Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
She smiles at me and then looks down. “First day on the job, so I want to make a good impression.” She tucks her blond hair behind her ear. I wonder if she still shivers when you bite down on her lobe and then suck it.
“Shall we go?” I ask Aiden, then look back up at Eliahn “He ate, right?”
“Yes, he had eggs, bacon, and toast,” she says, smiling at him. “And he ate it all.”
“Perfect,” I say, reaching out my hand for him. “Let’s get you to school. We don’t want you being late on your first day of school.” He grabs my hand, walking over to my car. I buckle him in and start the car.
“Are you excited?” I ask him when we finally take off, looking at him in the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, I’m going to play soccer at recess,” he says, nodding his head while looking out the window. “I run fast.”
“Do you?” I ask him. “Did you play soccer in Paris?” I ask him.
“Yeah, all the time,” he says, nodding his head.
“Who did you play with?” I ask him, and then I don’t give him a chance to answer. “Did any of Mommy’s friends teach you?” I close my eyes, not even sure I can stomach myself. I’m using my six-year-old to get info on his mother. Low. So low.
“Sometimes, Pierre came with me,” he answers me, and I cringe at the name.
“Did Pierre and Mommy make dinner together?” I ask him, and he nods his head. “Asshole,” I murmur under my breath when we get to the school.
I park in one of the parking spaces, getting out and seeing a woman directing traffic. “Drop-off zones should be used for drop-off only,” she tells the mother who is getting out of the car with a tray of cupcakes.
“I just have to drop this off. It will be two seconds,” she starts pleading her case. “Debra did it yesterday,” she says, and the woman shakes her head. “Amy, you need to move your car.”
We walk past them, Aiden’s hand in mine. “Cutthroat,” I say under my breath and walk up the steps going into the school. Kids are running in the hall all over the place as the bell rings once, and then the kids sort of rush even more. When we make it to the office, I walk in and smile at Mrs. Hope.
“Good morning.” I smile at her as she comes to the counter and smiles at us.
“Good morning, Mr. DiMarco, Aiden,” she says to us, and then Mrs. Lambert comes out of her office with her megawatt smile.
“Well, good morning, you two,” she says softly. “Mrs. Hope, why don’t you get Aiden to class, and I’ll finish with Mr. DiMarco?” she says, and Mrs. Hope just smiles and nods her head, walking around the counter to come to Aiden’s side.
I squat down in front of him. “You’re going to go with Mrs. Hope,” I tell him, and he looks at me with his brown eyes a little worried.
He leans in. “What if I don’t have any friends?” he says, and I lean in, whispering in his ear.
“You’re the coolest kid I know. Everyone is going to want to be your friend.” He throws his arms around my neck, squeezing, and I hug him with one arm. “I’ll see you tonight,” I tell him, and he nods his head and takes Mrs. Hope’s hand. She looks at me as I blink away tears. Fuck, this is brutal. I put my hand to my heart and watch him walk away, his backpack bigger than him.
“He’s going to be fine,” Mrs. Lambert reassures me, putting her hand on my arm and squeezes it as I look down at it and want to shake it off.
“I know exactly who to introduce you to,” Mrs. Hope tells him and walks out of the room.
“Eliahn gave me the papers to drop off to you,” I tell her, stepping out of her grasp. “I just have to fill out my part.” I go to the counter, picking up the pen that lies there next to a book. Opening the envelope, I grab the papers inside and bring them out, seeing little tabs where I need to sign and put in my information.
“So you and Ms. Coco are divorced?” she asks me, and I don’t look up.
“No,” I answer her, and I’m not lying.
“Oh,” she says softly. “I just assumed since Aiden has Ms. Coco’s last name,” she starts, and I don’t bother answering her. I just finish filling out my part.
“That should do it,” I say, handing it over to her. “If there is anything that is missing, just have Mrs. Hope call me.”
“I will.” She smiles at me. “I’ll call you today also just to touch base and let you know how he’s doing.”