Dreaming by Shayne McClendon

Author:Shayne McClendon [McClendon, Shayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Always the Good Girl LLC
Published: 2021-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Mid-November 2017

Dennis busted his ass for five days to pull himself and his house together. He had to have his studio gutted, rebuilt, and filled with new instruments before Nia returned.

He was haggard physically and ashamed emotionally for giving up on her, but he was determined to never doubt her again. After hearing her story, he wanted to take care of her while she took care of everyone else.

Making a call to his father, he asked him to take over running his bar for a couple of months. “I messed some shit up, Dad. I need to take care of it and I need your help.”

“I’ll be there but I won’t promise to give it back. You, uh, stock in the white rum still?”

Laughing, Dennis answered, “You know I do. I keep a full bottle of Appleton’s waiting for you, Dad.”

“I’ll see you in a few days. Haven’t hugged my boy in too long. You got a girl?”

“Yeah, Dad. I got a girl. She’s recovering from an illness but when she’s better, you can meet her.”

“Ah! You want me to meet her! My heart, Dennis! My poor heart!” He chuckled at his own humor. “She must be special.”

“She is. Her name is Nia.”

“Gonna hold you to an introduction. That will be a first.” He sucked his teeth. “Except for that stupid girl had a baby for you. Ah, well. Let me get off here. This white lady I’m dating wants to see dolphins so we’re going to an aquarium. You believe this, Dennis? Seeing dolphins in an aquarium?”

Grinning, Dennis said, “You know white people can be a little out there, Dad. Be patient. I love you.”

“Love you, too!”

Hanging up, one of his security people put his hand out in disbelief and Dennis arched a brow. “Dude, what? You know white people are crazy. Don’t act like you don’t know, Lloyd.”

Sighing, he shrugged. “You’re right. I can’t lie.” Pointing down the hall, he added, “They’re done with the booth. You ready for the delivery?”

“Have them load the instruments in but the piano needs to go along the right side of the room. I don’t care about the rest. Cleaning people here yet?”

“Upstairs.”

Dennis rubbed his temple. “I want to bring her mom here but…ugh.”

“Nellie is being guarded separate from Nicole but I’d be worried about it, too. Her sister sees this place and she’s liable to take Nia out.”

“Not remotely amusing.”

“Oh, no…I’m serious.”

“She’s immature and a little crazy but…I don’t think she’s that bad.”

Tilting his head, Lloyd explained carefully, “It’s no mistake that Nicki calls the house hers, the car hers. Talks about money constantly like she has any. We had to stop her from driving Nia’s Jag all the time. Nellie got her husband’s and son’s benefits when they died but Nia won’t let her use that. She supports her mom and sister completely. She cleaned the money she made, you know, in the beginning. Paid for Nicki’s education, her mom’s condo, their protective details.”

Hands on his hips, Dennis asked, “I thought Nicki didn’t know she had a bodyguard…”

“Oh, she didn’t when she was a kid.

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