Rebel didn’t know exactlywhoAunt Bailey was threatening, but the words sent chills down her spine.
“Let’s see what happens to you then,” CJ finished.
Aunt Bailey stiffened. “I didn’t mean anything by it, boy. Can one of you tell me why Harley couldn’t speak to me on her own?”
“I asked them to be in here with me, Mommie,” Harley answered.
“I assume Meggie is talking to Kendall and Mattie?”
“She is,” Rebel confirmed. “Like we said Daddy called Uncle Mort back to talk to him…you probably saw them and—”
“Potter said they were in the greenhouse.”
Also known as Daddy’s hydrogrow lab.
“As much as I appreciate your support of my daughter, or whatever this is supposed to be, please take a cue from the adults and stay out of my fucking business.”
CJ hurried to Rebel and clapped his hand over her mouth. If Harley hadn’t spoken, Rebel would’ve bitten CJ and ripped Aunt Bailey’s head off.
“We’re each other’s business, Mommie.”
“No! You’ve shamed me,” Aunt Bailey said, returning to that bit of fuckery. “I’m the only Black mama here and look what you’ve done to me.”
CJ tightened his hand and grunted when Rebel caught some of his skin between her teeth.
“Behave,” he gritted, low.
“Lolly’s your mama and she’s Black,” Harley said, sniffling.
“You don’t understand how it is for me, sweet girl.” Aunt Bailey pounded her fist on her chest. “Me! It’s just like Johnnie said.”
“Mommie—”
“But this isn’t about me. It’s about you and Lucas and…and…what a liability I am because I’m not one or the other—”
“I don’t understand what that means, Mommie.”
Rebel shoved CJ’s hand down since it had gone slack. “Neither do I, Aunt Bailey.”
“What Johnnie said a-about me. Why Lucas doesn’t love me anymore. I’m not beautiful like Kendall and M-Meggie. I’m just mid-tier.”
“Uncle Johnnie said that to you?” Rebel asked, too shocked to feel anything but…hurt.
She nodded.
“That fuckhead had no fucking right to fuck with you, Aunt,” CJ gritted. “And I know you’re hurt and hurting because he got into your head. Unfortunately, this can’t be about you right now.Harleyneeds you.”
“Johnnie talked to me for about an hour,” Aunt Bailey said around an alcohol-fumed belch. “We drank Scotch and he h-hugged me and then he left. He was so k-kind and understanding. He made me understand why Lucas doesn’t want another baby with me.”
“Yeah, well, that motherfucker needs to understand the power of Lolly’s fucking broom,” Rebel said crossly, annoyed shehad to feel sorry for Aunt Bailey when she’d been such a raving bitch.
She hiccupped again. “I was just about to get another drink when I was summoned here.”
“How much have you had to drink?” CJ asked.
“A lot.”
That explained her strange behavior. Rebel almost felt guilty for thinking so harshly of her.Almost. If she hadn’t checked out of the family, she’d know better than to trust Uncle Johnnie.
