit of a dick sometimes.”
Kaden frowns and I hate that I’ve taken away his excitement. He of all people knows about being around a dickhead. Lenny is the absolute worst.
“Come on. Jamie’s a way better cook than I am. She’ll fatten you up like a tick.”
Kaden laughs as he climbs out of my car. “Anyone is a better cook than you, Aunt Sloane. Your specialty is frozen lasagna and pizza rolls.”
“They’re good, though, am I right?”
He cracks up laughing again. I know he agrees. The kid was catching a ride with his drunk neighbors just to be able to eat. Store-bought lasagna and pizza rolls are probably heaven to him.
I ruffle his blond hair and we walk up to the front door. My knock is sharp and no-nonsense, making me cringe. I even knock on doors like a cop.
Thankfully, it’s not Nathan who answers but my best friend.
“Oh my gosh, Sloane,” Jamie says with a squeal before launching herself at me. “What a surprise!”
A surprise?
What the hell, Dempsey?
“I, uh, I…” I trail off, feeling stupid as she hugs me.
“I invited them, Mom,” Dempsey calls out from inside. “I knew you’d be happy.”
Jamie pulls back and stares at me as though she can’t believe I’m here. I come here sometimes. Okay, so maybe only on special occasions or when the Parks have trouble they need help with. But still, it’s not that much of a shock.
“And who is this guy?” Jamie asks, turning her attention to Kaden. “He looks like you when we first met.”
“I’m her nephew, Kaden.” He offers her his hand, standing tall and smiling wide. “Nice to meet you.”
Kaden is a good kid, but this is different. It’s then I realize he thinks Jamie is hot. Ugh, boys are so weird sometimes.
After Jamie introduces herself, she ushers us inside. Kaden’s crush on Jamie is squashed the second he sees Gemma.
“Oh shit,” he mutters under his breath. “Oh shit.”
I glance down at my panicked nephew. “Don’t say shit and what’s wrong?”
His face turns beet red and he stares unabashedly at Gemma. “It’s Gemma.”
“You know her?”
I mean, it’s possible he knew her from school maybe. Except, I’m pretty sure he’s in middle school which means they wouldn’t have seen each other. Actually, I don’t even know what grade Kaden is in. Crap, another thing to figure out before school starts back up in the fall.
“GemmaParkLovesUx2.”
I wait for him to elaborate, staring at him in confusion.
“She’s an influencer,” he hisses. “She legit has almost a million followers.”
Ahhh.
I still don’t know exactly what an influencer is, but apparently, Kaden does. And it’s a big deal to a thirteen-year-old.
“So basically a celebrity?” I ask, clarifying before I put my foot in my mouth.
“Yes. Oh my God, she’s so pretty in real life.”
Gemma, face buried in her phone, finally realizes she has guests. When she sees us, she grins happily. Kaden withers where he stands, clearly at a loss for what to do.
“This is my nephew, Kaden, and he’s a huge fan,” I tell her, motioning at him. “He’s in shock.”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Kaden glowers at me, humiliation turning his cheeks even redder. I’ve seen the same look on his mother’s face a time or two. Well, crap. I really am sucky at this kid stuff.
Dempsey swoops in and saves the day, thankfully.
“Want to see my pool table?” he asks Kaden, ignoring his sister and my faux pas altogether. “We have a mini fridge in the game room and like a million different kinds of snacks.”
Kaden practically bolts out of the room on Dempsey’s heels. Gemma chews thoughtfully on her bottom lip while Jamie runs her fingers through her daughter’s long, dark hair.
“He’s adorable, Sloane. Is he visiting for the summer?”
I like that answer. Why didn’t I think of that? It’s a lot better than his mother abandoned him and he needed rescuing.
“Yup,” I lie. “I really am sorry for popping in unannounced. Dempsey texted and asked us over.”
Jamie’s smile falters. “I didn’t know you and Dempsey text.”
Something about the way she says those words has my blood turning to oil. It clogs every cell and makes me feel dirty inside.
She’s not thinking…
Oh. No.
Absolutely not.
“The iPad,” I choke out, eager to explain myself. “He showed me something he drew of Kaden. We, uh, ran into him and Tate at the coffee shop. Then he invited us over.”