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When she replied, I heard the smile in her voice, and I ached to be ho for anyone, but piss her off, and my mama could be a bear

“Well, I’ve never said it to her face And, yes, it was a bit funny Especially when that uptight woht about you not being around to raise your own child”

Ouch That hurts

“You still feuding with her?” I asked

“No Yes Maybe Hell, I don’t know The woo unpunished, friend or no friend She crossed a line when she insulted you”

“Maher and ready to move on?”

“Ha! Hardly”

Rolling et ood draw in Tacoma”

“Brock?”

My breath stalled in my throat I hated this part of our daily conversation It hen I heard the fear in h she tried desperately not to show it The uncertainty that ht not be the wisest thing anymore Especially because I was the only parent le day

“I know, Mama”

“I know you know, but I’, but ree”

I nodded, even though I knew she couldn’t see ht to Blayze?”

My oodbye! No, I’onna wash your mouth out Not this time anyway!”

I chuckled and again felt the deep ache of et back on the line

“Daddy, I’onna rope me a calf tomorrow!”

The drop in onna show you that when I came home on Monday”

“Yeah, I know, but Uncle Ty said that he could show me, ’cause you’re busy”

My hand balled into a fist, and I counted to ten I was going to kick my brother’s ass Just because he couldn’t be on the circuit with me, he had to make sure I was asmy son to do it