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“Stop being such a pompous asshole, Newton.” Hearing my name on her lips after so long sends a chill up my spine. I memorize the sensation it causes in my chest.
“Protecting the family legacy from poachers is my right as the firstborn.”
She huffs. “Oh, please. This has always been your mother’s dream.”
“And yet you seek to destroy it? We don’t need a coffee café.” It’s a mistake, a low blow I never should’ve taken. I knew when the words left my mouth, but I can’t take it back now. Her mouth forms an o, and she steps back from me like I’m poison.
“How dare you.” Her cheeks pinken as she stands to her full five foot six and tilts back her chin. “I understand this might be upsetting, but you will not talk to me like this. I will never let anyone speak down to me again.”
Again.The word has me seeing red. “Who?”
“No.” She barks. The door jingles and my mother clears her throat.
“Dad?” I look over at Brax. Wide-eyed and open-mouthed, he looks like he’s seen a monster. “Why are you yelling at Ms. Daphne? Is that what you do now? Just yell at everyone?”
“What? No.” I shake my head.
“I could hear you outside.” Brax’s lower lip trembles. “I thought you were friends.
“We had a disagreement—.”
“You’re awful,” Brax hisses. His hands ball into fists. “You don’t say shit when she.” Brax sneers and gestures to his mother. “Decides to leave you for Uncle Chaz. You make me go and stay with them like everything is fine. But you argue with her. The lady Papa called his honorary daughter. Because that’s who you are now?”
“That is not how that happened.”
“Isn’t it?” Brax’s voice raises an octave.
“You need to calm down.”
“Why? Because you can yell and I can’t?” His voice cracks. “I don’t know which of you is worse.” His look of disgust carves me up like a prison shank.
“That’s enough, Braxton New Raglin.” Mom growls.
Braxton clamps his mouth shut. “I should go,” Daphne whispers. “It was good seeing you again, Mama R. We’ll talk again soon.”
“Well, it looks like the dynamic duo is off to a rocky reunion,” Laurel purrs with a smirk. Her eyes are alight with amusement and smugness.
Daphne stops in front of Braxton, and I hold my breath. “Real friendships can survive arguments. Those happen every now and then. It’s silence and lies that you have to look out for.” She places a hand on his shoulder and squeezes. “Understand?”
He nods. “I think so.”
“Good. You’re a smart boy.” Something passes between them, and he gives her a curt nod. Smiling, she steps around him and out the door.
“New—.”
“I know, Mom.” I move from behind the counter and break into a jog. “Excuse me,” I brush past Laurel and our stunned son and sprint the few feet to grab Daphne’s elbow. She pulls away and quickens her pace.
“If you keep running, I will chase you.”
She raises her middle finger and my control snaps in two like a rubber band that’s reached the end of its elasticity. Taking off, I heard her into the alley by the grocery store. She spins on her heel with a fierce expression on her face.
“What the hell is your problem, New?”
I hold my hands in surrender. “I was out of line. I wasn’t expecting to hear mom talk about selling the store, and I took it out on you. I didn’t want to let things go that way.”
“Not this time, huh?”
“Daph—.”
