Page 97 of The Echo of Violence

“Damn man is always ruining my fun,” she complains as the realtor walks back over to us, hanging up her cell.

“They’ve accepted your offer. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up and ready for you to sign tomorrow, if that’s convenient?”

“Sounds good. Thank you.” I hold out my hand for her. She looks at it as if it’s a vibrator before slipping her hand into mine.

She shudders, and I can’t help myself. I lean forward and kiss her cheek, pressing my body against hers. “Until tomorrow.”

Her breathing is coming out in soft pants now as she pulls back and smooths her hair. “Yes, of course. G-good day.” She hurries over to open the door and holds it for us.

Mercy giggles behind me as I walk out and head for the car. “That was epic. You know that’s going in her wiggle warehouse, right?”

“Her what now?”

“You know her vibe vault? Meat folder. Her fist list.” She looks at me and frowns. “Her clit closet?”

“I’m re-evaluating our friendship.”

I pull open the car door and climb into the passenger seat.

“Well, what do you call it when you’re playing Star Wars?” I look at her like she’s insane because there is a good chance she is. “You don’t go Hand Solo occasionally?”

“Have you been drinking?”

“God, I wish.” She sighs, starting the car before pulling out.

I look over at her, taking her in. She taps her fingers on her thigh and bites her lip as she sits at the intersection, waiting for the lights to change.

“You seem tense. I thought you’d be happy, but you seem distracted. And if you tell me you’re thinking about masturbating, so help me God, I’ll toss you out the window.”

“I should have stuck with masturbating. Then I wouldn’t be in this trouble.”

“Wait, are you pregnant?”

“I don’t know. I shouldn’t be. I have an IUD, for God’s sake. But my period is late, and my boobs are sore…” She blows out a breath as her eyes dart briefly to mine before returning to the road.

“Let’s not freak out just yet. First, let’s go get a pregnancy test.”

“Okay, you’re right. It’s probably nothing. I’m overreacting. I know I am. It’s just… What do I know about being a mother? I can barely stand to be in the same room as my own. She hates me so much, she made a whole new family to replace me.”

“First of all, that’s her loss. You’re awesome, Mercy. And if she can’t see that, then fuck her. Secondly, I think you’d make an amazing mother. You’re kind, protective, and have that whole nurturing vibe thing going on. I’ve seen my fair share of shitty parents over the years, but you don’t have it in you to be anything but the best. And can you imagine what your guys will be like?”

She groans, a little laugh breaking free.

“You better hope you have sons because if you have a little girl, Scope will lock her up until she’s fifty.”

“Oh God, he’s going to drive me crazy. I know it.”

“He loves you. They all do. And they don’t try to hide it or downplay it. You have to love men who find no shame in loving you. Some think of it as a dirty word, but not them. They’re proud to have you as theirs and want the whole world to know it. How does it feel to be so lucky?”

“Pretty fucking good most of the time.”

We pull up outside the nearest Walmart and park. Mercy jumps out and walks around the front of the car and waits for me to climb out and close my door. We walk in and head straight to the pharmacy to find the feminine hygiene aisle. When we find the pregnancy tests, I have to laugh. Right below them are shelves of condoms. Gotta love the irony.

“Which one should I get?”

“I’m not sure. Just grab a few different ones and do them all. This one tells you in actual words if you’re pregnant or not. You can’t get much easier than that.”

“Good point.” She grabs it and three others before going to the checkout. She tosses them down on the counter and waits for the cashier to look up.

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