Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Whenever that was. I shoulder the door open, and we race after the sweatpant-clad figure who darts toward the back.
“Don’t make us run, gerbil. We’ve got school in thirty minutes,” Bam yells. It only takes a couple minutes to catch the asshole but another eight as he fumbles with his dad’s gun safe. We take two Berettas in lieu of the cash. The other collection is much smoother. The lady, a lawyer, has the money ready for us.
“I told you I was good for it,” she says in a snippy tone as she tosses the brown envelope at us.
“Everyone says that, ma’am, but unlike this lug, I believed you.” Bam winks at her. “You can call me any time you need something more collected.”
Her Stanley mug nearly beans Bam in the forehead after that remark.
“Did I come on too strong?” he asks as we’re leaving. Bam is flirty, but I’ve never seen him actually act on it when I know he could.
“She might have been touchy about the debt collection.”
“We were nice,” he protests. “I didn’t even call her a gerbil to her face.”
“People are just ungrateful these days,” I console him.
We drop off the guns and cash at the laundromat and then hustle off to school. We’re late, but at least we’re attending today.
“You think Clark ever goes to school?” Bam asks as we walk across the patchy grass expanse that’s supposed to be our soccer field. “Because I think he just lives in the laundromat. I’ve seen him there at five in the morning and five in the afternoon or ten in the morning and ten in the evening. When do you think he’s got time for classes?”
“Since you see him there at those times, probably the same amount as you.”
“I’m not really here much.” He kicks a rock and sends it flying toward the net. Bam is seriously athletic but has no patience for organized sports.
“There’s your answer. Why are you so curious? You want his job?”
“Nah, but I was thinking we don’t know anything about Clark.”
“We know the important stuff. He’s as reliable as the bank clock. If he says he’s gonna be somewhere, he’ll be there. If he says you’ll get paid five big ones for a job, you’ll get paid five big ones.” I like that there’s no surprises with him. That’s probably why he’s got the position he does. He's dependable—as much as a leader of a gang can be.
Bam and I sleep through our classes. Before dinner, we check in with Clark, who doesn’t have any more jobs for us today. Bam cons me into buying him dinner because of my acquisition bonus.
“Who's the extra burrito for?” He polishes off his bowl in about two seconds.
I don’t answer, too busy shoveling the food into my mouth.
“Can I eat it?”
“No. If you want more food, buy it yourself.”
“But you got an extra one sitting right there.”
“It’s not for you.”
He frowns. “Don’t tell me you’re going after that girl again.”
Silently, I gather all our trash.
He makes a disgusted noise in the back of his throat. “That pussy is dangerous.”
I stop in mid-motion and pin him with a hard stare. “I don’t like it when you say that.”
He sighs and slumps back in his chair. “Fine, I won’t use that word when talking about her, but I don’t like this situation. She’s dangerous. She’s gonna get you hurt or she’s going to get hurt, and then you’ll go on a murderous revenge rampage, and I’ll be left reading twelve stories a night to your sister because you won’t be around.”
I resume clearing the table. “I’ll be around.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he says as I toss the garbage into the bin.
When I don’t respond, he mutters, “I know. I know. I said don’t tell me. But seriously, if you need something, you should reach out to me. We’re buds, remember. I watch your back; you watch my back. If you’re not around, I’ll have to break in a new partner, and they will suck, so for all of our sakes just be careful.”
“I will.” I venture a glance in his direction. “Speaking of reading books to Julie, are you up for that tonight?”
“I’m not even gonna ask you why.”
“Good call.”
“What? You’re not gonna tell me?”
“You’re pretty smart, Bam. You can figure it out.”
This time when I see Andy at the library, she’s not sleeping.
“You’re here?” She blinks her pretty, lacy eyelashes at me. I feel myself grow warm all over.
“Your book bag looks heavy. Can’t have you carrying it by yourself.” I sling the bag over my shoulder and hold out the sack with the burrito in it. “It’s not warm, but it’s good food. I ate with Bam earlier.”
She holds the bag up to her nose. “It smells amazing, thank you. Can’t eat in here so let’s—” She points toward the exit. “Don’t you have to be home to read to your sister?” she asks when we’re outside.