Page 190 of Captivated By Danger

“I don’t know, honestly, Mom. I think you leaving him was an eye-opener. You ain’t never sent separation papers before. I think he was shook for real. I mean, I was.”

“You know I been with your father forever. I love his ass. I knew what I was getting into getting with that man, but after that ladies evening I had with Quinci and Greysen a few days ago, I don’t understand how you and Dymon, my most hard to deal with children, ended up with women who aren’t going to put up with your shit. And they are so young, no offense. Oh my goodness. I only wish I was as strong as those two were when I was their age. Jesus. I was listening to them talk and suddenly felt as a sixty-plus-year-old woman, I’d been living life all wrong. Of course, society has changed so much, but still. I find myself envious of twenty-somethings. Sorry, I’m babbling. Too much wine.”

“It’s okay, Mom. Greysen and I got into an argument about you a while back. Now that I’m about to be a dad and in love, I realized that I was wrong for participating in your unhappiness. I should have stayed out of it.”

She smiled. “Oh she told me. How it ended with a drink in your face.”

I laughed. “Yes.”

“Oh son, you were just doing what your father told you to do. I’m your mother and I still love you the same. Now, your old ass father knew better. I’m going to make him pay for a little while longer. Quinci and Greysen suggested I even go on a few dates. I had to remind them both that you and Dymon’s attitude didn’t just fall out the sky. He would go crazy.”

“Maybe that’s what he needs. Just a sip of his own medicine. Not too much though because again, that’s still my father, and I’m not against hemming a nigga up about my moms.”

She grinned. “Boy, please. When are you going to meet her family? Before we met up, Quinci told me not to bring them up unless she does.”

“It’s a work in progress. She’s fine with her father, but her and her mother are a no. She’s adamant about not getting worked up at all during her pregnancy and her mom would do that to her. While I would love to have a relationship with my in-laws, I’m not going to force it.”

“Were you going somewhere?”

“Yes, back to the hotel. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Standing, I kissed the top of her head and went to the car. The hotel wasn’t far up the road, I could have walked. Pulling into the parking lot, I saw Greysen heading back inside the building with a bag in her hand. I hurried up and threw the car in park and jumped out. I caught up with her just as the elevator doors closed. When she noticed me, her eyes nearly jumped out her head.

“Are you out of your mind? What are you doing out of the room?”

Her eyes darted from side to side. “Because I texted you like three hours ago, and I got tired of waiting. I didn’t want to call you, rushing you while you spend time with your people, so I just went to the gas station at the end of the street. I’m also an adult who is capable of walking thirty feet to buy snacks. Is this your definition of overbearing?”

“Yes. Wait, no. I’m sorry. Just call me and rush me. Anytime. You don’t need to be out at night.”

“The man at the counter used to drive my daycare van. I’ll always be okay here, Diese.”

“That’s beside the point, Greysen.”

“I won’t argue with you about that, Diesel Danger,” she said, stepping off the elevator.

I followed her down the hall to our room. She swiped her card and opened the door for us.

“In Citrus Grove, no protection. Everywhere else, The Big Diesel can hire whatever protection team he wants. Understand?”

“But—”

“No, buts, Diesel.”

I followed her to the dining table.

“I grew up here. I don’t want people to think that I’m some goody-two shoes walking around with a big man in black.”

“Alright, Grey.”

“And… huh?”

“I said alright.”

“Oh. Well, alright then. I was getting ready to go off.”

“And for no reason at all.”

She took a cup of fruit, a bag of chips, Nutella, and a pack of spicy ramen noodles out of the bag.”

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