Me – Cole told me about a banquet you had to attend.
Lila – Eh, it’s a stuffy thing. I got out of it. I got this.
Me – Thank you.
And then I winked at my girl, “She’s in.”
Madalyn whooped.
Cole asked, “She’s going to make it to my game?”
I nodded, “Doesn’t she take y’all to get frozen yogurt after?”
He nodded.
I had just pulled away from the school when my phone rang.
Seeing the caller on my display in the truck, I hit accept.
“You got the dough; we got the hoe.” I teased.
“My woman would cut my balls off,” Clutch said with a chuckle.
I snickered, “I can totally see Cora doing that. What’s up?”
“Got a fight coming up in a few months, it’s...” he started to say.
“Going to have to stop you right there, my man. After my last fight and how badly I was hurt, I’m not risking my health and leaving my kids alone. I can’t do it.”
“Well, if you had let me finish, you big bastard, I would have told you that I needed your help training him. He’s almost as stubborn as you are.”
“Big bastard? You and I are the same size, fucker.”
“Negative, negative. You got two inches on me and about fifty pounds. My nickname for you works. So, you got the time?”
I sighed, I really did have the time, and it wouldn’t be a thing to add someone to my roster, “Yeah, I got it. Give him the gym’s address, yeah?”
He snickered, “Done. And he’s waiting for you there.”
And then the fucker hung up.
He. Hung. Up. On. Me.
Don’t do it.
Don’t...fuck it.
I hit the button and listened to it ring.
Cora’s voice filled my cab, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t my husband’s pain in the ass.” She giggled. “How are you, B? How are Cole and Madalyn?”
“Good. Both of them. Couldn’t be prouder of them than I already am.”
“I love that for them. So, what’s up?”
“Has Clutch done anything to piss you off today?” I asked.
She was silent for a beat, “Why?”
