Page 77 of Love At Close Range

“Okay, cut it out,” Gina cut in before they could keep going. “Everybody eat and leave grown folks’ business alone.”

Thankfully, the conversation moved on from fighting. Gina asked Rhyse about camp and school, while Lena asked him what sports he liked. Rhyse immediately started talking about basketball before mentioning football too.

Once dinner ended, the kids went back to the living room while Gina and Lena started cleaning. I picked up a couple of plates, but Gina took them from me before I reached the sink.

“Go sit down somewhere,” she told me.

“I can help you clean up, Gina,” I replied.

“I know you can, but you’re not going to,” Gina said as she took the plates from my hands.

Instead of arguing, I trekked to the living room and got comfortable. As soon as I sat down, my phone started ringing. Taryn’s name came across the screen, and the second I answered the FaceTime call, Mona’s face popped up too.

“Hey, y’all,” I greeted.

“Hey, cousin.” Mona smiled and adjusted herself.

“What y’all doing?” I asked as I got tucked my legs underneath me.

“Not a damn thing. Taryn came over so we figured we’d call you,” Mona answered.

“Mhm.” I narrowed my eyes at the screen. “So what y’all want?” I smirked.

“Now why we gotta want something? We might just miss your ass,” Tay countered as she rolled her eyes.

“Bitch I see the lie all in your face,” I laughed and Mona joined in.

Mona shook her head as she reached for the drink sitting in front of her. “We really did just call to check on you.”

“I’m fine.” I smiled and relaxed against the couch.

“That’s it?” Taryn asked. “You’re not going to tell us what you’ve been up to? I know you been over there letting baby daddy slut you out to the gawds,” Taryn countered as she did a little dance.

I laughed and shook my head while Mona tried to hide her own smile behind her glass.

“You so damn childish,” I laughed at her dumb ass.

“Am I wrong, though?” Taryn challenged.

“You’re not, but that’s not the point.” I pointed out.

“How’s Rhyse doing?” Mona asked, cutting off Tay’s foolishness.

“Good… better than I expected, honestly. He loves being around everybody, and him and Lennyn have gotten close,” I responded with a smile.

“That’s good,” Mona said. “He deserves that.”

“I know.” Seeing how naturally Rhyse had fallen into Lennox’s family still got to me sometimes. There had been so much I worried about when all of this started, but watching my son finally have the relationships he had been missing made most of those fears feel unnecessary now.

“What about you?” Tay asked. “How are you for real?”

“I’m good too,” I simpered.

“That smile says more than that,” Mona teased.

I rolled my eyes, but there was no point pretending with them. “Me and Lennox are good. Things have been peaceful, and I’m just enjoying it instead of trying to figure out what could go wrong.”

“Well, I’m happy for you. Anything is better than Dorian’s bitch ass. May he rest on a dick or whatever they be saying,” Tay joked and it caused me and Mona to holler in laughter.