Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“See, that’s our whole thing, though,” my older sister gushes while Ig less than casually picks at my barely touched lunch. “That’s why we love working with Kellan and Wes on this program. Their devotion to creating a different way of life to not only help alleviate the devastating number of children in the system, but one that also allows them opportunities they were much more unlikely to get due to their demographics is so remarkable and admirable and life-changing that Kent and I can hardly believe we get to have such a huge part in it.” All of a sudden, she enthusiastically claps. “Oh! They’re actually looking to expand the early childhood education part of their program and need someone to spearhead the endeavor. Given your background and your education and all the amazing things I’ve heard you do for Bella, it kinda sounds like you’d be a perfect fit!” She reaches for the check at the same time she states, “How cool would it be if we got to work together?!”
There’s no missing the unhappiness in my boyfriend’s tone, “Would she have to move?”
“I don’t know.” Nani casually shrugs. “Possibly?” Her lips momentarily purse to one side. “Maybe temporarily while getting more familiar with the program itself?” She shifts her gaze back to me. “You could totally come live with me while doing that! Ohmygod, can you imagine how amazing that would be?!” There’s no pause to voice an opinion. “I can shoot you over the deets to look at if you want! Text me your email?”
“Sure!” I delightedly exclaim, a response that results in Ig removing his arm. “I’d love to hear more about it.”
“Eeeeekkkkk!” squeaks my sibling before looking down at the bill. “Huh…It says it’s already been paid for.”
“Da,” Ig says at a rather muted volume. “The meal is on me.”
“You are just so thoughtful,” coos Nani on a shake of the head. “Any chance you could give my hubs a few tips? Or maybe just like one tip?”
Laughter bounces back and forth between us yet noticeably not from him.
Hm.
Wonder what’s got him suddenly looking like Jack Skellington post his opening Halloween adventure.
The three of us linger around for another few minutes, which is when Nani and I exchange numbers before agreeing to make breakfast plans for tomorrow and hugging goodbye.
Our long embrace is one that’s well overdue and brings tears from us both; however, unlike the united front Ig and I had walking in, he has a slightly more distant disposition on our way out.
Upon our arrival at his SUV, he braces his back against the passenger door and bites, “You fuckin’ serious with that shit or just trying to stay in her good graces?”
My eyebrows dart down immediately. “Huh?”
“That fucking job,” he hisses, large arms folding firmly over his chest. “You really gonna look into it?”
“I-”
“You really gonna fuckin’ take it?!”
“I-”
“You really just gonna up and abandon us?!”
The booming of his voice leads to me taking a step back.
Creating space.
Giving him room he clearly needs prior to asking, “Why are you yelling at me?”
“Why are you fucking bailing on me?! Mne!” He bellows even louder. “What kind of fucked up thank you is that?!”
“I-”
“How could you do this shit to me?! To my fucking daughter?!”
“I-”
“She trusted you!”
“I-”
“Ya doveryal tebe!”
There isn’t even time to think about asking for a translation.
“My doveryali tebe!” A pointed finger suddenly gets jabbed in my direction. “How could you fuckin’ turn your back on us like this?! How could you just leave us when you know how hard it’s been for us to rely on anyone?! How could you fucking betray our family?! Me?! Mne!”
Yet again he doesn’t pause for a rebuttal.
“I gotta get back to the fucking barn,” he grunts, body popping off the territory he was momentarily leaning against to stomp over to the driver’s side. “Uvidimsya.”
His curt goodbye followed by the slamming of his vehicle door causes me to jump in place along with a few of the onlookers.
What exactly just happened here?!
How did I go from finding one family to basically losing the other?
Chapter 21
Igor
I gotta get my head in the fucking game.
I’ve got a fucking team depending on me.
And just because I’ve been let down by the captain of my family doesn’t mean I should be the type of captain who lets the boys down.
This doesn’t need to be a matching type of penalties sitch.
The instant I cross back into the locker room after tapping the frame and grunting “Udachi” – completing my pregame ritch – my path is blocked by a familiar face I’m never happy to see.
Adelstein doesn’t wait for me to investigate her reason for appearing before giving it. “GM wants to see you.”
I do my best to swallow my nervousness. “Now?”
“If you’d like to stay on this team.”
Grunts of irritation are followed by me hanging up my sweater and returning my stick to Bricks who looks suspiciously wide awake for someone with twin infants at home.