“Nothin’s been goin’ on between me and your mother.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Bullshit.”
He shook his head. “Not my story to tell, Scooby. You’re gonna need to talk to her.”
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ.”
Holding up the bottle on the left. “One in the morning,” he held up the bottle on the right, “Two at night.”
“Yeah, I can read a label,” I ground out.
“I’ll be back tomorrow.” He left me standing alone in the kitchen and said his goodbyes to my mother and then he was gone.
I took a deep breath and made my way into the living room.
“You’re all good, Jill,” Wrath said, handing her a button on a string. “But if you get into trouble, press this.”
“Oh, lord. Have I become the ‘I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up’ lady?”
“You’re prettier.” He chuckled, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “I’ll be back tomorrow night.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon,” Tango said.
“Y’all don’t need to fuss, you know.”
“We know,” they said, in stereo.
After saying their goodbyes, they walked out the door, Wrath setting the alarm on his way out.
“Can I get you anything?” I asked.
“No, I’m good, baby,” Mom said.
“You hungry?”
“Eddie fed me before we left, I’m good.”
“You gonna fill me in on that?” I asked.
“No.”
“Jesus, Ma.” I dragged my hands down my face.
She let out a yawn before saying, “Baby boy, I’m an adult. I’m allowed my privacy.”
She had a point. “Are youstill… uh… havin’ your ‘privacy’?”
Unfortunately, I was speaking to the air because my mother had fallen asleep.
* * *
Rowan
Wednesday morning, I opened the diner only to have Needles walk in the door twenty minutes later. “You’re a little high up on the food chain to be guarding me, aren’t you?”
He smiled, removing his sunglasses, and sitting up at the breakfast bar. “I’m not here for that.”
I handed him a menu.