Page 55 of Love At Close Range

By the time we made it in the house, Lennyn and Rhyse have been inseparable. I just looked on and beamed with pride watching my kids get along. They both went from being an only child to finding out they had a sibling. I thought the adjustment would be a lot, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I sat back on the couch and watched them from across the room while Reiana talked with Mama and Lena at the dining table. I couldn’t hear everything they said at first, but every once in a while, my name carried over and made me glance in their direction. Eventually, I got up and walked toward them.

Mama looked at me as I approached. “We were just hearing about everything we missed.”

“I was explaining that Rhyse has always done good in school. He’s never really given me any problems outside of that mouth,” Reiana explained.

“He definitely has his daddy’s mouth… Lennyn too,” Mama said.

“Y’all tripping,” I laughed.

I continued to enjoy my family while Mama cooked. I knew that was coming and I wasn’t complaining. A couple hours later, everybody had spread out between the living room and kitchen. Rhyse and Lennyn were on the floor arguing over some game while Lena tried to coach Lennyn even though she clearly didn’t know what she was doing. Reiana was in the kitchen with Mama. I had just walked back into the kitchen when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I looked and saw that it was Cyrus calling. I glanced toward the living room before answering and heading toward the back door.

“Wassup?” I answered.

“I found what I was looking for,” Cyrus said getting to the point. “Everything checks out, so you can continue with Pierce.”

“Aight. The shit was happening either way, though,” I mentioned. “The shit with Pierce ain’t just business anymore.”

“What does that mean?” Cyrus asked.

“It means what the fuck I just said. I’ll be in touch when the job is complete.” I hung up before he had a rebuttal and went back inside to join my family.

When I stepped back inside, Reiana looked up. Her eyes stayed on me as I slid my phone back into my pocket.

“What was that about?” she asked.

“Business,” I answered as I walked toward her.

“What kind of business?” She questioned.

“The kind you’on need to worry about,” I told her as I rested my hand against the back of the chair she was in.

Reiana stared at me for another second like she wanted to ask more, but Lennyn yelled for her attention before she got the chance. I looked across the room at my son and daughter sitting together on Mama’s floor. Mama made sure Rhyse felt welcomed and my boy was all smiles with his new family. Now I just needed to end this shit with Pierce so I can focus on getting my family together.

19

Kree Martin

the next day…

The bruise under my eye had settled into a dark purple overnight, and my lip was still swollen. The way Reiana left my face let me know that makeup wouldn’t be enough. By the time I walked back into my bedroom, my sister Kema was sitting on the edge of my bed with a cup of coffee in her hand.

“You look like shit,” she said as she took a sip of her coffee.

“Gee, fucking thanks,” I snapped as I rolled my eyes.

“I still can’t believe y’all finally fought after all these years,” Kema stated.

“Then don’t believe it,” I countered.

“I’m just saying, if somebody had told me that you and Reiana would end up throwing hands at each other, I would’ve called them a liar.” She shrugged. It was true, though. Me and Reiana were as thick as thieves at one point until Lennox came into the picture, then I started hating everything about her.

“Well, shit changes,” I replied as I fixed my shirt. “We haven’t been friends in years.”

“No, but it was still a lot,” she said as she watched me get dressed. “Especially with everything else going on.”

I knew exactly what she meant, but I wasn’t giving her the opening.