Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 176002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
“Up to you, Ted. You can come or not, but I’m going. Meet us later, if you want.”
I know what the answer will be. My heart is thumping as I down the rest of my tea and get to my feet. I grab my own handbag as Mum puts her coat on.
“Alright,” Dad says with a grouchy sigh, and gets up himself. “But if he’s a wanker, I’m going to tell him so, believe me.”
“Don’t worry,” I say. “I believe you.”
I fire off a message to Josh while Dad buttons up his coat.
On my way back… with Mum and Dad. I add a shocked emoji, and he replies with a grin.
I’ll be ready x
I love the walk back to the towers with my parents. The class and beauty of our surroundings is undeniable. I watch them as their eyes dart about, taking in the scene around them. The courtyard gardens have Mum stopping to admire the flowers, and Dad checks out one of the benches.
“Class,” he says, and I nod with a grin.
“Yeah, everything around here is top quality.”
Including my boyfriend.
In any normal circumstances Dad would whistle at the lobby and the elevators, they are so grand, but he just nods his approval. It’ll do for now. Mum checks herself in the elevator mirror, and she’s impressed by this place, I can tell by the look in her eyes. Who’d have ever thought it? My parents are loving my new home. Hardly a seedy brothel where I’m chained up by a pimp.
“Here we are,” I say as we walk along the hallway, and Dad puffs himself up before I open the front door. Mum squeezes his arm, in the don’t kick off way I recognise.
I swing open the door, with my heart in my throat, and Dad’s mouth actually gapes. So does Mum’s.
The memory of me stepping in here for the first time rushes back to me. Its brilliance, its opulence, its personality. And my personality is in here too now. The brocade sofa, and new trinkets along with Josh’s. It’s clearly ours, not just his.
“This is alright,” Dad says, and wanders into the kitchen, and I grin, because alright in that tone means fucking awesome.
“It’s great,” Mum says, and she’s beaming. She runs a hand across the worktop.
“Yeah, marble,” I tell her, and she nods.
I hear Josh’s footsteps as he paces out of the bedroom.
“A coffee, anyone?” he says, and Mum and Dad spin in shock.
OMG. Josh is in his purple suit, with a black tie, his hair styled perfectly. I could jump into his arms and kiss him for ever, because he’s made such an effort.
He holds out a hand for a handshake.
“Ted, Debbie, pleased to meet you. I’m Josh.”
Dad shakes his hand, looking Josh up and down as though he’s trying to see into his soul. Mum actually responds to a hug, even though she looks a bit unsteady.
I dash up to my boyfriend, and wrap my arm around his waist, and he kisses my head, then grins down at me like he’s the happiest man on the planet.
My parents have to see that. Dad shifts from foot to foot, but Mum is smiling.
“We’ve heard a lot about you,” she tells Josh.
His green eyes stare right into hers. “Yes, I imagine you have. But I hope you get to know me for yourselves.”
“We’ll definitely be checking you out,” Dad says, still maintaining his foot shifting, but his expression is lightening, just a bit.
“Coffee?” Josh asks again and steps over to the state of the art machine, but Dad shakes his head.
“Nah, tea, please. Two sugars.”
“Coming right up. And you, Debbie?”
“Same, please, but one sugar, not two.”
Josh gets to it, and Mum gives me a wink. I could laugh out loud.
“Can you show me the bathroom, please, Ells?” she asks, and I take her on through.
She drags me in along with her.
“Pictures don’t do him justice,” she says when the door is shut. “That man should be on the cover of every magazine in the world.”
“What did you expect?” I laugh. “He makes his money as an entertainer.” I hug her as we stare into the mirror. She’s an older version of me, and she’s blonde, but it’s clear where I get my looks from.
“I’ve got you to thank for my success,” I tell her. “Without your genes, I wouldn’t be nearly so high up the rankings.”
“Shhh,” she says. “I’m not taking the credit for it, and don’t say that to your dad, please. He’ll pull a face!”
I chance the question.
“Think he’s getting on ok with Josh out there?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart, but it’s a good sign he’s here.”
“Are you going to give him a chance?”
I love my mum’s smile, and the sparkle in her eyes. I always will.
“Depends how good his cup of tea is.”
I laugh. “You’re going to love him, then.”