Page 56 of Restless
“Leave Rebel be, Bailey,” Lolly ordered.
“Rebel shouldn’t talk to Harley in that manner when she’s clearly hurt and upset over—”
“Over nothing. There’s no fucking reason Harley should be acting as she is.” Ignoring Mommie’s mouth falling open, Lolly looked at Harley. “If your ass is on your shoulders because you’re waiting for CJ, thatisa dumb bitch move, baby.”
“Mother!”Mommie said with indignation as Harley gasped. “Bell’s about to ring,” she said to Lou and Kaleb when they snickered. “Get to class. You too, Nardo.”
“Yes, ma’am, Miz Banks.”
“It’sDoctorBanks,” Harley gritted.
“Sadity on top of everything else,” Lolly said with disapproval.
“We do not allow criticism or negativity to enter our interactions with Harley, Mother,” Mommie snapped, the moment it was just the three of them.
Lolly placed her hands on her hips. “Then maybe she needs her ass beat, Bailey. She’s lost her goddamn mind. I never heard her talk to her daddy the way she spoke to him the other night. She damn near cussed out Knox. Now, she’s stomping around, being nasty to everybody else.”
“You aren’t upset about Lucas. It’s about Knox.”
“It’s not about either of those motherfuckers,” Lolly shouted. “It’s about this baby.”
“You and I just started speaking again, Momma, after I extended an olive branch and apologized to you on my daughter’s behalf as well as my own.”
“Extended an…? Girl, fuck you. You’re lucky I didn’t fuck you and her up onmyfucking behalf. You both owed me an apology. I set aside the fact that Harley has yet to apologize to me and came to see my princess rehearse, but you’re on the same bullshit. No, you’re on some next level bullshit.”
“Enough, Mother. This isn’t the time or the place. I don’t need your attitude as well as Lucas’s. When hedoestalk to me, he’s cold and distant.”
“If I was that boy, I wouldn’t talk to either one of you bitches until you did some groveling,” Lolly snapped.
Mommie gasped and pulled Harley closer. “How dare you? Harley’s a child, and I’myourchild. Your emotional abuse is unwarranted. You can’t call us out of our names—”
“Bailey, fuck you. How’s that for fucking emotional abuse? Allow me to give you some fucking advice—”
“I didn’t ask for it, thank you,” Mommie sniffed.
“Don’t give a fuck. I’m giving it anyway before you fuck up your marriage any more than you already have.”
“My marriage is fine!”
“The fuck it is. You just said your man isn’t talking to you. That don’t sound fine to me.”
“Goodbye, Mother.”
“For as long as I’ve known Mortician, I never saw him withdraw from no fucking body the way he did the other night. He got jokes and advice and is respected for both.” Lolly glared at Harley, then transferred the look to Mommie. “You want to take Harley’s side? Fine. You’re entitled. Butyourdaughter’s words humiliated that boy, and you didn’t open your fucking mouth to defend him.”
Mommie blinked, startled. “Defend him? Lucas knows how much I admire him and look up to him.”
“Words are easy, Bailey. The one time he needed you toprovewhat you claim, you fucking failed him. How the fuck would you feel if Harley suddenly attacked you, called you a sellout, a fraud, and a suck up, and Mortician didn’t jump to your defense?”
“Lucas isn’t that weak,” Mommie said, but her voice wavered. “He knows his importance to the club and tome. As my husband. He’s my best friend.”
“On paper you’re Dr. Bailey Banks, with a thriving private practice.” Lolly indicated Mommie’s designer outfit. “When was the last time he even visited your office? Not since you moved into your own space and brought in associates. What? Two years?”
“Now, you’re reaching. That’s ridiculous. Lucas is welcomed any time he wishes to drop in.”
“Fuck off with that. I’ve tried to “drop in”, and that bitch you have for an assistant always says you’re busy.”
“I can’t believe that! Velda is lovely. Meggie has stopped in and—”
