Page 105 of Rebound

She finally looks up with tears streaming down her face. “All I wanted was to see my daughter,” she says through her tears.

“Jasmine is not your daughter. She’s mine and you’re never going to see her again, you psycho bitch. Get her the hell out of here,” he tells the cops. “I need an ambulance for my wife and daughter.”

Barbara screams the Lord’s Prayer on her way out.

“I’m going to have that bitch shanked in the jail. Don’t you worry about it,” my mom says hours later in my private room at First Presbyterian. “You know our neighbor Francine?” WhenI nod, she continues, “She works at the jail. I’ll give her a little money, and that bitch is toast. Francine needs the cash to help her son with that car theft charge.”

“She’s lucky I’ll never put my hands on a woman,” June Bug says. “But I know women who can handle her.” He’s sitting on the edge of my bed and pulls out his phone. I snatch it from him before he can text anyone. Unlike my mom, June Bug is not bluffing. He might turn the other cheek if someone messes with him these days, but if they mess with me or someone he cares about, that’s another story.

“I don’t think Terri will want to visit you in prison. I don’t care how much she thinks she wants a thug,” I tell him.

“A thug? Is that why that uptight girl’s been sniffing around you? Hell no. I know her type. She—”

“Auntie, drop it. We don’t talk anymore,” he says.

“Really? So, she’s too good for you now, is she? And to think I fed her some of my chicken parmesan.” My mom crosses her arms and huffs.

June Bug gets a lot of women, and he never cares if one doesn’t work out. He’ll shrug and move on to the next. Only he doesn’t do his dismissive shrug this time. He looks away, and I decide to drop the subject.

The door to the room opens, and Seth walks in with Jasmine. She was examined by a pediatrician when we arrived at the hospital and was deemed okay. All that woman did was cut her hair, which I assume was to make her look more like her daughter.

I was diagnosed with a concussion, and Seth swore vengeance.

“Mama!” Jasmine says, clapping her hands. He puts her on the bed, and she hugs me, but she soon leaves my arms to sit on June Bug’s lap. “Nom nom,” she says to him. She looks up at him and bats her eyelashes.

He stands with her in his arms. “Let’s go to the cafeteria and see what we can find.” He leaves without asking our permission, but Seth doesn’t say anything. June Bug is one of Jasmine’s favorite people.

Seth sits on the bed next to me and takes my hand in his. He puts a piece of hair behind my ear and smiles. I swear my heart soars at that. I can’t help but smile back.

“I knew you couldn’t fight,” he says. My eyes widen before I burst into laughter. He laughs too.

“No laughing with a concussion,” my mom warns. “I’m going to join June Bug and Jasmine in the cafeteria. I’m so stressed,” she says. “You know what hospitals need? A bar. They’d make a killing.” She bends down and kisses my forehead. “I’ll call you tonight after I talk to Francine. I’m going to her house to talk. No one is going to trace this back to me.” She pats my head, kisses Seth’s cheek, and leaves.

Once she’s gone, he slides onto the bed next to me and pulls me into his arms.

“You know how you’re an annoying, judgmental pain in the ass?” he says.

“Was,” I correct.

“Well, you’re my annoying, judgmental pain in the ass.”

“Oh, thanks. I feel so special,” I say with a smile.

“What happened is on social media. I don’t know if it was a cop or someone in the building.” I try to sit up at the sound of that. That’s the last thing I want. “Calm down. It’s good news. I’ve confirmed it. I’m hoping she’ll have to go in front of the judge for a bail hearing, and she’ll be denied. Or they will set it too high.” I sigh in relief. “And you know how these things are. It will blow over in a few days.”

I nod at his words. “Did you talk to Brandi?”

“Fuck Brandi” he says. “She was zero help. I don’t have anything to say to her or anyone in her family. We’re all the family Jasmine needs.”

“Damn straight,” I say.

“I love you so much,” he murmurs. “I didn’t grow up with love, but now that I have it, I’m not going to let it go. Not ever. You’re stuck with me.”

“And you with me,” I murmur back.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you,” he says, his voice shaking.

“I’m okay.” His arms tighten around me.

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