Page 36 of Tuesday

Pops and my dad share a look. “Deal. I don’t want that shit getting out either.”

They nod once, then Pops stands, holding his hand out to help Dad up. As Dad gets to standing, Pops pulls him in close. “Just so you know, I’m number one Pops.” Mad Dog goes to open his mouth but Pops cuts him off, “You can be number one Doggy.”

Dad grins wide, shaking Pops’ hand and tipping his chin. “Deal.”

I decide I’ve had enough of this circus. Chewy must think the same. As soon as she looks at me she grins, whispers to Laney and they both stand. Laney-May comes running so I scoop her up, spinning her around before settling her on my forearm. Chewy reaches me not long after, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“Well, that was chaos,” I say to Chewy, leading her out of the common room.

“Yeah. I still don’t know who won,” Chewy says, looking perplexed.

“I think it ended in a tie. Also, remind me to never ask Jazz to bring her kids anywhere near me. They’re fucking brutal.”

Chewy’s tinkling laugh rings out, “Oh, so fucking brutal! I thought Pops was going to have a conniption when they said he had a camel toe,” she giggles before sobering. “I’m glad that it’s a tie. Laney has lots of room in her heart for two grandpas. That’s how hearts work, they grow,” Chewy says matter of factly.

“That they do, baby.”

We move into our suite, and I put Laney down on the floor. She toddles over to her little corner, filled with toys and books and her blocks. Oh, and Chomper, who moves slowly toward her. He’s good with her, waiting for her to sit before he takes his place at her side. She leans her body against his and picks up her first block, placing it in front of her just so.

“What have you lost?” she asks, noticing me looking around the room.

“Laney’s gator stuffy. Have you seen it?”

Chewy’s brows furrow. We move around the room looking in her bed and in the bathroom. The sound of Jazz’s voice drifts in from outside as she herds her art class into the waiting bus, Lovely helping her with the stragglers.

“That’s so weird,” Chewy murmurs. “She never goes anywhere without it.”

I nod, she’s right. Since the night Chewy brought her home she’s been glued to her stuffy. Well, she was. I can’t actually remember the last time I saw her with it.

“Shit, what do we do? Do we buy a new one and pretend it’s the same one?” I ask, feeling a little frantic. What happens when my little girl realizes it’s gone? What if she gets upset and we can’t calm her down?

Chewy and I frantically start googling gator stuffies, not even noticing Mama Debs coming in and watching us until she lets out a giggle.

“Whatcha doing you two?” she asks, a twinkle in her eye.

“Fuck, we’ve lost Laney’s gator stuffy, so we’re trying to find another one to replace it before she notices she doesn’t have it,” I explain.

Mama Debs looks toward Laney, then her gaze moves elsewhere before coming back to mine, a smile playing on her lips. “Tama, I don’t think she needs that gator stuffy anymore, she has the real thing,” she tips her head toward Laney and there, in her lap, her little hand running from the top of his head, to the bottom of his tail, is Chomper, soaking up the affection.

Chewy lets out a gasp, her hand landing on my forearm to steady herself. “Rhodie! She doesn’t need her stuffy, she has us, and her gator brother!”

I grin at my girl, then my woman, then Mama Debs.

“She’s perfect for you two. It’s almost like she sent Dima to find you, and not the other way around.” Mama Debs winks before leaving the room.

“Perfect,” Chewy whispers., “You’re perfect for me and she’s perfect for us.” My Ol Lady turns to me, eyes bright, “Perfect.”

I press my lips to hers, and then the world goes dark.

Epilogue

Marx

It’s chaos. It’s motherfucking chaos. One moment we were laughing with each other in the common room, giving Dad and Pops shit, and then next minute bullets ring out and half the fucking roof caves in. I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the screams of terror from the Ol Ladies and the MC kids. Once the memory of their voices clears the memory of the blood, so much blood permeates my mind.

“Pres?” Nitro’s voice breaks through my thoughts, taking my mind off the fucking hard chair I’m sitting in.

I bolt upright from my chair, wanting to know, no,needingto know how Fox is doing.

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