Page 81 of Pieces of Us

“Nothing. He just apologized about everything that happened, about what he said to me, and that he didn’t mean to hurt us.”

I sighed deeply and took Megan’s hand.

“I’m the one that should be apologizing.”

Megan frowned. “Why?”

“I should have been stronger—wiser. I should have never let your grandfather scare me into thinking I wasn’t going to be anything in life unless I had a helpmate. I let that man tell me so many lies that I started to believe all of them. All of this could have been avoided had I stood on what I believed in. Had I just left home and never got involved with Justin, I would have found your real father, and we wouldn’t even be in this situation. But then I wouldn’t have my honey bee, and there’s no way I could see my life without her in it.”

“She would still be here. She would have just come from my dad instead of her dad.”

I tittered. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Gingerbread. I promise from here on out, I’m going to start making better decisions for you girls.”

“I’m not mad or sad anymore. Things happen, and I hate to say it, but my dad is waaay better.” She laughed.

“Oooh, because he buys you all that designer crap and never tells you no?”

“I mean, how could he say no to moi?”

“You know what!” I laughed as I tickled her. She erupted in giggles, reminding me of when she was little. “Leave my man alone.”

“Your man?” she questioned, hiking her brow with a smirk on her face.

“Yup. My man, my man, my man!” I exclaimed, laughing.

“Period, Mommy. You better flex!”

“Girl, get out of my room. Check on your sister for me.”

“I already did. She’s watchingMoana 2and eating her dry Cheerios.”

I laughed. “Good. I’m glad she’s back to her normal self.”

“Me too. So, when are we riding out on them? I always wanted to drop kick Seth in his breastplate and snatch his heartout. I want to do like aKill Billmove on him and snatch his eyeball out too.”

“Megan!” I yelled in disbelief.

I never ever heard her talk like this. Maybe the Newson bloodline had always been hidden somewhere inside of her. Chelsea and Shelby were reserved, but if anyone ever came for them, they would jump crazy in a heartbeat. I’d seen it a couple of times in school, so I knew how they could get.

It had me worried that those Newsons were teaching her these things. Megan wasn’t a violent person. However, with the way she was talking, I had a feeling she was tapping into her father’s side.

“Although I don’t encourage this, that lil nigga needs to get handled for fucking with my lil bit.” Nehemiah walked into the room looking so fucking good I couldn’t stop myself from lusting after him.

“And I agree, but no matter the situation, he is still a child.”

“Who said I was gon’ be the one to fuck him up?” He smirked at me.

“You certainly aren’t making our child do it.”

He stared at me.

“Nehemiah!”

“Meg, give me and moms a minute.”

“You got it!” she yelled, racing out of the room.

I hit him in his face. Well, not his face but close enough.