“Getting my fucking hair fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Are you injured?”
“I lost half my fucking hair!”
“Why are you yelling at me?”
“I’m yelling at everyone! You’re not special!!!!” she texted back before adding, “I love you. Mom and Dad are coming. Now leave me alone.”
“Coming when?”
Goldie set her notifications to silent, making me roll my eyes. She was such a pain in the ass.
I texted Nine to check on Dalisay.
“She’s bruised up. I made her go to the hospital to get checked. One of those fuckers put his fucking hands around her throat. I’m going to turn the guy into a skid mark!” he texted before adding, “How’s your woman?”
“Nova’s fine.”
“Goldie’s hair is fucked.”
“She’s getting that fixed.”
“I’ll prepare to lie about her ability to pull off a short haircut.”
Though I wanted to find amusement in his comment, I would never be able to look at Goldie’s shorter hair without thinking about those fuckers taking a blade to her.
“The dickheads are here at the hospital.”
“Do you need back up?”
Rather than answer my question, Nine texted, “I don’t want a tenuous peace. There’s a reason they never come at you or me. It’s always the foxes. It’ll ALWAYS be the foxes until one of our sisters is dead. No peace. Get it?”
“I get it. Clint does, too.”
As Nova and Lyric appeared freshly showered, I asked Nine to keep me updated on Dalisay.
“I want to wear the kitty hat you gave me,” Lyric said, holding the pink-and-purple hat in her little hands. “This was a gift.”
“I liked shopping for it with my sister. I hope Goldie comes here soon. I miss my big sister.”
“I miss my big sister, too,” Lyric said and reached for me to pick her up. She studied me closely before smiling softly. “You brought us home.”
Lyric rested her head on my shoulder while I grinned at Nova.
“Are you okay?”
Nova only nodded, fatigue dripping off her. I hugged her and guided them outside.
“Goldie’s getting her hair fixed,” I told Lyric. “Dalisay is at the doctor, making sure she didn’t get too banged up. My parents are on their way to Little Memphis.”
When Nova’s eyes widened, I stroked her head and hugged her tighter. “Everything will be okay. Our family is almost all together.”
Nova mumbled, “I don’t know what to cook for dinner.”
“Don’t cook. Relax instead, and we’ll order food. Let Lula take charge. There’s no telling how many people will be around. You and Lyric need to think about Band-Aids.”
“You need one on your butt,” Lyric told her mom.
