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“I love you, too, LoLo.”
I took off my flip flops and rolled my sweats up to mid-calf before sticking my feet into the hot water.
“I need a pedicure,” I announced.
“Yeah, you do.”
I laughed.
“We’ll go sometime this week when you’re feeling up to it.”
“How long are you guys staying?” I asked.
“As long as you need us to.”
“But the hotel—we can’t stay here indefinitely. Even a week here carries a hefty price tag.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“But Mom—”
“Smoke took care of it.”
“He what?”
“Well, not Smoke exactly. His club. They’re good people, aren’t they?”
* * *
Smoke was asleep and my dad was back in his room when we returned. I couldn’t wait until Smoke was awake so he could tell me what he and my dad talked about while Mom and I were gone.
I checked my phone. No messages from Tavy, but the Old Ladies had blown up my cell. They were wondering when they could come by for a visit, but they didn’t want to intrude if we were resting.
I told them they were welcome to come in stages tomorrow.
Jazz and Brielle had reached out too, and I desperately wanted to see Jazz to make sure she wasn’t completely traumatized, and to thank her for what she’d done.
I set my phone aside, dug through my duffel for clean clothes and laughed to myself when I saw that my mom had grabbed my most unattractive-time-of-the-month granny panties.
I trekked quietly to the bathroom and closed the door. I eased off my clothes, wrinkling my nose when I dropped them in the corner.
The water felt heavenly, but I didn’t have the stamina to stay in the shower too long. I washed quickly, wincing when my hands encountered bruises. I shampooed and conditioned my hair with high-end hotel products.
By the time I was finished, I was wrung out and didn’t even have the energy to comb my hair. I slid into clean clothes and then immediately climbed into bed.
I woke up to the sounds of several masculine voices that did not know volume control.
“I think your brothers are here,” Smoke said.
I sleepily looked at him. “Yeah. I think so too.” I closed my eyes again.
“Mom, just let me open the door and see if they’re asleep,” Harlan said.
“Incoming,” I warned Smoke.
The door opened and Harlan popped his head in.
“We’re awake, you animal,” I said without any heat. “You might as well come in.”
