Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
He slung Benny’s body into the closet and then closed the door. “Mom made her boys soldiers. Well most of them. Troy was never no soldier. He liked to read and learn shit. He always asked too many damned questions. Mom has no patience for smart men. You always got to act stupid around her.”
“That’s what you do?” I asked while Scar walked off.
Well ... nice meeting you guy number two that now thinks he is my father. What the fuck, Mom?!
“I never play dumb with Mom,” Sherman said. “She knows her kids are smart. It’s no use trying.”
I turned to him. “Am I safe? What the fuck is going on? Benny is dead. Scar is my father? Now what?”
“Why you think I’m always doing whatever Mom wants?”
I wring my hands in the air. “Because you love her? Because she’s our mother? All of the usual—”
“No. Love? That shit left me long ago, Jazz. Love? Mom doesn’t love. She appreciates you. She finds you valuable, and that’s how you make it another day, another year.”
“And you’re valuable to her because you listen?”
“Yes, and I always remain loyal.”
“And are you remaining loyal now, by telling me all of this?” I asked.
He nodded.
“She wanted me to know all of this?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I sighed. “Why?”
“We all need to play our part.”
“And what’s my part?”
He formed his mouth into a straight line. “Marry Chase.”
“And then what?”
“Who knows?” He shrugged. “You know what I always say?”
“Rock up?”
“That’s right. Rock up. This family needs a queen, sweetie. Maybe Mom should retire.”
“A queen? We don’t have a fucking dynasty.”
“Open your eyes, little girl.” He picked up the guns he’d put on the floor.
“My eyes are opened.”
“No, they’re not. You’re just around this rich guy, playing princess. Get your ass back in South End, Jazz.”
“And do what?”
“Fix it?”
“Fix what?”
“All of the lives that she destroyed.”
“Help me.”
He frowned. “I’ll try.”
Epilogue
Chase
Kyle was my best friend from college, and very, very drunk. “Toast!”
Everyone at the table paused.
The waiters continued to pass out lovely delights.
Jasmine had convinced me to change the huge engagement celebration to a small dinner with my closest friends back in Oshane City. She wanted to truly get to know me, and figured the best way was to meet my friends.
So far, they hadn’t presented me in the best light.
Kyle clinked the wine glass. “So my buddy Chase right here is actually one of those people that are named for what they do. He chased the most women back in our school days. Half of the college girls on campus registered for his unofficial Intro to Anatomy course.”
My buddies snickered and chuckled around the table. A few of their wives rolled their eyes.
Kyle’s drunk behind continued, “And he ran after them all, chasing and racing. He had this voicemail message with this jazz music in the background. Anytime I would call, Chase’s voice would come on all smooth and he would whisper, ‘Hello, this is Chase Stone and I am here for all of your needs.’”
Everyone laughed.
Jasmine especially. She even hit the table a few times and mimicked me, “I am here for all of your needs.”
I frowned. “This isn’t a toast. This is an assault on my character.”
“No!” Jasmine chuckled. “This is so far the best toast of the night. Tell us more, Kyle.”
“I do not remember this voicemail message.” I shook my head.
“Oh no! I didn’t forget the message.” Jonathan joined in on the joking. “Oh do you remember that time he got locked in the sorority house, spent the night, and in the middle of his stay, two of the women realized that he was messing with them both and so they tortured him!”
Jonathan roared with laughter.
Jasmine hit the table again and cracked up. “Oh yes, what was the torture?”
“Yes!” Kyle spilled some of his drink. “They waxed his eyebrows and his testicles. He was bare like a newborn baby. They had him stumbling back home in a dress.”
“It wasn’t a dress. It was a sleeping shirt thing,” I argued.
“That’s right. It was a gown!” Jonathan hit the table.
“Waxed his eyebrows!” Jasmine roared with laughter.
“It’s not that funny.” I tried not to laugh, but a giggle or two left me as I remembered that day, walking back through campus with everyone honking and whistling at me. My skin blazed in pain.
Jasmine set her fork on the table and grinned. “Now I see why you’re all into waxing women. It’s all of that pent up resentment.”
“Very funny.”
“Just very funny?” She placed her hand under the table. “Very funny who?”
I cleared my throat and leaned her way. “Very funny, Goddess.”
“Huh?” She raised her eyebrows. “Don’t make me get out my remote control.”
“Please, don’t.”
She tossed me an evil smile. “What’s my name?”
The guys trucked on through their stories as I worked hard at appearing as sweet as possible so my tesoro could have mercy on me and not do the thing that I knew she was begging to do.