Page 88 of Love At Close Range

“Wassup, baby?” He answered on the second ring.

“Hey,” I sniffed.

“What’s wrong with you?” He asked on full alert.

“Nothing,” I lied.

“Ree,” he called my name and that just made the tears fall harder.

“I ran into my mother,” I cried.

“Reina?” He questioned.

“Yeah.” I exhaled and wiped at my face again. “She started her usual shit. Brought up Daddy and the accident. She still blames me, Lennox. After all these fucking years, she still blames me,” I cried.

“Man, Ree fuck your mama,” he spat.

A weak laugh escaped me even though I was still crying.

“I’m dead serious… fuck her. You were a kid, Ree. You didn’t cause that accident, and you damn sure didn’t kill your father. She’s fucked up for ever putting that shit on you,” he corrected me.

“I know, but hearing it from her again…” I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “I’on know. It just brought everything back.” I sniffed.

“Where you at?” He asked.

“Still sitting outside the office,” I responded.

“Come to me,” he instructed.

“I need to get Rhyse,” I countered.

“No, you need to come here.” His voice softened, but there was no room for argument in it. “Come straight to me and let me make it better. My mama has the kids, so he’s straight.”

I closed my eyes for a second before nodding to myself. “Okay.”

“Aight. I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too,” I responded before the call disconnected.

By the time we hung up, I was calmer, but seeing Reina had added something to the move I hadn’t considered. Cannon Hills was big enough that I could go years without crossing her path again, but today proved there were no guarantees. I wasn’t changing my plans because of her, though. I had already given that woman too much control over parts of my life without realizing it, and she wasn’t getting any more.

I wanted the move… I wanted the opportunity to grow RÉIA here, and I wanted to build a life with Lennox and our family. Seeing Reina didn’t change any of that. If anything, it made me more certain that I was done letting the past decide what I did with my future. I just hoped she understood what I meant when I told her to stay the fuck away from me.

If we ever cross paths again and she came at me with that same bullshit, I might forget she gave birth to me and beat her ass.

29

Lennox

Istood on the sideline while Rhyse lined up for another rep. He had been in Titan’s program for a few weeks now, and I could already see a difference in how serious he took it.

“Move your feet, Rhyse!” His coach yelled.

Rhyse corrected himself before the next rep and stayed in front of the other kid.

“There you go!” I called from the sideline. “Stay with him!”

He made the play the way he was supposed to, and Coach pointed toward him.