Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“Are you sure?” She seems so adamant about this.
“Nothing, Mom, I swear. Why?” I watch her debate if she wants to tell me more.
“Out with it.” When it comes to my mom she always overshares more than she should but now she’s holding back. It has something to do with Grandpa.
“When your grandpa passed, he spilt ITM between all of the siblings.” I nod, already knowing this. I don’t think my father did much with his shares on the board but what do I know? I really have no idea how he spends his days or anything about International Technological Management. I know the basics, which include that is was started by my great grandfather who then passed it down to my grandpa. After his death, it was split between the three brothers and three sisters. At least that is my understanding of things.
“I don’t think he passed it to your father,” she says, looking more serious now.
“Come again?” That’s interesting and immediately makes me curious as to where the hell my good old dad is getting all of his money? I’d assumed it was coming from his interest in ITM.
“I just need to know if you signed anything, sweetheart.”
“No.”
“Okay. Let me dig.” My mom stands up a little straighter, looking more confident in herself. I don’t know if it’s because she’s found something on my father or if this new PI is giving her something to smile about. Either way I like her newfound confidence. It makes my heart happy to see it.
“Dig for what?” I ask because I’m curious as to where she’s going with this. My father is sharp and I don’t want her stepping into something that could get her bitten. As quickly as my mom could stand, she could fall. She always gets up, I have to give her credit for that. I stand here feeling confused as I wait for her to answer me.
“Get ready for school. You want to look good for Brad, don’t you?” She quickly changes the subject.
My heart flutters in my chest at the thought of getting to see him today. I have six missed texts from him on my phone. I’m guessing he thinks I’m avoiding him when really I passed out. I haven't gotten a chance to read them because my mom is standing here.
“This doesn't look good?” I finish getting ready. I look at myself in the mirror.
“It does. I wanted to see if I was right.” She smiles and it meets her eyes this time. For once she looks happy. I don’t know if it was that spa, this new PI she’s getting down with or the dirt she found on my father, but either way I’ll take it. It doesn't mean that I’m not going to do a little digging of my own.
Chapter 13
Brad
“I’m here for tutoring,” Melody announces. Today she’s wearing a short skirt in pink and gray topped with a gray T-shirt with a giant tiger on the front. A necklace falls out of her shirt and swings forward. There’s a small blue gem dangling from the chain. It winks at me under the fluorescent lights.
Melody catches me staring.
“Your necklace is pretty.” I pull her backpack across the table and out of her reach.
She rolls it between her fingers. “My mom gave it to me. It’s my birthstone. September,” she explains at my blank expression. “What’s your birthday?”
“July. I don’t know what stone that is.”
“It’s a ruby. Red,” she clarifies.
“I gotcha.”
“So, you gonna give me my bag back?” She nods toward my side where I set the pack.
I make no move. “I thought you had a tutor.”
“He seemed a little unsteady on his feet last night. I worried he might fall on my property and sue us.”
“Valid concern.” I nod seriously. “He was tripping all over his feet last night.” I toss her pack across the table. “Good thing FU High has a trig tutor.”
Melody rolls her eyes but sits down and we get to work. After a half hour, she decides she needs a break. “I brought cookies.” She shoves the small box to the center of the table.
I guess this is her peace offering. I reach for the box but she draws it back. “First, why didn’t you call me back that night I needed help?”
I can feel my face turning red from embarrassment. Or maybe it’s shame. I reach behind me and squeeze my neck. “It’s complicated.” I don’t really want to throw my sister under the bus and, if we’re being completely honest about it, part of the reason I didn’t call her back is because I was being a fucking coward. I don’t want to admit either of these things.
“I guess you’re not hungry for these cookies then.” She opens the box and proceeds to munch on one right in front of me.