I snorted and pointed behind him. “We’re just fine, oh fearless leader,” Bronze said jovially.
Copper pulled his younger brother in for a half-hug and slapped him on the back. “I can see that. Fuck, man, you stink,” he said as he moved to do the same with Batta.
“That’s the smell of victory, Prez,” Batta chuckled and rubbed his sweaty armpits all over Copper’s shirt.
“You motherfucker,” Copper growled and shoved Batta away.
“Nice fight, man. Never seen anyone as good as you are in person,” I told Bronze.
“Thanks, brother. I’m a little rusty, but I’d love to start some light training again.”
“If you’re ever looking for someone to spar with, let me know,” I offered. “You’ll probably whoop my ass, but I’d love to learn some of what you know.”
Bronze smiled. “I’d be happy to teach you some of my secret moves.”
“Will you take those fucking contacts out already? You’re creeping me out,” Tiny said.
Bronze laughed. “Yeah, that was the point.”
“Quit fucking around and start helping us get this place secured. I want to get home to my woman,” Copper ordered.
Judge snorted. “She’s over at my mom’s house, Prez. She didn’t tell you?”
“No, she fucking didn’t. Doesn’t surprise me since I wouldn’t tell her where I was going tonight. That woman,” he said and grinned.
15
Avery
After a week in the hospital, I was finally allowed to go home. I still felt awful and threw up several times a day, but the medicine the doctor prescribed had helped make it bearable. She also assured me that even though I was surviving on Coke and Cheez-Its, my baby was okay.
I still hadn’t fully come to terms with the fact that I was even having a baby, much less who the child’s father was. My main focus every day was to throw up as little as possible so that I could take care of my children. The first few days were rough, but by the end of the week, I had developed somewhat of a routine.
I was sitting at the kitchen table staring at a bowl of grits trying to decide if I really wanted to test fate when my mother dropped into the chair beside me. “Sweetheart, remember what the doctor said. Don’t force yourself to eat if you don’t think you can keep it down.”
I sighed and sat back in my chair. “Mom,” I whined. “I’m the only pregnant person in the world who can’t gain weight. Look at me,” I said and waved my hand up and down my body. “I look like the pregnant chick in that vampire movie.”
Mom scoffed. “You most certainly do not. She was much farther along in her pregnancy than you are when she looked so sickly.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Any time, dear,” she said and patted my hand.
“Mommy! Mommy!” my daughter squealed as she came running into the kitchen.
“Good morning, Riles! Did you have a good sleep?” I asked.
“I did! I dreamed I was a fairy princess and lived in a big castle by the sea. Nana was my fairy grandmother, and you were the fairy queen. We had big, fluffy dresses, and we got to eat ice cream whenever we wanted. Even for breakfast!”
“Sorry, little princess, but you’re not having ice cream for breakfast,” I laughed.
“That’s okay. I love Nana’s breakfasts,” she said excitedly.
Riley was a morning person, just like her father. My son, however, was just like his mother and took a little longer to be pleasant in the morning.
Right on cue, he stumbled into the kitchen and fell into the chair. Then, he proceeded to lay his head on his folded arms. “Morning, Mommy,” he grumbled.
“Good morning, Brax. Did you have a good sleep?”
