Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“New owner?” I asked, confused. How did I not know the building had a new owner?
“Yeah, Halston sold it. Fucking shocker. That old man holds on to everything,” the guy added.
The door next to mine opened, and Mrs. Jo stepped out into the hallway, frowning. “What’s all the commotion out here? I can’t hear my show on the telly-vision,” she barked out, then looked over at me. “Brielle, honey, how are you? Did Cam get off to camp okay? I was gonna make you a cherry delight pie to cheer you up, but I forgot to go to the store today.”
Both men started moving again toward the staircase. I glanced at them briefly, wondering who had bought the place and deciding I would Google it when I went back inside my apartment.
“Looks like the top floor is getting a revamp,” I told her. “And I am fine. No need to worry about the pie. Without Cam here to help me eat it, I’d gain ten pounds,” I told her with a smile.
She shook her head and pointed her finger at me. “You wouldn’t do such a thing. You’re too tiny as it is. Men like their women to have some meat on their bones. At least, they did in my day. Curves. We all wanted curves and chocolate. Life was good back then,” she mused, then turned and walked back into her apartment and closed the door.
I had no doubt, tomorrow, I’d have a pie waiting on me when I got home from work.
three
dean
“You could have bought a house,” Rush, my son, said as he stood inside my new penthouse.
“I have a house,” I replied, reaching into the fridge to get out two beers.
“It’s in LA. You could have bought one here.”
I handed him the beer. “I live alone. I don’t need a damn house here. This place has three bedrooms, a sauna, Jacuzzi, and a view.”
Rush chuckled. “Yeah, after you completely renovated it. Whatever, Dad.”
“What? It’s a great building, and it needs some work. Gives me something to do. I got this place so I could be close to my family. The kids are growing up, and I want to be here for it, but I need a fucking life too. This is a project. It’ll keep me busy.”
Rush smirked. “For now.”
I walked over to the white leather sectional and sank down on it, then propped my feet up on the ottoman. “When this is finished, I’ll find a new project,” I replied.
Rush took a long pull from his bottle, then leveled his gaze on me. “That’s not what I meant. Kiro will get bored and want to tour again, and then you’ll be back on the road.”
That was always a possibility, but this time, I wasn’t so sure. Kiro seemed done. When he wasn’t living his rock-star life, he was in Rosemary Beach, visiting his daughter and granddaughter. Even if he did want to tour again, this was where I would be for now.
I shrugged. “Who knows? We might do a few concerts here and there, but I think we might be done with the road.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Rush drawled.
I wasn’t going to argue. He’d seen it all in his lifetime. I wasn’t sure what the future held for Slacker Demon, but it no longer controlled me. The fame, women, music—it had all gotten old. I wanted more than that life.
“Have you met your tenants?” Rush asked with an amused tone.
I shook my head. “No.”
I’d thought about it, then changed my mind. They’d eventually know I was living up here. I couldn’t keep that hidden long. Even with my private entrance and garage, they would see me.
“You can’t hide the fact that you’re living up here. It’ll get out.”
“I know.”
“You should have bought a place in Rosemary Beach. They’re used to celebrities. You wouldn’t have been bothered.”
Rush lived in Rosemary Beach and had since he was a kid. I’d bought him a house there and allowed his mother to live in it with his half-sister until Rush was old enough to decide if they stayed or went. It was a small, elite coastal town, and I was glad my grandkids were growing up there, but I didn’t want to be there. Not that close. I wanted to be a part of their lives, but not completely embedded. They needed their space, and I needed mine.
“I like it here. Always have. It’s bigger than Rosemary Beach, but not too big. It’s also closer to the airport.”
I started to say more when Rush’s phone rang, and he glanced down at it before answering.
“Hey,” he said, standing back up and walking toward the table, where he had dropped his keys. “I’m at Dad’s new place, but I am leaving now. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. I love you.”
I glanced over at him, already knowing that was his wife, Blaire. “Everything okay?”