Total pages in book: 217
Estimated words: 207224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1036(@200wpm)___ 829(@250wpm)___ 691(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 207224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1036(@200wpm)___ 829(@250wpm)___ 691(@300wpm)
Naturally, my eyes go to Otto when she enters. As does everyone else’s, and they all shrink like dying flowers when they see Otto giving her an encouraging nod. “Ohhhh,” I breathe quietly, turning my attention to Danny. He’s the only one who doesn’t look uncomfortable, which means he’s the only one who hasn’t yet grasped why his mother is here. Is he in denial? Or is this plain ignorance?
“I wondered if I might have a word,” Esther says, straightening her shoulders, standing tall, trying with everything she has to appear steadfast and confident.
“Sure.” Danny frowns, but is that because he’s suddenly sensed the atmosphere of Esther’s unusually bold disposition. “We’ll be done in just a moment.”
Esther once again peeks at Otto, who gives her another small, reassuring nod.
“Oh boy,” Brad whispers, pushing his hands into the couch on either side of him, as if trying to get himself up, sucking back air, sustaining the pain.
“Actually”—Esther steps forward, standing even taller—“I have grocery shopping to do, so now works better for me.”
“Someone want to help me?” Brad calls, looking to everyone in the room. We all ignore him. “Okay. Looks like I’m staying.” He slumps back down. “I can’t watch.” He takes the pillow from behind his head and covers his face.
Tilting his head, Danny’s eyes pass over all of our awkward forms, his face straight, but his eyes blazing with realization tell me he’s grasped what’s about to go down. “And you have to leave this moment?” he asks.
“I do.”
“You can’t wait five minutes for me to finish?” He’s being difficult now. Plain difficult, because he’s worried. I might join Brad under that pillow.
“Like I said,” Esther says. “I have things to do, and I would like to get on and do them.”
Danny looks at Otto briefly. Briefly but with enough of a sneer for me to be concerned. “I never appreciated your schedule was so regimented, Mum.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Otto mutters, rising from his chair, prompting Ringo, Goldie, and me to jump up sharpish and announce our departure.
“Take me!” Brad sings, flinging the pillow on the floor.
“Sit down,” Danny barks, rising and slamming his fist on the table.
“Yes, sit down!” Esther yells, and Danny flinches like he’s been shot.
We all lower, except Danny and Otto, who remain poised and growling at each other over the desk.
Esther looks a little red in the face, like she could be holding on to her temper. I will her to let it go, release the pressure and let Danny have it. I might not be sure about Otto and Esther, but they’re fucking grown-ups. This is not Danny’s call.
Breathing heavy, fists clenched and white where they’re wedged into the wood of his desk, Danny shakes. Whether that be with anger or restraint, I don’t know. It takes everything in me not to fall apart when I see Brad stretching for the pillow, grappling at thin air, unable to reach it.
“Sit down!” Esther snaps again, and Danny drops to his chair with eyes like saucers and his mouth slightly agape. I’d laugh if I knew he wouldn’t shoot me. I peek at Goldie and Ringo. Both of them look red in the face from holding their breath and their amusement in check.
“Right.” Esther plants her hands on her hips, meaning business. “Let us get this out in the open, shall we?”
“No,” Danny grunts.
“Please, no,” Brad says quietly.
“Shut the fuck up, Brad,” Esther, Otto, and Danny all yell in unison, and he retreats quickly, covering his face with his hands. He should watch, because The Brit is about to be put in his place, and it’s going to be entertaining.
“I’m seeing someone,” she declares.
I smile, brushing the side of my index finger across my mouth to try and hide it.
“No, you’re not,” Danny grates.
“Yes, she is.” Otto pipes up. “Me.” As if he needed to say it. Goldie is now sucking her cheeks in, Ringo looks more worried than amused at this point, and Brad is shaking his head in his darkness.
“I beg to differ.”
“Come on, Danny,” I say gently.
He points at me. “Shut the fuck up.”
I’m letting that slide, but only because he’s emotional.
“No, Mum. No. You’re better than-than-than”—his pointed finger turns to Otto—“that.”
I’ve known Otto for many years. He has the patience of a saint. It’s about to snap and I’d rather not be here for it. What the fuck, Danny? Back the fuck down. “Are you saying you’re a better man than I am, Black?” Otto rumbles, his chest seeming to expand, his breathing deepening.
“I’m saying nothing about me.”
“Boys!” Esther cries.
“You’re saying you deserve Rose?” Otto muses menacingly. “But I don’t deserve a woman like your mother?”
Jesus, if Danny’s nostrils flare anymore, Otto’s fists will disappear up them when he punches him. I glance at my oldest friend, silently urging him to look at me so I can will him to take a few deep, calming breaths and not do anything stupid. It’s the whole fucking point Esther is here, to try and appeal to Danny’s reasonable side, since no one else can. And she’s one of the only people in this world who Black wouldn’t hurt. Fucking hell. But Otto doesn’t look at me, his bearded, pierced face becoming more menacing by the second.