Page 24 of Coast

“He’s shown that shit to everyone. Did they tell you that Ghost and Luna’s twins are boys, too? Going to have three boys and three girls running around here.”

“Wonder if the numbers will stay even. I mean, with Bailey and River pregnant.” I cocked a brow and looked at Devil.

“Shit, I didn’t think of that. Well, if the numbers are meant to stay even. I hope Bay and I have the boy. River and Jag can have the girl. After today, I’m not sure I can handle another girl.”

I frowned. “Something happen today?”

“Yeah, it was why I wasn’t at the shop. I was at the school because Neely got in trouble. She’s at Sue’s place now with Sami and Ally. Been in school three whole days. Ally got in trouble, too. Along with Dr. Agassi’s little girl, Sawyer.”

“Why does Dr. Agassi sound familiar?” I asked.

“She’s Ally and Neely’s pediatrician. Her practice is right there.” Devil pointed to the building beside Mac’s.

“Okay, I don’t know Sawyer, but Ally in trouble, I can see. Neely’s always sweet and shy though. What the hell did she get in trouble for?”

“Brother, little girls are vicious, I tell ya. I learned that today. My sister, who comes across as shy and quiet most of the time, punched a first-grader in the stomach, then when the kid bent over, she belted him in the nose.”

I stared at Devil, then burst out laughing. “Neely, who is in preschool, not only kicked a first grader’s ass but a boy?” I laughed harder.

“Oh, you might want to save some laughter ‘cause shit gets worse. Let me tell you the whole thing like I had to hear from the principal. First picture Sami sitting on one side of me, and Brie, that’s Dr. Agassi’s first name, sitting on my other side. All three of us in chairs in front of the principal. Neely, Ally, and Sawyer sat on a couch against the wall. Unaffected by being in the principal’s office or that they were in trouble. Where I thought I was going to break out in hives. That shit brought back a lot of memories.

“So the kids were outside today on the playground since it was nice out. The kids in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade share playground time. Well, Anthony, the first-grade boy, swiped a Pokémon, Star Wars, or some damn card of Benji’s when he set it down on the bench to take off his hat and put it in his jacket pocket. Benji asked the kid to give it back, and he shoved him down and told Benji he didn’t take it.

“Ally, of course, gets involved since she considers Benji her friend now. Never gonna understand girls, brother. Never. Anyway, Anthony shoves Ally, which brings her new friend, Sawyer, into the picture. She starts interrogating Anthony. Asking him questions, like: why was he standing so close to the bench? Wasn’t he supposed to be on his side of the playground with the other first-graders? Did he see the card and decide to take it?”

“Hold up. Sawyer is in kindergarten?” I interrupted Devil and asked.

“Yeah. Brie admitted to the principal that maybe she shouldn’t watch cop shows while Sawyer is around, and the principal agreed. Anthony didn’t like getting questioned, so he told Sawyer to shut up and called her stupid. That’s when Neely got in the mix. She was supposed to be with her class but had walked over where Ally was. She told Anthony he was the stupid one and punched him twice. Ally then takes the card out of Anthony’s coat pocket while he is holding his face where Neely punched him. Ally gives the card back to Benji and tells Anthony that people who steal always get caught because karma is a bitch.”

“Christ, that sounds like something Carly would say,” I said.

“Yeah, Sami said that, too. Bailey’s going to probably band the watching of UFC fights once I tell her what happened.”

“Come on, admit it. Shit is funny.”

“Hell, my sister is a closet badass.” Devil chuckled, and we bumped fists.

“Hey, we could call her cobra because she strikes,” I said just as Bailey walked out.

“Call who cobra?” she asked as she turned and locked the door.

I ignored Bailey’s question and instead asked one of my own, “Mac go out the back?”

“No, she’s at the hospital.”

Devil snickered, and I looked over at him. “Well, I’ll be. It’s about time, brother. Flirt was right.”

“Flirt?”

“Monday, we had lunch at the diner, and Mac joined us. Flirt told her you were out of town. She tried to play it off as if she wasn’t concerned and didn’t understand why Flirt was telling her. He went along with her charade, then told her she’d know soon enough why you being out of town was her business.”

“Terrific,” I said and shook my head. “I’ll catch you guys later.” I turned toward my bike.

“Tell Mac we said hi,” Devil said, then Bailey giggled.

Mac had already been a little skittish around me, and if Flirt made it worse, I was going to kick his ass. I got on my bike and headed for the hospital.

As I entered the hospital, I headed for the reception desk. She verified Mac was still on the maternity floor after I had flirted relentlessly and told her I’d wanted to surprise my woman since I gotten back in town early than she was expecting me. So I went and sat down to wait. Mac would have to pass me on her way out. I sat and waited.

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