Read Online August: Calendar Girl Book 8 by Audrey Carlan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Audrey Carlan
Ads: Link
never really recovered from losing her.”
Max scowled and grumbled something I would have sworn was, “I know the feeling,” but I dismissed it instantly. He didn’t know our mother, but then again, he’d said he didn’t know his own, so maybe that’s what he meant.
There was a long pause as Max ripped at his paper napkin and I got lost in the past. Remembering some of the times when Maddy and I would have loved the solidarity of a mother, a female to look up to as we grew into women.
The waiter delivered our food, and for a few moments we were content to just eat together. Eventually, Max took a ginormous bite of his enchilada and then put down his fork. When he’d chewed and swallowed, he clasped his hands in front of him, leaning his chin on them. “Will you tell me about Madison?” His voice came out soft, almost needy.
Since I was like a proud mama bear, I had absolutely no problem speaking of my girl. “Maddy, or Mads, as I call her”—he smiled and picked up his fork once more, almost as if he was hunkering down into the story and the meal at the same time—“she’s beautiful. Long blond hair, super tall and slim with eyes like mine. Though she’s turning more womanly every day.”
“She’s not a brunette?” He scoffed, which I thought was strange, but I didn’t mention it.
“Nope, she’s my opposite.” I looked at his shocked face and clocked each of his features. “You know”—I laughed—“she looks more like you than she does me! You should have had her pretend to be your sister!” I giggled and his jaw clenched.
“Is your father blond?”
I shook my head. “No, his hair is also dark. Mads is a throwback to our grandmother, I think. At least, that’s what Pops said.”
“Hmm. Okay, what else? You said she’s in school?”
I sat up a little straighter. “She’s going to be a scientist and a doctor!” There was absolutely no shame in my game. My baby sis was going to make something amazing out of her life, and I couldn’t be more proud.
“You sound really excited about this.”
Tilting my head to the side, I watched him while he pushed his food around, no longer seeming interested in his plate. “Why shouldn’t I be? I’ve been raising her to be something incredible my whole life. I’ve had to be her mom, dad, and sister for the last fifteen years. And I’m paying for her schooling, peddling my ass around from state to state to do it and to save our dad.”
His brow narrowed and his eyes turned into slits. “Tell me about what kind of trouble your dad got into. You said he was into gambling. Did something happen?”
I plopped a bite of tostada into my mouth, appreciating the crunch of the lettuce and the mixture of the asada, cheese, green sauce, and beans. So good. Max waited patiently while I chewed. “Turns out he owed some loan sharks a hefty bill. He couldn’t pay up, as usual. They beat him within an inch of his life. Put him in a coma. Cornered me in the hospital and told me if they didn’t get their money, they’d kill him for sure, and if he died, they’d go after me and Maddy. Something they called survivor’s debt.” I shifted in my seat and pushed my hair back from my face. “Unfortunately, I know the bastard that loaned him the money. He’s my ex, and he’s ruthless. He’d take me down just as easily as my dad and sister if he doesn’t get his cash. So I’m doing what I need to do to pay him off.”
“What do you owe?”
A normal person would probably keep this bit of information to herself, but I’d had enough of keeping secrets. Sometimes a person needed to let the shit out or it would swallow her whole. “A million dollars.”
Max’s eyes widened.
“I know. Crazy, right?”
He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the booth. “And your fee is a hundred thousand a month. So you’re paying installments?”
I put a finger to my nose. “Bingo was his name-O!” I laughed, but he didn’t even crack a
Max scowled and grumbled something I would have sworn was, “I know the feeling,” but I dismissed it instantly. He didn’t know our mother, but then again, he’d said he didn’t know his own, so maybe that’s what he meant.
There was a long pause as Max ripped at his paper napkin and I got lost in the past. Remembering some of the times when Maddy and I would have loved the solidarity of a mother, a female to look up to as we grew into women.
The waiter delivered our food, and for a few moments we were content to just eat together. Eventually, Max took a ginormous bite of his enchilada and then put down his fork. When he’d chewed and swallowed, he clasped his hands in front of him, leaning his chin on them. “Will you tell me about Madison?” His voice came out soft, almost needy.
Since I was like a proud mama bear, I had absolutely no problem speaking of my girl. “Maddy, or Mads, as I call her”—he smiled and picked up his fork once more, almost as if he was hunkering down into the story and the meal at the same time—“she’s beautiful. Long blond hair, super tall and slim with eyes like mine. Though she’s turning more womanly every day.”
“She’s not a brunette?” He scoffed, which I thought was strange, but I didn’t mention it.
“Nope, she’s my opposite.” I looked at his shocked face and clocked each of his features. “You know”—I laughed—“she looks more like you than she does me! You should have had her pretend to be your sister!” I giggled and his jaw clenched.
“Is your father blond?”
I shook my head. “No, his hair is also dark. Mads is a throwback to our grandmother, I think. At least, that’s what Pops said.”
“Hmm. Okay, what else? You said she’s in school?”
I sat up a little straighter. “She’s going to be a scientist and a doctor!” There was absolutely no shame in my game. My baby sis was going to make something amazing out of her life, and I couldn’t be more proud.
“You sound really excited about this.”
Tilting my head to the side, I watched him while he pushed his food around, no longer seeming interested in his plate. “Why shouldn’t I be? I’ve been raising her to be something incredible my whole life. I’ve had to be her mom, dad, and sister for the last fifteen years. And I’m paying for her schooling, peddling my ass around from state to state to do it and to save our dad.”
His brow narrowed and his eyes turned into slits. “Tell me about what kind of trouble your dad got into. You said he was into gambling. Did something happen?”
I plopped a bite of tostada into my mouth, appreciating the crunch of the lettuce and the mixture of the asada, cheese, green sauce, and beans. So good. Max waited patiently while I chewed. “Turns out he owed some loan sharks a hefty bill. He couldn’t pay up, as usual. They beat him within an inch of his life. Put him in a coma. Cornered me in the hospital and told me if they didn’t get their money, they’d kill him for sure, and if he died, they’d go after me and Maddy. Something they called survivor’s debt.” I shifted in my seat and pushed my hair back from my face. “Unfortunately, I know the bastard that loaned him the money. He’s my ex, and he’s ruthless. He’d take me down just as easily as my dad and sister if he doesn’t get his cash. So I’m doing what I need to do to pay him off.”
“What do you owe?”
A normal person would probably keep this bit of information to herself, but I’d had enough of keeping secrets. Sometimes a person needed to let the shit out or it would swallow her whole. “A million dollars.”
Max’s eyes widened.
“I know. Crazy, right?”
He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the booth. “And your fee is a hundred thousand a month. So you’re paying installments?”
I put a finger to my nose. “Bingo was his name-O!” I laughed, but he didn’t even crack a
Similar Books
