She heard some clatter like the phone dropped, then scrambling like it had been picked up. Her mother’s breathing came through the line once again.
“I’m sorry. I think I heard you say…”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Coast, what the hell? Have you learned nothing from me and my mistakes?”
“You calling me and my brothers mistakes, Ma? Gee, so heartwarming and nurturing,” Coast drawled.
“You know what I mean?—”
“No, I don’t know what you mean, actually. I never know what you mean. You’re just as selfish now as you were when Iwas a kid. I’m not doing this with you.” Coast threw the covers aside and scooted to the edge of the bed.
Mozzi didn’t like how worked up she was getting. Clearly, her mother brought out another side to her. Sitting up, he grabbed the phone from her ear and put it on speaker.
“‘Scuse me?—”
“Who is this?” Marina sniped.
“Your future son-in-law. Sup. Yo, I don’t know the history with you and Trouble but check this out. She’s trying to recover, and she’s pregnant. I don’t want her getting all worked up and shit. So, if you ain’t coming here with the best intentions, I suggest you keep it moving to the next continent.”
Coast smiled. It was nice having someone have her back like that. Her brothers were both mamas’ boys and Marina could do no wrong in their eyes. Only they could talk shit about her when she got set in her ways.
“Oh, I’m definitely coming now. Coast, does your father know you out here knocked up?”
“I haven’t talked to Daddy in weeks.”
“Sounds like it’s about time for a family reunion. Get your rest. And as for you…”
“Yes, ma’am?” Mozzi chimed in.
“Take care of my daughter and her baby.”
“No question.”
The call ended, and Mozzi eased onto his back. Coast scooted closer so she could lean in for a kiss. It was the first time she’d initiated it, taking him by surprise. He cocked one eye open at her after resuming his position with his arm over his head.
“Thank you. Sometimes talking to her drives me crazy,” she muttered. “I’m going to take a shower.”
She hopped out of bed and padded over to his bathroom, and Mozzi stared after her. Coast brushed her teeth, flossed, and used mouthwash as the steam from the shower filled thespace. The thought of her family coming to Ree Heights was a little overwhelming, but also out of her control if and when it happened. She allowed the hot water in the shower to wash over her flesh. The doctor told her to keep her wound covered for the time being, so she did what she could to avoid the bandage getting wet.
Ten minutes later, she stepped into the cool bathroom atmosphere. She grabbed Mozzi’s robe off the back of the door and slipped into it, wincing as pain ripped through her shoulder. Loosely tying it around her waist, she emerged into his bedroom. Seated on the edge of the bed, he allowed Dr. Roche to examine him with the stethoscope against his chest. Coast reached down to tie her robe around her a little tighter when the two of them looked in her direction.
“Good morning. It’s good to see you moving around. How are you feeling?” Dr. Roche queried, satisfied with what he heard from Mozzi as he removed the stethoscope from his ears.
“Still some pain for sure, but I’m good.” She nodded.
“I would like to take a look at your wound and get you rebandaged. Go ahead and get dressed from the waist down. I’ll get Mozzi fixed up first.”
“Okay,” Coast agreed.
She grabbed a pair of Mozzi’s sweats from his dresser and a t-shirt before stepping back into the bathroom to change. By the time she emerged, he was on the edge of his bed, smoking a blunt with his cell phone against his ear and irritation marring his features. The minute his eyes connected to hers, he hung up and set his phone beside him. Dr. Roche removed his gloves. Mozzi eyed him carefully when he examined Coast in a nearby black leather chair in the corner of his room. It was more like a small apartment, with a section arranged like a living room in front of a 70-inch TV mounted above his fireplace.
“Looks good.” Dr. Roche nodded and prepared to change her bandage. “What’s your pain level?”
“About a six.” Coast turned her nose up.
“You are welcome to take Tylenol as directed on the bottle. If that doesn’t cut it, I can prescribe something stronger. Take them as needed and let me know if there are any complications while doing so. Otherwise, how do you feel?”
