Page 101 of Restless
“I love you, too, Reb.”
Chapter Eighteen
It wasn’t unusual for one of their women after the other to call Mort in a matter of hours. He was their sounding board, although he was closest to Red and Meggie. Yet, she hadn’t called in days because she’d been so ill, so whenRun the World (Girls)started, it startled him.
“Meggie girl, you okay?”
“I need to talk to you,” she said tiredly.
Mort sat the phone on the table and put her on speakerphone. He needed to drink. He couldn’t handle one more problem. From the tone of her voice, he knew she’d hit him with another one.
“Where Prez?” he said, after taking a healthy sip from his pint.
“With Jo.”
“What up, Meggie?”
“First, I want a hysterectomy. I’m tired of having babies.”
Derby lifted a brow at him.
Mort didn’t have the energy to pick up his phone. “That’s not up to me, baby,” he said gently. “Talk to Prez.”
“He said he wants what I want, though he told me he doesn’t want more children. It’ll risk my health.”
She went silent; Mort waited.
“Does he want more children? Despite what Christopher told me, Johnnie swears otherwise.”
Mort squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Meggie, don’t let that stupid motherfucker get in your head,” he snarled, harsher than he’d ever spoken to her. “You loveOutlaw. Johnniegot nothing to fucking say.”
“He’s his brother.”
“He’s a fucking moron. Kendall half out of her mind because he’s disappeared. I’m keeping it to myself that motherfucker in the private stairwell because Outlaw not Outlaw. You know why? Because he worried aboutyou, Meggie. If you want a hysterectomy, what the fuck is the problem? Fuck Prez. Fuck Johnnie. They don’t have to stress their bodies and carry the fucking babies.”
When she sniffled, Mort realized how he’d endangered his life by yelling and speaking to her as he did. He emptied his bottle.
“How long Prez going to be gone?” he asked.
Tears greeted his question.
“Fuck. Meggie, don’t cry.”
“I just want Johnnie to leave me alone, Mortician. You asked me not to tell Christopher. Johnnie’s ordered me not to. I’m just so tired.”
“Me, too, Meggie,” Mort said softly. In more ways than one. “But I’m going to get that motherfucker to leave. All this shit got to be addressed, baby. First, you got to get well and get your head on straight. It’s the only way Prez can be Prez.”
“I know. Johnnie keeps saying Christopher wants more kids. Tonight, he told me deep down I want more too, and I’m selfish not to recognize that. He’s gaslighting me.”
“I’ll get him to stop,” he swore. “We need you well. We don’t need you stressed.”
“How are you?” she asked, sounding as sad and lost as Kendall but for a different reason, though it was because of the same motherfucker. “Bailey called me. She actually woke me up. She’s blaming CJ for the argument you had with her and Harley.”
Mort winced. “I’m sorry, Meggie. That was uncalled for.”
“Whatever it was is debatable. Whatisn’tis the blame she’s placing onmyson for Harley calling you Uncle Toady and not a real gangster because you’ve never been locked up.”
At the sudden shock swirling around the table, Mort had never felt so humiliated. Though he and Bailey rarely had serious arguments, he kept shit to himself when they did.
