Shambles

Chapter 21: Ember

It's been over a week since Sweet Pea's party and we have not heard anything from Net. I talked to Shay and she said that she saw her once with Grady but after that, he's been at the club with his guys.

Kita seems not to be worried but I'm a little worried for my sister - Grady can be downright vicious. Walking in the now furnished den I plop down on the couch. The kids have brought all of their gaming shit down here, so I can't even watch TV now.

Pulling out my phone I go to her Instagram and look at her pictures. The last post was two days ago and she was taking pictures in the bathroom of Grady's bedroom of her new outfit. Scrolling through the post I don't see anything that interesting. Most of the people are just posting emojis and some people are just saying she's cute - nothing more. She doesn't have any pictures of Grady on her page at all.

Sighing I lay my phone on the couch and lay my head back and close my eyes. Feeling the couch deep on the side of me I open my eyes and turn my head. Thinking it's one of the kids I'm surprised it's Gabe sitting there.

"What are you doing here?"

"I can't come over," he asks before pulling Sweet Pea who is smiling at him onto his lap. "Give me a kiss," He tells her.

"No," she shouts as she pushes him off.

Bash, who has been focused on the game, looks back and sees Gabe. "Hey Dad, what are you doing here," he asks, turning back to the game.

"Why y'all keep asking me that. I can't come over?" Sweet Peas scoots away from him and sticks out her tongue. Gabe pretends to reach for and she laughs and shakes her head.

"You said you were going home today, so why are you here?"

He smiles. "I wanted to see my family before I went home." I grin at him. "Where is Papa?"

"Kita and him went to Macon's game. Bash didn't want to go; he said the drive was too long."

Gabe is still in his suit. He always looks and smells so good. Even after hours in an office. "Are you cooking tonight?"

"I've already cooked. I didn't have anything to do so I fried some chicken and made mash potatoes and broccoli for the side."

"And it's already in the kitchen?"

"Yes. I was waiting to feed the kids but if you're hungry you can go get a plate."

He lays his head on my shoulder. "Can you fix it? I'm tired."

Looking down into his baby blues, I smile before pushing his head off my shoulder. "Hell naw, fix your own plate," I say laughing.

He gives me a shocked expression. "You're not going to fix me a plate?"

"No...my feet hurt." I lay my head back and close my eyes. After about two minutes I open my eyes and see Gabe just staring at me with an eyebrow arched. "What?"

"I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"My plate." He turns and looks over to Bash. "Bash...tell your momma to fix me a plate. I'm tired."

Bash turns and looks at me giving me a devilish grin. He looks back at his dad before turning back to the game. "I'm not in it," he says chuckling.

"Bash...you're supposed to be on my side. Us guys have to stick together."

"Don't put him in this. He's doing right by staying out of it," I say laughing and getting off the couch.

"You about to fix my plate?"