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“Ahh, say no more.” She gives Sam a smile. “Grab your stuff, and you can come over to my house. The kids are getting ready to do their homework, so I’ll be able to help everyone.”

I pat Sam on the back then stand, pushing in my chair. “See how lucky you are to have a teacher in the family?” He nods his head as he stands as he stands, stuffing his book and papers in his backpack.

“I’m not a teacher until I get an actual teaching job.”

“Hey.” Tessa comes from the hall. The dark circles from under her eyes have lightened up a bit. She’s still on the thin side, but Bianca is making her eat more. “Where are you going? You have homework.”

Jenni gets up from her chair. “I’m taking him to my house. He needs help with his math, and Roxy and Ryder need to do their homework, too. I thought it would be easier. I’ll bring him home before dinner.”

The front door opens, and I hear Sin, Cut, and Bianca’s voices. “Mija,” she addresses Jenni.

“Hey.” Jenni eyes the boys. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Mom told me and Cut to head over, so here we are.”

A knock comes from the front door, and Cut goes to answer it, but Bianca grabs his arm before he can take more than one step. Bianca looks at Jenni and Sam. “Do you think you can take Sam to your house, mija?”

The corner of her eyes crinkle when she looks at Bianca. “I had already planned it, but now I’m curious as to why you want me to take him.”

The doorbell rang this time. “Ma.”

“I’ll open the door. Jenni, please take Sam. Now.”

Jenni looks at the four of us. She raises her hands. “I can take a hint when I’m not wanted.”

“It wasn’t a hint, really. I think Bianca told you to leave.”

“Don’t make me flip you off, Hawk.” She pulls Sam’s bag from the table. When she sticks her hand out, Sam takes it.

“Seems like that husband of yours is rubbing off on you.”

“Only in the best possible ways.” She gives us a wink, and both Cut and Sin groan in protest. She shakes her head. “I’ll just take him out the back.”

Bianca sticks her head around the corner. “Are they gone?”

“Yeah, Mama, they’re gone,” Sin responds.

She drops her head then appears with one of the last people I ever thought I’d see in this house.

“Mom?” Tessa questions. “What are you doing here?”

Gloria stands with both hands gripping the brown leather of her oversized purse. The tension is radiating from her body, and I almost want to laugh at her uneasiness.

“Mija,” Bianca interjects. “I think it’s time that you and your mother have a heart to heart.”

Tessa

My mother looks at me, and I can feel the coldness of her stare. She doesn’t want to be here any more than I want her here. I swallow the lump in my throat because I know my mother’s rejection is imminent.

“Not to sound like a dick, but what does their family issues have to do with the two of us?” Cut asks his mom as he moves his thumb between him and Sin. Bianca doesn’t acknowledge him she and keeps her eyes bored into the side of my mother’s head.

“Shall we sit?” my mom asks.

“I’ll stand,” Sin says.

“Yeah, me too,” Cut responds.

Bianca pulls out a chair and takes a seat. I look at Hawk who drops his head towards the chair I’m currently standing in front of. I collapse onto the wooden seat, and my mother gingerly takes a seat next to me.