Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Well, at recess, Bentley Parsons said to me that he heard his mom tell his dad that you’s a stwipper.”
I felt my heart crack down the middle.
“Bentley said to you that Mommy is a stripper?”
“My mommy, not his. He said his mommy’s a party pwanner. What’s a party pwanner?”
“Someone who plans and organizes parties for other people.” And gossips about other people and gives their kid a stupid name.
“I thinks I wants to be a party pwanner when I’s a grown-up.”
“I think you’d be an excellent party planner, Gigi girl.” I smiled at her in the rearview mirror.
It was quiet for a moment, and I thought I’d dodged a bullet—until she said, “You didn’t answer my question, Mommy.”
My heart sank. “What question was that?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “I said, what’s a stwipper?”
I knew there was no avoiding it, and I wasn’t going to lie to her, so I took a deep breath and told her the truth, “Well, a stripper is a person who dances in front of people as a job, like Mommy did at the club, but the difference is that a stripper removes their clothes, and Mommy never did that when she danced.”
I glanced at her in my rearview again and saw that her eyes were as wide as saucers.
“They gets naked?” she whispered.
“No, not totally naked. They keep their underwear on.”
Okay, so I had to lie a little. I didn’t want to scar her little mind for life.
“So, Gigi, if Bentley Parsons or anyone else says that your mommy is a stripper, you tell them they’re wrong.”
“Oh, I dids, Mommy. I said he was a big, fat wiar. I said that’s my mommy is a ballerina, and she’s the most beautiful ballerina ever.”
Then, I did cry. Not because I was sad. Well, a little because I was sad. But mostly because I had the best kid in the whole world.
Zeus has brought me out to dinner. He said we needed to get out and spend some time together. Aunt Elle offered to look after Gigi. They’re having pamper and movie night.
We’ve come to Louie’s Oyster Bar & Grille. They do amazing seafood, and we’re seated at a table that offers both privacy and a great view over Manhasset Bay.
But it seems that privacy still isn’t enough. Because not long after we’ve placed our order for food, someone having dinner there gets up from their table and comes over to ask for Zeus’s autograph. And that brings more people.
Zeus obliges, signing autographs and even posing for a few pictures.
I’m trying not to feel resentful. But, after having a camera shoved in my face for over a week, my patience is starting to wear thin.
I get that these people support him. But they could also be the people listening to the gossip being spread and spreading it themselves.
“I’m going to the restroom,” I tell Zeus, pushing my chair out, as he talks boxing with this overly eager thirty-something woman.
I take my time in there. Reapplying my lipstick, fluffing out my hair. I’m basically wasting time before I have to go back to our dinner for two, plus one and whoever else might have turned up.
I exit the restroom, and I’m surprised to see Zeus leaning against the opposite wall, waiting for me.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod.
“Let me ask again. Are you okay? And don’t lie this time.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “No,” I answer truthfully. “We’ve had a shitty week. And we’re supposed to be here, spending time together, but the only time we’ve actually done that tonight was in the car on the way here because, since we arrived, everyone else has been commanding your attention. And I know that it’s not your fault. But I’m feeling pissy and irrational right now, so I’m blaming you.”
“So…am I to take it that you’re not enjoying yourself?”
My eyes flash to his, and the fucker is smiling.
“Ass.” I give him a shove in his shoulder.
He grabs hold of my wrist and hauls me into his big body, wrapping his arms around me. He brushes his lips over me, and I relax at his touch…his taste.
“I’m sorry,” he says, pressing his forehead to mine. “I wanted tonight to be just ours, too.”
I sigh. “I know. It just sucks at the moment.”
“You wanna get out of here? Go somewhere that sucks a little less?”
“Or sucks better,” I quip.
He chuckles deep. I feel the vibrations from his chest creep into mine.
I tip my head back a little and stare into his eyes. “We’ve already ordered our food,” I say grimly.
“They’re wrapping the food up as we speak, so we can take it with us.”
My brow lifts. “So, we were already leaving?”
He gives me a boyish smile. “I know you well, Dove.”
“Clearly.”
He presses his lips to mine again. “I was thinking we could take the food back to my place, and I could use you as my dinner plate.”