Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“We need to get you a very good accountant,” Cash finally said and turned to look at Dev. “Maybe an attorney who specializes in accounting to secure what you have.”
Dev’s face relaxed and his body turned more fully toward Cash.
“From what I’ve seen, my mom knows what she’s doin’ and has someone on Man that can help us.” Dev reached for Cash’s hand, threading their fingers together. “I figure I need to bide my time. The fed’s payment for my help hit my bank account this mornin’. I also got payment for the houses. It’s gonna fund our life for a while. I’m not touchin’ any of the other until we know better what to do.”
“That’s probably the best idea. Get time between you and what’s happened,” Cash said and let go of an unsteady breath. He turned his body as far as the steering wheel allowed to better face Dev. “What else are you hiding? The way you come at me with these secret little truth bombs throws me hard. Just tell me.”
“I got nothin’ else,” Dev said and used his finger to do a crisscross over his chest. “But I am who I am. I want you happy, so I’ll probably keep things from you from time to time. I figure it’ll keep shit interestin’.”
“Are you serious about marriage and kids?” Cash asked, not allowing himself to be sidetracked.
“I am. I’ve brought it up before,” Dev nodded. “I love bein’ a dad and I think I’m gonna love bein’ your husband. You in?”
“How many children are we really talking about?” Cash asked. Of course he liked the idea a whole lot; he just needed to catch up.
“As many as you wanna have. I think maybe somewhere between five and nine total,” Dev said, as if he’d been thinking about it for a while now.
“Nine children?” he asked incredulously.
“Fuck yeah,” Dev answered as if a baseball team of children were perfectly normal. “They’ll come from you biologically, but they’ll be mine too. Maybe Shanna could toss in an egg or two. I’ll adopt ’em, and love ’em, and take care of ’em. I’d like some green-eyed babies runnin’ around. I’m ready to settle down and grow old.”
“Okay. I’m in,” Cash said, not letting the worry bog him down, and turned fully back in his seat to start the engine. The idea of children… He enjoyed Mae and Abi but what did he know about raising them? He put the car in reverse and stopped before driving off. “Parenting classes. When do those begin? Is it like a semester-long deal or year round? Do they offer a certification course?”
Dev chuckled at him. “I don’t even know what you’re talkin’ about, but I was hopin’ you’d figure it out. Millie’s fillin’ up my schedule. Tryin’ to appease these people who are pissed off, so I’m sure I’ll be doin’ a lot of art for free. Whether we’re ready or not, I start back to work next week. If we could do classes online, that’d probably be best. Tena needs to take the class too.”
Cash nodded and started out of the parking lot. His parents were going to be thrilled with this news. “Marriage?”
“Fuck yeah,” Dev said and grinned broadly. He pointed straight ahead. “First, we need to get to the parlor. Turn right.”
He did what he was told, clasping Dev’s hand.
Life had been good ten minutes ago, far better now. He’d be a father. His dad had a lot of teaching to do.
=♥=
“You know, Fox, I’m beginning to really regret taking this job,” Mitch Knox said, pushing a giant box into the foyer of the new ink parlor. “If you weren’t so goddamn cheap, you’d’ve paid the sixty extra dollars to have this chair assembled.”
Dev did his best to stifle the grin trying to ruin the shit-giving good time he and Mitch kept tossing out to one another. “You need someone to come help you move the box in? My youngest daughter’s available.”
“Fuck you. I’m the strongest motherfucker in this place. Bite me,” Mitch shot back. “If I can’t carry it, nobody can.”
The bark of laughter shot out before it could be contained. With a wrench in hand, he stood to his full height, leaving Millie hanging, holding a piece of the reception desk he was putting together. “I told you I’m taken. I ain’t gonna bite nothin’ you got. Should’ve hit me up a couple of months ago.”
Mitch made a show of rolling his eyes as he continued to push the box toward Trace’s new ink room. Cash was on a ladder, working to align the photos of Dev’s ink over the years, creating a wall of art for his clients to see. Cash grinned down at Dev and nodded. “All the right answers, babe.”
“What’s this?” Millie said, disgruntled. “A cock measuring contest. This is heavy, Devilman. Finish what you started. Stop worrying about everyone else.”