“Most?” Bear said, keeping it quiet so that the room wouldn’t have any more ammunition to tease Kelly with.
“Okay, all of us have our moments. Don’t worry about Count.” Kelly smiled. “If the lab boy isn’t pulling his weight, you tell me.”
She laughed. It was soft, but I didn’t have to look at Count to know he was paying attention. “He’s alright. Just a friend.”
“I’ve heard that one before,” I snorted, filling my plate with a handful of chips.
“How’s that working out for you?” Bear smirked.
It’d work better if El Sombra Roja showed.
“Oh, right.” Kelly wrapped her arms around herself. “Thank you for inviting me to the wedding. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Congratulations.” She said goodbye to Bear and then snuck out.
No sooner had we heard the front door close than Bear turned on Count. “You fucking idiot.” She got right up in his face, and Slate quickly moved to stand next to them, in case he had to intervene. “You just gave her more of the same shit she experienced in the clubhouse. Good job, Romeo.”
Bear left soon after that, but we didn’t have any other visitors the rest of the day.
I seriously didn’t think Alex would show.
If he didn’t, this game would start all over.
***
Elizabeth
My leg bounced as I trapped JR between my arm and my chest. I had little hand strength anymore, but as long as he wasn’t squirmy, he was safe with me. The minute he started fussing, someone would take him, but for now, I stole his happy baby giggles for myself. I didn’t feel like focusing on the dinner conversation floating around me.
“Here.” Chef set a plate down in front of Kyle. He was strong enough to sit in the main room, and Grace insisted he have a spot at dinner. Grace liked harmony, so as long as he was here, she was going to smother him with family.
“I’m good,” he said, trying to wave Chef off, as his cheeks blazed red.
“Don’t insult my food. When you’re strong enough, you can stand in line like everyone else.”
No one laughed at Kyle’s expense. I wondered why, when they were so quick to poke fun at each other. Turning towards the rest of the table, it wasn’t hard to figure out what was happening. Thunder was mean-mugging anyone who thought about opening their mouths. I knew he would have done the same thing for me, but watching him stand up for Kyle made my heart skip a beat.
“How come you don’t have a plate, Aunt E?” Chef focused on me.
I gently guided JR’s hand into a wave. “I’m not…hungry.”
He was about to say something, but Grace jumped in. “It’s okay. We had a little snack on the way home.” She had meant well, but Grace wasn’t the best at playing innocent. She gave away the plot, as red crept up her neck and into her cheeks. If I ever needed a believable lie, I’d go to Meredith first.
Sabre shifted forward in his chair as he dropped his fork. It made a pinging sound as it hit the edge of his plate, splattering a little spaghetti sauce on the table. “Snack?” he asked Grace.
“Yup.” She continued to twirl her fork, pretending not to pay him any attention.
“Was it the burger place or the fast-food joint, Mama?”
She didn’t answer him, so when he reached over and tipped her chin up, holding her gaze, she was putty. “Shakes,” she said. “The guy in the drive-thru said he wouldn’t see you tonight. He gets off at seven.”
Sabre laughed before pecking her lips. “I’ve thought about buying the cartons, to save me the trip, but that shit would be gone.” His hand disappeared from view, and I could only imagine he’d placed it on Grace’s stomach.
Thunder made a noise next to me, and I gently made JR wave at him, hoping it would smooth his displeasure. I didn’t think he cared about the shake, and the burger was still my secret. He was trying to give me space to tell him about my therapy, but I didn’t want to discuss the latest.
He was leaning forward, so when he placed his fork on the side of his plate, turning to look at me, it was obvious there was no escape. “Does your aunt think I’m blind?” he asked JR, reaching out to tickle the baby’s belly.
“No, she thinks you’re old,” Pretty laughed. His eyes twinkled as he leaned forward, scanning the end of the table until he landed on Cyph. “At least Thunder can still get it up for his age.”
Cyph stood up from the table, placing his hands on the edge. His glasses sat cock-eyed on his nose.
