“You want to know something?” She sniffled and stared at him with glossed over eyes. “Right when I was about to give up and accept whatever that was, you were there. You saved me, and now I bet you’re probably wishing you hadn’t.”
“Ayla—”
“I’m going to check on the kids, and then I’m going to bed.” She looked him up and down before turning and padding down the hall to the room where Kyro and Kara were.
Swiping his beard, Kong lowered his head in defeat. He’d fucked up this moment, that was for sure. Ayla found Kara and Kyro sleeping, and without another word to him, she started up the stairs to her bedroom. He heard the door shut, and although he wanted to go after her, he thought maybe they both might need a minute.
CHAPTER TWELVE
EVERYTHING TO ME
Inari stirred in Moose’s arms the next morning. His phone was buzzing like crazy against the surface of the night table on his side of the bed. He might as well have been sleeping in another galaxy with how he was snoring into the pillow. Pinching sleep from her eyes, Inari reached over him to pick up the phone.Bitch Ass Baby Mamaflashed over the screen, and she had to double check the time in the corner of his phone. It wasn’t even nine am yet, and she was calling. Moose stirred but didn’t wake up.
“Your daughter’s mother is calling.”
“Answer that shit,” he grumbled.
“Morgan, I am not answering for that bitch.”
“Why not? Show her it’s real.” He still didn’t open his eyes.
“The last thing we need is tension with her. Things are going good. Finally. I’m not trying to be the reason you have to keep fighting for a place in your daughter’s life.” Inari sat up and pressed her back against the sleigh style headboard.
“That ain’t happening,” Moose responded, pulling the covers up to his bare chest.
“You don’t know that.” Inari looked down at his phone.
It stopped ringing, but Tulla called right back.
“I ain’t talking to her ass. So, you better answer that shit, or she just gon’ keep calling.” He shifted onto his stomach and buried his head in the pillow.
Cutting her gaze to his handsome face, Inari rolled her eyes and swiped to pick up.
“Hello,” she said after clearing her throat.
“Put Moose on the phone,” Tulla demanded.
“He’s sleeping right now. Don’t you know it’s rude to call people before eleven a.m.?”
“I don’t give a fuck. He has my child, so he needs to answer the phone any fucking time I call.”
“Okay, so what do you want?” Inari studied her nails, thinking she needed a fill soon.
Maybe she, Coast, and Ayla could go today before the barbecue. She wanted desperately to reconnect with her sister, but Ayla was super focused these days, and not on her personal life. She was burying herself in work and trying to prove to the world that she was fine. Inari knew better.
“Where is my daughter?”
“Sleeping. Like you should be. You’re kid free this weekend. Enjoy it!” Inari yelled into the phone since she had her on speaker.
“You better listen to me real closely, Inari?—”
Moose’s line beeped, and she saw that he had a call from Mozzi coming through.
“Listen, there’s another call coming through. Your daughter will be home in one piece, well taken care of, Monday after school. Have a good weekend, Tulla. Do something for you,” Inari taunted before hanging up and picking up for Mozzi.
She heard him exhale, probably smoking a blunt before he even spoke. Moose didn’t even have to look at the phone to know it was him.
“Bro, if you ain’t up, wake the fuck up. If I gotta start moving, doing shit, and dealing with Desiree and all her fucking lists, you do too,” Mozzi complained like a little ass kid.
