Page 95 of Rebound

“Oh, shit. It’s Brandi.”

“Who the fuck is Brandi?” I ask as I reach for his phone.

“She’s Jasmine’s biological aunt. She’s the one who told me to keep her away from their mother,” he says. “Are you going to fight her too?”

“No. I’d fight you. Pick up,” I order, but when he hesitates, I hit accept. He looks into my eyes, stunned by my actions. I gesture to the phone and mouth ‘talk.’

“Hello,” he says.

“Seth, it’s Brandi.” She talks fast. “My mother is in the city,” she says. “Be careful. She’s been ranting about how she should be the one raising Jasmine. My dad told me she took off to Manhattan, so beware. She’s unwell.”

“She tried to take Jasmine,” I say, taking the phone from Seth. “I’m Layla. I’m Seth’s wife.” He puts his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m Brandi,” she says. “I’m on my way to the city to try and find her.”

“Why didn’t your father do something?” I ask. I’d like to think that if this was my mother, my father, even now, would do everything in his power to not only stop her but help her.

“All he does is pray,” she says. “He’s no help at all.”

“What does she want?” I ask.

“She thinks Jasmine is her chance to fix everything she did wrong with Charlotte.”

“But Jasmine is my daughter,” Seth says. “Mine and Layla’s,” he adds.

“That’s another thing. She says there’s no way another woman is going to raise Jasmine. She says if anyone is going to raise her, it’s going to be her. By any means necessary. Since she found out you got married, she’s gotten worse.”

“Oh really?” Seth says. “I’d like to see her try. I’ll have her ass arrested so fast and that will only be after she gets the beat down of the century from my wife.” He smirks at me and mouths, ‘You can’t fight.’

“I really hope it doesn’t come to that,” Brandi says.

“Can we meet up when you get here?” I ask. “Please.”

“Sure,” she says. Then the phone goes silent until she whispers, “Can I see Jasmine?”

“I’d really like to meet up with you first,” I say, not committing to letting her anywhere near my daughter. She agrees, andwe end the call after she promises to make contact when she gets here.

“The first thing we’re going to do tomorrow is file the adoption paperwork,” Seth says. “I don’t know why I didn’t do it the day after we got married, but Chastain set me straight about that today. Then I'm going to talk to my lawyer and set up a will so you get everything. You have to promise to take care of my dad if anything ever happens to me. You’ll be stuck with him,” he says. He stares me down, and I know despite his frustration with his father, he cares deeply for him. “That’s not negotiable.”

“You don’t have to ask, and nothing’s going to happen to you, so find your balls and man up,” I tease. “You promised to take care of me.”

“Yeah,” he says. He pulls me to him and grinds on me. “I’ll take care of you real good. I’ll give you this dick. Where do you want it? Pussy, mouth, or ass.” I pretend to be outraged and shove at his chest, but he doesn’t budge. I’ll never tell him this, but I love how strong he is. I love how he feels when he holds me. I love how he lifts me like I’m weightless. I love everything about him.

“We’re supposed to be figuring out how to deal with that lunatic, not you rubbing against me. Which feels really good right about now.” He bends down and captures my mouth in a hot kiss. We kiss so deep and for so long that I forget about the danger and the tension from earlier today. We kiss until I feel little hands on my legs.

“Mama,” Jasmine says. I break the kiss and look down at her. She raises her arms to Seth and says, “Nom nom.” Seth picks her up and plants kisses on her cheek.

“I can’t believe we have to feed you again,” he teases. He tickles her belly and she giggles.

“Let me order something,” I say since we haven’t talked about dinner or made any plans to cook.

“Let’s go out. It’s a beautiful night,” he suggests, but the idea of that woman being out there waiting for us gives me pause.

“Let’s eat here,” I suggest. “I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder.”

“Okay.” He puts Jasmine down. She runs back to her toys, and I follow Seth into the kitchen. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to use your hardcore female wrestler moves?” He laughs at me as he scrolls through his phone.

I roll my eyes at him and throw a few punches in his direction.

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