“Yeah, so did you really tell Grandpa to fuck off when he threatened to cut off your inheritance?”
Bedo stops to meet my stare. His lips abandon the irritated grim line and I swear he almost gives in to a smile, but before it happens he steps ahead and pushes the back door open. “I take it you’re probably hungry in addition to needing lodging accommodations.”
“Yeah. See, it’s weird, but since I’m human and all, I do need to eat.” I hate that he’s equating my survival skills to that of a toddler. I know how to take care of myself just fine. Hell, I charmed my way to a free turkey sandwich from the front receptionist earlier, and I do havesomemoney. I had the forethought to pull a couple hundred in cash from my account, but I need to use that sparingly. By now, I’m sure my father’s shut down my credit cards . . . if my mother hasn’t.
“The smart ass thing? That work well for you at home?” He disarms his waiting BMW.
“Why? You don’t appreciate my sense of humor? ’Cause I can keep it up all night long.”
“Get in the damn car.” He slides in the front seat and mutters to himself. I can’t make it out exactly, other than a few cuss words. Not wanting him to drive off without me—and I don’t put it past him—I toss my bag in the passenger seat and buckle up.
“You too fancy for In-N-Out?”
“Everyone’s shit stinks.”
“Burgers and fries it is.”
I may have a long way to go to earning my uncle’s trust, let alone a relationship, but in spite of what he says, he doesn’t hate me. Not the way he does his parents. He wouldn’t have to hide his smile at my jokes if he did. And even though I’ve blackmailed my way into this job, he doesn’t resent me the way he does my parents. At least not yet.
* * *
“Morning, sunshine.”
I’m blinded by the searing lights overhead, but before I can roll under the covers, I’m met with my uncle’s freshly shaven face.
“What time is it?” I rub the sleep from my eyes and let loose a yawn.
“Six in the fucking morning.” He claps his hands and I swear to God, smiles. Fuck, he’s a morning person. He slaps the wall and turns to leave, his shoes clapping against the polished wood floors of his condo. “We’re leaving in twenty.”
“Fuuuck . . .” I need coffee. I roll out of bed and scrounge through my bag, pulling on a pair of clean underwear and jeans before stumbling to the bathroom. There’s no time for a shower, so after I hit the head I wash my hands and splash water on my face, styling my hair to tamp down the crazy bedhead.
My uncle sits at the end of his kitchen table, the television from the other room blaring with entertainment news. His eyes bounce from his laptop to his phone as he shovels oatmeal in his mouth. He doesn’t glance up so I make myself at home in search of the only thing that’ll get my mind working.
My stomach grumbles, but first, coffee. I fill a cup from his espresso machine and reach for a banana on the counter before joining him at the table.
He glances over the screen of his computer and his lips pinch with disapproval as I peel back the banana.
“Want some?” I mumble through a mouthful.
He releases atsk, shakes his head, and goes back to his screens as the reporter from the other room runs down the latest in celebrity gossip.
. . . Everyone is wondering who’s the daddy as Operation Baby Bump watch continues.
In other juicy gossip, rumors are running wild with the sudden delay of Three Ugly Guys summer tour dates. They’ve already rescheduled the first week, sending Los Angeles, Arizona, and Colorado fans into utter despair. An inside source close to the band hints this delay has nothing to do with the death of their former band member, but rather from disputes with their current label. Sony and Universal are sure to be sniffing around. Could this be the end of the longstanding relationship between Off Track Records and 3UG?
I quirk an eyebrow. “Leaving the label? I just got here.”
The correspondent's cut short as the screen goes black. My uncle shakes his head, holding the remote in his hand before tossing it across the room. “They don’t know shit,” he mutters under his breath and packs up his briefcase.
Dismissed, I chug the remaining coffee in my mug and toss the banana peel into the trash on the way to get my bag, not entirely confident my uncle won’t take off without me if I’m not ready when he decides to leave.
Coming back into the living room, I find him leaning against the door, tapping into his phone. “You ready or what?”
“Yeah.” I nod and slide my feet into my white Chucks, not bothering to tie the laces as I follow him out the door.
He doesn’t say much on the way to the office, but for letting loose a few expletives at the long line of traffic. I have to wonder whether the gossip we heard this morning holds any truth. I want to bring it up again, but at the same time don’t need to piss him off first thing in the morning. We have all day for that.
I settle for mindless scrolling through my phone, only that’s interrupted with the loss of Wi-Fi. “What the—?” I shake my head and dive into my phone’s settings, finding it’s no longer connected to a data plan.My parents.
