Page 56 of Me For You
I smiled proudly because I always pushed her to eat vegetables. I wouldn’t break her heart and tell her that tomatoes were technically considered a fruit. “Can I go play in my room until it’s time to go look at my new school?”
“You can,”I confirmed.
She lifted her plate, taking it into the kitchen and leaving it on the counter before running off to her room. I smiled like a proud parent because day by day I was seeing the changes in Rylee.
“You asked her to get matcha?”
“You love that nasty shit. Most of the time when I was video calling Rylee, you were drinking one.”
He noticed…
“I’m not a huge coffee drinker.”
“Because you would rather drink green chalk.”He smiled smugly.“You sure you don’t have kids? You’re really good at this.”
“I guess you can say by default I have kids. Fourteen to be exact. My students.”
He took a bite of one of the subs, devouring half before his hands were moving again after what he didn’t consume was back on the plate.“Your negotiating skills are good as hell. I would have bombed that whole thing about school. You got her hype over art classes.”
I grinned.“The art of negotiation is finding what they like and using it in your favor. I suggest you take a crash course. Watch me work. You might learn a few things.”I brushed my shoulder then lifted my sub, taking a bite.
“Oh, I’m watching you, Somee. Trust.”His hands moved slowly as he smiled sexily.
His gaze crawled over my body before he lifted his sub, making me wish his mouth was on me instead and that was an entire problem.
Me: Tell me no
Marlee: Sorry frennn. No can do. YES. YES. YES. Whatever you’re debating, my answer is yes.
Me: So then you want me to smuggle forty keys back in my suitcases because I met a guy who offered me a great deal and this could be a come up?
Marlee: I mean… I don’t know shit about slinging keys but I’m sure a quick internet search would give us everything we need to know. Probably can find a whole how-to guide on becoming queen pins from VidShare. If you can get us the product on the low, I say why not.
I laughed,then typed back.
Me: So you’re just all in with potentially becoming a queen pin with me? No questions asked?
Marlee: Until the wheels fall off means we’re taking felonies together, fren. So yes, but I doubt that’s our future because your scary ass would nevvvaaa. Now tell me what I’m really hyping you about.
I cracked a smile and glanced to my left where Ryland was in the middle of signing autographs and engaging in a conversation that he looked like he didn’t want to have with a few staff members from Chandler Academy.
He’d only agreed because of the way Rylee’s face lit up while visiting the classrooms. He wanted to make a good impression on the staff. She enjoyed herself so much that while we were touring and got to peek in on a music class, they offered to let her stay for the forty-minute session after she begged us to let her. While we waited, the staff decided to make good use of Ryland’s time and I moved out the way to text Marlee.
Me: I’m queen pin material. I’m offended that you think I’m not.
Marlee: You know how on First 48 they get the suspect in the interrogation room and wait them out, then come back hours later with a bag of chips and a soda and they start singing like a bird? That would be you, frennn, and if they up the ante and put a matcha on the table, we’re all going down.
Me: I mean… you have a point, but still.
Marlee: Okay now back on track. What am I hyping you about?
Me: Would it be terrible if I somehow found myself in Ryland’s bed?
Marlee: Are you fucking or being fucked?
Me: Why does that matter?
Marlee: I need to know how down bad you are. If you’re the one willing to take control, this is a level ten.
