Page 54 of Love At Close Range

“Mama you beat her ass.” Rhyse grinned.

“Rhyse! What did I tell you about your mouth?” Reiana fussed before I could even open my mouth.

“What?” Rhyse asked as he tried to look innocent. “You did.” He shrugged.

I rubbed my hand over my mouth trying to hide my smirk before putting my eyes on my baby girl. Her eyes found me first before moving toward Rhyse, and everything that had just happened took a backseat for a second. She looked confused, but mostly curious as she stared at the boy standing beside her grandmother.

“Come here, baby girl,” I said as I walked toward her.

Lennyn came down the steps and took my hand. She kept looking toward Rhyse, and he was looking right back at her with the same curiosity. I looked between my two kids and felt something settle in my chest that I couldn’t really put into words.

I kept hold of Lennyn’s hand as I looked between my two kids. “Baby girl, this is Rhyse. He’s your big brother.”

Lennyn looked up at me before turning her attention back toward him. Her little face scrunched up like she was trying to figure out how a whole brother had appeared out of nowhere. “My brother? Where he come from?” she asked with a frown.

“Yeah, your brother, and he came from his mama,” I confirmed, holding in my laughter.

She looked between me and Rhyse before she walked up to him and looked at him again before she spoke.

“I’m Lennyn, and I’m five,” she said proudly. “How old are you?” She asked.

“Seven,” Rhyse confirmed. “So, I gotta look out for you and stuff,” he confirmed with his chest out.

“Can you fight?” Lennyn asked.

“Yeah, but apparently your mama can’t.” Rhyse shrugged.

Lennyn stared at him for half a second before she started laughing and Rhyse followed suit.

“Boosie,” Reiana said as she gave him a look. “That was not nice.”

“I’m just saying,” Rhyse replied. “She can’t.”

“That’s still her mama,” Reiana reminded him before her eyes moved toward Lennyn. Her whole expression softened as she stepped closer. “And I’m sorry you had to see me fighting your mama. Grown people shouldn’t be doing that in front of y’all,” Reiana apologized.

“It’s okay. My Auntie Lena said my mama she need to be popped in the mouth,” she repeated like she was right.

I snapped my head at Lena and she just shrugged.

Reiana faced Rhyse and pulled him into her. “I owe you one too. I shouldn’t have been fighting in front of you either.”

“It’s okay, Ma. You won.” Rhyse grinned.

“Boy, get out my face,” Reiana laughed as Rhyse went back over to my mama.

When he got close, Mama pulled him into a hug that damn near swallowed him. Rhyse looked surprised for about two seconds before he hugged her back.

“Boy, you look just like your daddy,” she simpered.

“That’s a blessing, son.” I smirked, causing Reiana to roll her eyes.

Lena came down the porch steps next and pulled Rhyse into a hug before he even had time to prepare himself. “I’m Auntie Lena, and I’m your favorite aunt by default because I’m the only one.”

“I got two aunts back home,” Rhyse countered as he hugged her back.

“Well, I’m the one that don’t care what your mama and daddy say. How does that sound?” Lena countered with a grin.

“Sounds like you’re my favorite auntie in the whole wide world.” Rhyse cheesed with his bad ass.