Page 37 of The Prez

When I was hired, I thought I’d only stick around for a few weeks, until I got tired of how he treated me or he booted me because he was having a bad day. But here I am, actually loving my job. I have my own room. I basically have free run of the house and there’s a cute baby that’s a joy to be around. And I’m getting paid to watch him. I think I have a pretty sweet deal.

After I’m sure I have everything packed for Little Raf and I get dressed, we head over to my sister’s place. She’s been calling and texting me every day, begging me to bring Little Raf over so she can spoil him.

When we arrive, Hazel doesn’t even greet me—she smiles at Little Raf, reaches for him and takes him when he holds his chubby little arms out to her.

“Hello to you too, big sister,” I grumble good naturedly, dropping the diaper bag beside the couch.

She still doesn’t greet me, dancing around the living room with the baby. I sigh and sit on the couch and count down from five.

“Five, four, three, two …”

“Uncle Mari!” I hear shouted from two tiny mouths and I smile, looking down the hall to see my niece and nephew running towards me.

They bulldoze into me, hopping into my arms and onto my lap. “Hey troublemakers! I’ve missed you!”

“We missed you too, Uncle Mari. When you coming back?” Michael asks.

“Yeah,” Kayla agrees. “When you coming back?”

I smile, looking at them in turn. “Soon, I promise. But not to live. Only to visit you knuckle heads.”

“Aww,” Kayla says, looking sad. “I liked seeing you every day.”

Swallowing past the unexpected lump in my throat, I say, “Well, if I talk to my boss, I can ask if you two can stay the night with me. How does that sound?”

“Yay!” they both cheer, hopping off my lap and giving me a hug before darting back to their rooms.

Finally, Hazel sees fit to acknowledge my presence. “Hey, Mari. I’m glad you came to visit. The kids were giving me a complex, only asking about you when I pick them up from school.”

“Because I’m their favorite, duh,” I say with a grin, taking off my shoes and getting comfortable.

“Yeah, whatever,” Hazel says with a chuckle, sitting beside me with Little Raf. “I take it you still like your job.”

“I do. Little Raf hasn’t given me any trouble,” I say, pinching his cheek. “He’s like Michael and Kayla. Not much crying or whining. Just a happy baby.”

“And your boss?”

Damn my light brown skin. It’s so hard to hide a blush.

Hazel picks up on it quickly. “Shit, Mari. Are you …” she stops talking, looks around for the twins, then covers Little Raf’s ears. “Are you fucking your boss?” she stage whispers.

I roll my eyes and shake my head, but I can’t wipe the smile off my face and stop my cheeks from flaming. “I’m getting to know my boss. He’s … well, he’s not nice, really. But he’s interesting. I’m not sure what it is about him, but he’s growing on me.”

“And gnawing on you if that mark on your neck is anything to go by.”

My hand flies to my neck. I forgot all about that. I’m sure the spot is purple by now, showing up perfectly on my light brown skin. “It’s … nothing. We’re just … I don’t know what we’re doing, but I’m going with it.”

Hazel stares at me, long and hard, but she just nods. “Okay. I trust your judgement. If he tries something crazy?—”

“I know, I know. You’ll reach into your purse.” I don’t tell Hazel that Big Raf might have something like what’s in her purse on him at all times.

“Dang right,” she says with a smile. “Did you settle things with that other guy that almost made me reach into my purse?”

My smile drops and my stomach roils thinking about Brock. He’s been texting me for the past week, varying between threatening me to pay him the money he says I owe him and trying to proposition me.

Scoffing, I tell Hazel about what happened when I went to pay him, how he tried to harass me while I had the baby in my arms, and how I noticed Kit’s bruised face.

Hazel hisses when I tell her about Kit. Regardless of what happened between us, Kit was a major part of my life. There were nights he would stay with me over at Hazel’s house when we were in high school, laughing and watching movies with my big sister. She wasn’t happy when I told her about him kicking me out or what he said to me, but I know she hurts for him just like I do at the thought of Brock abusing him.

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