“You know I am. You see them when you open the top drawer in my bathroom cabinet. I have double reminders set so I don’t forget them. I know you want me safe and another pregnancy will keep me close to home. But these are little humans that are more than just my lock and key. They require a lot of attention.”
“You changed your mind about the hysterectomy,” he argued.
“Let’s get Jo home first. Let me take Rebel away for mother/daughter time once or twice. I promise I won’t have the surgery any time soon.”
“Not cuz ofme. Cuz ofthem.”
“It’s because I love you and them. You need me. They need me. Besides, you and Bash have reached an agreement. You don’t need to get me pregnant as a safety measure.”
According toher. According to Christopher, he needed to get her pregnant so she wouldn’t fucking leave him. He couldn’t very well kidnap her for a month if she insisted she’d return. That would make him look like a fucking…just what the fuck he was: an obsessed fuckhead who didn’t want to live without his woman.
“Now, about Celia,” she said as if the matter was settled.
“What the fuck about her?” he asked, his mind spinning.
“You can’t use her as a bargaining chip or a target every time Bash does something. Or you think he does something. That isn’t fair and it also leaves me vulnerable.”
“Fine, Megan. I’ll fuckin’ apologize toherand think about the rest. Anything else?”
Sitting up and sliding out of bed, she smiled tenderly. “How about a bath with me and a massage? I’ll tell you all about my phone call with Gypsy.”
Although that was the last bitch he wanted to discuss, he’d suffer through it because he’d be in Megan’s loving arms.
After a nap, CJ awakened with a slightly better perspective, even though he was still so fucking disappointed that Nardo, Ned,andWally, Jr. were still on the loose. Instead of dwelling on those three motherfuckers, he texted Diesel and asked if he could borrow his Mercedes to visit Molly.
I’m in the rose garden.
That was a choice. CJ kept that to himself, grabbed his wallet, and headed downstairs. Laughter floated up the staircase. As he reached the second-floor landing, he halted and listened.
“That’s so cool, Harley,” Axel gushed.
“Even though you won again, it is, Harls,” Mattie agreed.
“What do you say, Huahua?” Rebel asked. “Do you think Harley is cheating?”
“How can she cheat at darts, Chi?” Kaia asked.
Ignoring the validity of Kaia’s question, CJ rolled his eyes.Chi and Huahua. Whatever. If Kaia wanted to be a corny motherfucker that wasn’t CJ’s goddamn business.
“Kaia’s right, Rebel,” Harley said tentatively. “I’m not cheating. Daddy taught me to play.”
“Uncle Mort’s so cool,” Axel said. “He can put out acigarette with his fingers.”
“Daddy can, too,” Rebel said.
“Uncle Mort’s way cooler than Dad,” Axel declared.
CJ didn’t have time to continue spying. He wanted to get to the hospital and back home in time for dinner. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to go to school until Monday. New week, fresh start. But he needed his mind straight even if Mom announced he’d attend tomorrow.
Harley laughed and CJ smiled, finishing his descent to the first floor and heading to the rose garden. He glanced at the natatorium door. One day he’d go back in there. Today wasn’t that day.
When CJ walked into his mother’s rose garden, he found Diesel sitting on one of the wrought iron benches, smoking a cigarette, his car keys next to him.
He refused to look at CJ.
Shaking his head, CJ walked over and snatched up the keys, then turned on his heel, intending to leave Diesel alone.
“You’re a fuckhead.”
