Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 83211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Banks versus Foxx,” Moss says, resting his forearms on the table. “Didn’t have this on my bingo card for today, but I’m here for it. Let’s go.”
“Can you even measure forty yards?” Foxx asks. “If I asked you to name something forty yards from you right now, could you give me a respectable answer?”
“Of course.” I think. With my brothers’ eyes on me, I start to sweat. “Forty yards from me right now is about to Mom’s mailbox.”
Foxx looks pleasantly surprised. I exhale. Thank you, God.
“Why is it always Mom’s mailbox?” Dad asks, coming into the kitchen. “What about Dad’s mailbox? I get mail there too, you know.”
“Well, so do I, but I don’t call it my mailbox,” I say.
Jess snickers.
“Hey,” Dad says, draining the potatoes. “Can one of you set up one of those apps on my phone that lets me send and request money?”
“Yeah,” Maddox says. “Are you finally joining the rest of the world?”
“I finally have no choice. I needed to send some quick cash to a client today and I didn’t have any of the apps. I had to go to the ATM and get cash.”
“You know, Dad, that sounds a little suspicious,” I say.
He looks up. “Very funny.”
“Dammit,” Maddox says, looking at his phone. “Fucking hell.”
“What’s wrong?” Moss asks.
Maddox slams his phone on the table. “I just got a text that the guy occupying the house that Sara is supposed to rent on Wednesday won’t leave. The landlord is going to have to evict him and that can take weeks.”
My stomach falls to the floor.
This has nothing to do with me—not one little thing. I didn’t set up Sara to live with my brother. I didn’t help organize her new digs. Heck, I don’t even know the landlord in question.
Why do I feel like this is about to affect me?
“What are you going to do?” Moss asks. “That kind of puts you in a pickle.”
“Don’t I know it,” Maddox says. “I just got married. You can imagine what I want to be doing and what I can’t be doing when there are houseguests.”
Foxx shrugs. “Then why did you allow her to stay with you in the first place?”
“Because Sara is Ashley’s best friend,” Maddox says. “And a part of marriage is compromising and keeping your spouse happy.”
“If Ashley isn’t happier …” Jess looks around for Mom, making sure she’s nowhere within earshot. “…fucking you than having Sara sleeping over for a week, then you got yourself a problem, brother.”
Maddox holds his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to do. I have to get her out of my house, but there’s nothing available that she can afford. Trust me, I’ve scoured the market and called in favors from everyone I know. There’s nothing.”
Call me a soothsayer, but I can see the future. I know where this is going—where they’re going to want it to go.
My chest burns as I quickly try to craft why Sara can’t stay with me. Because I know they’re gonna ask.
“Hey,” Ashley says, coming into the room. Brooke and Pippa are on her heels. “Sorry that we’re late. I found a bookstore and you know how that goes.”
Maddox tips his head back. Ashley plants her hands on either side of his face and kisses him.
“I got bad news, babe,” Maddox says, twisting in his seat to see Ashley.
“What?”
“Sara’s rental fell through.”
Ashley’s face pales. “No, it did not.”
“Where is she now?” Maddox asks. “We need to get a plan together because I need you all to myself as soon as possible.”
Ashley sits on Maddox’s knee. “I just talked to her. She’s with Becca at the beach.”
A smile ghosts my lips. With Becca at the beach, huh? Interesting development.
Brooke bumps my shoulder as she walks by. “Hey, Honey said to remind you that they need your new pics this week.” She grins as she drops into a chair beside me. “Apparently, all the women at the retirement center are chomping at the bit to see Sparkles in all his glory.”
“They know they aren’t getting dick pics, right?” I ask, my eyes widening.
Everyone laughs.
“I’m serious,” I say. “I’m starting to get stage fright.”
“Your last picture was a hit,” Jess says, smirking.
I narrow my gaze at him. “You are my least favorite brother. I like you even less than Foxx.”
“I’m wounded,” Foxx deadpans, bored with the conversation.
“Foxx,” I say, “let me ask you a question. How did we all get amazing personalities, and you got one that resembles a cardboard box? Did you have to sacrifice that for the rest of us? If so, thanks, big guy.”
He’s nonplussed. “I would like to apologize on behalf of all your siblings that we didn’t leave any brain cells for you.”
“How do you get through the day without someone trying to fight you?” I ask.
“I never said I get through a day without someone trying to fight me.”