Page 38 of Rebound

“Fuck,” I mutter.

I roll out of bed, sore and a little delirious from all the sleep. I don’t remember the last time I slept so well. I put on a pair of shorts and a tee. After brushing my teeth and hair, I leave the bedroom searching for my husband. That should seem strange,but it doesn’t. I made my decision. I entered this freely, and I’m not going to pretend it was a mistake or that I don’t want it.

They’re both in the kitchen. He’s shirtless and has his back turned while he cooks something on the stove. Jasmine is sitting in the corner drinking something out of a pink sippy cup.

“Good morning,” I say, announcing myself.

“Yaya!” Jasmine gets up and hugs my legs. That’s all I get because she goes back to her cup and a doll.

Unsure of what I’m supposed to do, I sit at the kitchen island. He leans over and puckers his lips.

“Um, what the hell are you doing? You look like a fish.” I push his face away, and he sighs.

“You’re supposed to kiss me. Do you have any social skills at all?” he asks. He puckers again, and I give him the quickest peck in history feeling a blush spread across my entire body. “By the way, the cat’s out of the bag. There are pictures, and we’ve been outed. I had to shut my phone off it was ringing so much. My dad wants us to visit so he can meet you,” he says.

He turns his back to me again before I can respond to any of what he said. He puts a plate of eggs and bacon in front of me and then puts Jasmine in her highchair before serving her oatmeal.

“That’s too much crap before I have any caffeine,” I mutter. I leave the chair and fill a mug with coffee. “My mom wants us at the house immediately.” He nods as if it’s no big deal. We eat, and roughly an hour later, the three of us pile in his car and he drives to my house.

“My dad’s here,” I mutter when I see his car. “He’s not on any social media, which means my mom called him. This isn't good. Shenevercalls him, and he’d never show up here this fast if she did.” I put my head back and sigh.

The front door swings open before I make it to the first step. My mother stands there, both hands on her hips. She glares at me like she did whenever I got into trouble as a kid. She angrily gestures to the door.

She slams it once we get in and Jasmine starts to cry.

“I’m sorry, baby,” my mom says. “It’s not you I’m angry at.” She takes Jasmine from Seth and hugs her until she calms down. The house is filled with people. June Bug leans against the wall with his arms crossed as if I’m supposed to be intimidated by him. Donna is here along with my mother’s siblings.

When my dad comes out of the bathroom and sees me, he opens his arms, and I go in.

“Is this my son-in-law?” He looks up at Seth in awe before he kisses my temple. He offers Seth his hand and says, “I’m Leon Jackson. Welcome to the family.”

My mom huffs and I brace myself.

“Of course, you’d do this.” She hands Jasmine to June Bug. She claps and grabs my cousin’s nose. “It would be nice if you would back me up one time. Our daughter went off and got married behind our backs!”

As expected, my dad rolls his eyes at her. “No wonder considering how you act. She wants to get away from your ass, but you’re too dumb to figure that out. By the way, way to prove her point.” He rolls his eyes at her, then he looks around the room and scowls at Donna who scowls back. “Apparently, my type is bitterness and attitude,” he says to Seth with a wide grin while pointing at both his ex-wives. “Ignore them.” He looks from Mom to Donna and waves his hand in dismissal.

“Explain yourself, Layla,” Mom says as if I’m some child who got into trouble at school.

“I married Seth,” I state simply. There’s no other way to say it, and the truth is, there’s nothing any of them can do about it. Seth smiles when I point to him.

“Without telling me? I had to find out about it online.” I can hear the hurt in my mom’s voice, and I want to look away in shame, but I won’t. I made this choice, and I’m not going to apologize for it.

“The plan was to come and tell you today. I’m sorry you found out that way, but I’m not going to apologize for this.” I gesture to Seth and Jasmine, who is now looking at a tattoo on the side of June Bug’s neck. “I made the choice, and I stand by it.”

“Butwhy? You were acting like he wasn’t your boyfriend just a few days ago.”

Seth clears his throat and speaks up. “I asked her,” he says.

“Do you love my daughter?” my mom asks, and I groan. Love has nothing to do with this, and I’m fine with that. If anything, it makes this situation a lot less complicated than being in love. My heart is not involved, and that’s freeing.

Seth rubs the back of his head, and his face turns red.

“And Layla, do you love him?” Mom cups my face and looks into my eyes. “That’s important, baby. I want that for you.”

“Mom, it’s fine. This is an arrangement,” I say as if that will convince her. “I’m going to help him raise Jasmine, and he’s going to pay for Gaga’s rehab and aftercare.” Besides, she loved my dad once and that didn’t work out. Loving someone is not a guarantee of a successful relationship, but I keep that to myself.

The room goes silent. Everyone looks around at each other while they absorb my words. “She’s going to get the best care.” When they all continue to stare at each other, I say, “I thought you’d be relieved.”

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