Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Her lips curled.
“What are you smilin’ about this time?”
They stared at one another, then they both started laughing.
“Kage, you surprise me so, so much. It’s not funny. Don’t take it like that. None of this is. It’s horrible, really, but I wasn’t laughing at you; I was laughin’ at imagining you tryna keep up with a bunch of little lies. This is what life does. We go through things, and we grow through things. Yeah, I could see you sucking at that. You’re blunt and honest.”
He gathered her in his arms and squeezed.
“How’s your finger?”
“Much better, thanks to your magic kiss.”
He gave her a peck on the lips, then released her. “Are you almost finished? I want to see you complete that.”
He watched as she got back to work. He thoroughly enjoyed seeing the process, each step she took, how she knew exactly what she was doing. When she was all finished, she washed her hands and dried them at his utility sink. Her reflection in the faucet was distorted and strange, just like the rifts of the song playing at that moment. When she was all done, she walked over to the completed bird. He helped her place it in a soft, protective clear box. She’d have to transport it to work come Monday.
“Thank you for takin’ the time to show me your craft. I appreciate it. It was fun to watch, and I learned a bit, if I say so myself.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled warmly at him as she fastened the box, then set it aside. “I love that you were interested to see it.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her soft lips against his. His body warmed to her sensual touch. “I feel strongly about you, Kage. You know that, right?” She pulled away, but kept her arms around his neck. Something was lambent in her eyes.
“Yeah, I do. I feel the same ’bout you.” He sighed, then slipped out of her embrace. Leaning against the wall, he crossed his legs. “I need to tell you somethin’. You kinda touched on it earlier.”
“Oh shit.” She bristled up.
“No, no, I can guarantee it’s not what you think, but you still deserve to know.”
“What is it, Kage? Still legally married? Kids you haven’t told me about? You showed me a fake STI result, and actually you have an incurable sexually transmitted disease, right? On the run from the cops? Which is it, Kage? Gotdamnit! I knew not to listen to Aunt Huni! I shoulda trusted my gut, instead of my heart! You about to say some shit to have me hotter than fish grease. Just go on and ruin everything, Kage. Be my guest!”
She glowed with a sudden burst of rage. He was a bit shocked at this response, the way she completely lost her shit, but on some strange level, it also titillated him. It was proof that she was falling for him, and she felt as if everything might be on the line. To add, proof that she’d been hurt so much, and lied to so often, she anticipated him fucking up.
“Say somethin’! Tell me this big news. See, this is why I—”
“Stop talkin’, and listen. How in the fuck can you expect me to tell you what’s going on if you won’t be quiet and let me get a word in edgewise?”
She quieted down, but her chest was rising and falling fast. Her eyes were narrow and dark, her nostrils flared.
“In my teenage years, I spent a lot of time in and out of mental hospitals. There. I said it.”
Her expression turned from anger, to utter shock, to sadness in a matter of seconds.
“…Why?” she asked softly.
“Because I tried to kill my grandfather.”
She braced herself against the sink. He watched her take a deep breath, then he continued.
“I was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and PTSD when I was fourteen. My family is infamous, not necessarily famous. My grandfather is the reason for that. I tried to kill him, Poet, because I saw that he was evil…” She cocked her head to the side, as if she weren’t quite following him. “This is complicated.” He sighed and gathered his thoughts. “My grandfather is Cyrus Wilde. He is part of what some folks call the Southern or Dixie Mafia, but whatever you call it, he is one of the big dogs here in Texas, and he’s a real son of a bitch. He’s dangerous. He’s conniving. He’s crazy. He’s rich as hell, too. One of the richest men in Houston. My mama is his daughter. That’s how she gets the majority of her money.
“He takes care of her bills because she didn’t make too many waves and cause him much trouble. I don’t want to get into the specific details right now, but what I heard that old man do one day was the final straw. It was so bad that I can’t forget it, even if I tried. I ain’t have it easy, Poet, but I was raised right.” She nodded in understanding. “My mama was a good mother, and she tried to take care of me the best way she knew how. I already explained to you that I ain’t have my daddy growin’ up, so my grandfather stepped into his vacant shoes. That shouldn’t have happened. I saw and heard things that no child should ever see or hear, all because of him and his lifestyle.”