Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
He gave me a look that screamed I’m calling bullshit and rolled his eyes.
I stood from the couch. “Did you guys eat dinner yet?”
“No. Mom was going to order from Razzle, down the block.”
“Razzle, the ice cream place?”
“We eat it for dinner on Mondays.”
Now it was my turn to give the I’m-calling-bullshit face.
The kid groaned. “Fine. How about pizza at least?”
“Does your sister like pizza?”
“Who doesn’t like pizza?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you’re dairy free or vegan or something.”
“My aunt’s cool, but she’s got no taste in food.”
I smiled. “How about a Sicilian from Joe’s, with meatball on top?”
Forty minutes later, the three of us were sitting at the table. Well, technically there were four of us, since Leonardo had jumped up on a chair and was currently sitting like a human, watching us eat. Molly still had half her first slice left, but Ryder was keeping pace with me.
“You can really chow down for a little kid,” I noted.
“I’m not little. I’m ten.”
“Right. Yeah, sorry.”
He peeled a sliced meatball from the top of his pizza, tilted his head back, and dangled the piece of meat before dropping it into his mouth. “If you kiss Aunt Naomi, make sure you brush your teeth after you eat meat,” he said as he chewed.
“Uh, okay. Thanks for the tip…I guess?”
“I heard her tell Mom that beef breath makes her want to barf.”
I chuckled. “I’m guessing you weren’t supposed to hear that conversation.”
“Then they should talk quieter. They also talk about you sometimes.”
“Oh yeah? What do they say?”
He extended his hand across the table, palm up. “It’ll cost you ten bucks.”
“I just bought you pizza.”
“No money, no information.”
I shut the pizza box. “It’ll cost you ten bucks if you want another slice.”
The kid grinned. “I’m full anyway.”
“Sure you are.”
“You play poker?”
“Not with a ten-year-old.”
Molly, who hadn’t said more than a sentence in the two hours I’d been babysitting, now smiled. “Afraid he’ll beat you?”
I might’ve been at this point… “Of course not.”
Ryder finished chewing the last of his third slice. “If you won’t let me sell you information for ten bucks, then at least let me try to win some cash.”
“I think I’ll pass, thanks.”
After I cleaned up from dinner, I had no clue what should come next. Molly and Ryder had gone into the living room and were busy watching TV and playing on their iPads.
“Do you guys have homework to do?” I asked.
Ryder shook his head. He didn’t bother to look up from whatever he was doing, yet I could still see the look of disappointment on his face. “It’s summer. I thought lawyers were supposed to be smart.”
Man, this kid’s a handful. “What do you do all day if you’re not in school?”
He still didn’t look up. “I go to computer camp, and Molly goes to some stupid art thing.”
“It’s not stupid just because you don’t like it,” his sister said.
Ryder shrugged. “It is to me.”
“That’s because you’re stupid.”
Ryder finally looked up. “I’m not the one who can’t even add.”
“I can to add! I’m just slower at it than you! Mom said speed doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah, because Mom never lies to us. She’s just had a lot of bad sushi lately.”
Tears filled Molly’s eyes. “You don’t know everything!”
“Maybe not. But I know more than you.”
“Alright, alright.” I motioned with my hands for them to settle down. “Stop fighting. What time do you two go to bed anyway?”
Of course, Molly answered “eight thirty” at the same moment Ryder said “eleven.” I pointed to the girl. “Think I’m going to take her word on this one. Why don’t you go brush your teeth and get ready for bed?”
Ryder looked at my wrist. “Your bracelet is right.”
Forty-five minutes later, the little rugrats were in their room with the lights off. I doubted either of them was sleeping, both probably too worried about their mom. I wasn’t sure what would be worse, knowing your mother had leukemia or the shit you imagined she might have. It wasn’t the same situation, but I could still remember conjuring the absolute worst-case scenarios after my dad was arrested. I’d thought he was going to get the death penalty, because no one would tell me the truth. Adults sometimes think they’re protecting kids by keeping them in the dark, but all they’re really doing is scaring them and losing their trust.
At eleven o’clock, my phone buzzed with a text.
Naomi: I’m so sorry to take this long. They’re admitting my sister, but they don’t have any available beds, so she’s basically lying on a stretcher in the hall. I don’t want to leave her until she’s in a room.
I typed back.
Dawson: It’s no problem. Take as long as you need. I don’t have anywhere I have to be.
I watched as the little circles jumped around.
Naomi: I can’t thank you enough. How are the kids? I forgot to warn you not to play cards with Ryder. He taught himself how to count cards when he was five, and he’s gotten in trouble for hustling money out of the kids at school.