Page 237 of Restless
“How…” The meatshack rose in CJ’s head and he scowled. “That motherfucker didn’t.”
“Allow me to help dismember fuckface? Indeed, Dad did. Uncle Mort and Uncle Digger were supposed to do it the morning after. Instead, Dad took me in the middle of the night.” Rory shrugged. “You should let me show you what goes on one day, CJ.”
“When my dad thinks I’m ready for it, I’ll take you up on your offer,” he said flatly.
“Suit yourself, C.” He started off, then halted. “I…thank you. No matter how different I feel, you always treat me the same and that means a lot.”
CJ smiled. “I always have your back, Rory.”
Rory nodded. “Same.”
Alone at the table, CJ glanced at the Christmas decorations, intending to enjoy them as he decided upon the remaining gifts he needed to purchase. Before he began to prioritize his list with his dwindling time, Nardo Grevenberg sat at the table.
“What the fuck do you want?”
Nardo leaned back in the chair and folded his arms. “Talked to Harley lately?”
“Not your fucking business, so get the fuck.”
“That’s a no.” He smirked. “She belongs to me now.” He laughed. “She gave me whatyouwanted.”
A buzzing started in CJ’s head, a combination of anguish and anger. He knew exactly what Nardo meant. He’d spent the last two years in football locker rooms. Not to mention the years of conversations he’d heard at the club. “You’re a lying motherfucker, Grevenberg. If you spread that fucking rumor, I’ll beat your fucking ass from one end of the school to the next.”
“Do it. You’ll be expelled.”
Possible. Not probable. That was the perks of having his parents own the fucking school. They stayed out of day-to-day administration, but they’d never allow him to be expelled.
“I’m not lying, by the way. That’s just your wishful fucking thinking. Your time as big man on campus is over.” Nardo stood. “I can get Harley to do whatever I want and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. She don’t want your cheesy ass anymore.”
Losing interest in shopping, CJ stood from his seat and headed to another exit. Grant hadn’t returned, so he was probably chilling outside in the interest of not killing Ryan. Whether Nardo spoke the truth, CJ was still crushed and didn’t want to see anyone.
He had to get himself together for when Mom called. She had enough to worry about without concerning herself with his problems.
No matter how devastated he was.
Chapter Thirty-Six
“I won’t press you now. Christmas is five days away, but after Outlaw’s birthday party, we must sit down and discuss setting a date for the surgery.”
Pressing her lips together, Meggie nodded at Jordan’s words. Professionally, she still went by Dr. Will, but she was so much more than that. She’d delivered CJ and kept watch over Meggie during her pregnancies, even if another obstetrician served as Meggie’s main caregiver.
“You don’t want any more babies, Meggie,” Jordan continued. “We discussed it while you were still in the hospital.”
“I know.”
“You still sound uncertain. We can go with option 2, until you make a firm decision. I can remove a LARC at any time, whether you want another baby or the hysterectomy.”
Long-acting reversible contraception was a better choice for the time being. She needed to get her baby girl home, get help for Rule, and monitor Rebel and Diesel. Then, she could sort through Johnnie’s continued bombardment of what she and Christopher did and didn’t want. Then there was Molly and her withdrawal from very hard drugs; CJ and his heartache over Molly, Harley, and Jaleena. Meggie wished she’d never invited the Davises over. It seemed to have made matters worse between CJ and Jaleena.
She also had her younger sons to get in hand with Christopher’s help. Her husband needed her, too. He was trying to get back to normal, so she’d never tell him how awful she was feeling because she’d had to drive herself to her appointment. Just as she and Bunny were leaving the club, Digger came in and said he needed to go on a run, so Bunny couldn’t accompany Meggie and had to watch their kids since everyone else was already engaged.
Meggie knew Digger was angry with her for advising Bunny to start tutoring, but her friend seemed so wistful whenever she talked about her teaching degree. It wasn’t as if Bunny had never tutored over the years. Except, this time, Digger’s routine had been upended. After years of enjoying one-on-one time with Christopher at least twice a week while Meggie and Bunny worked together to cook, set the table, see to their kids, and clean the dishes, he was relegated to watching his kids.
Meggie never stopped him from joining them as he had when Bunny worked full time for her. Digger chose not to. He complained—to her—that she took Christopher away from him anyway, by asking for his help, so he opted out of coming over.
She was happy Bunny was giving up the tutoring because it wasBunny’schoice. Meggie also hoped Digger would finally ease up on her now that things would return to how they had been.
“Let me reiterate my recommendation,” Jordan said. “A hysterectomy.”
