"How in the bloody hell did I not know I was going to be a grandmother, White Hall?"
I wince as I hold the phone from my ear and check the time. It's six in the morning and my eyes aren't focusing. Shit, I don't even remember picking up the phone.
"I don't know, Mom. You have five grandkids counting the twins that CC and Gray are about to have. Maybe we should take you to the doctor."
"Don't get smart with me, White. You explain why I have to read about it in the checkout line at the Quickie Mart."
I pull myself up in bed with a wince when I move my bum arm the wrong way. The fucker is not healing back right. I don't care what they're saying. Every day the fear that I might not be able to play again digs a little deeper into my subconscious. I try to rub the sleep out of my eyes so I can deal with my mom. I have a feeling today is going to be one of those days.
"Mom?" I try and get her attention because she keeps mumbling in the background.
"It's bloody embarrassing, White Hall."
"Bloody? Did you move to England when I wasn't looking?"
"I heard it in a movie. It sounded cool and chic. Though, I think I may have to start using an accent for it to truly work. Anyway, quit trying to distract me! I want to know why the fuck I'm just hearing about my grandchild!"
"I have no Earthly idea what you're talking about. I don't think my brain can follow you this early."
"Fine. Put Kayla on the phone."
"Mom, the sun's barely shining outside. Kayla's not here."
"Why the hell not?" she asks, and I sigh.
"She had to go out of town for a teaching retreat her school organized. She'll be back tonight."
She's been gone for two nights and I'm not happy. We got our all-clear tests done, but I was pissed off because she told her nutty coworker I was her brother, so when we got back, I left. It was stupid and I was pouting. Son of a bitch if it isn't a blow to a man's ego when the woman he is fantasizing about keeps telling people he's like a brother to her. I mean, damn. Then the next day, she springs this "retreat" on me. So that's three days without Kayla. At first, I thought that might be good. It would give me time to clear my head, gain some perspective. Maybe I'm just having these thoughts and feelings about her because of the situation. Yeah, that's definitely not it. Three days and I'm slowly dying. She’s become my drug and withdrawals are definitely not pretty. I'm even missing sleeping with her and that shouldn't be possible. I only slept with her one night since all this started, but the feeling is there all the same.
"Are you listening to me, White Hall?"
That'd be a no…
"I'm sorry, Mom. The cat was wanting out," I mumble.
"You don't have a cat."
"What were you saying?" Sometimes it's not healthy to have a parent who knows your entire life.
"I was saying that I can't believe that you put a bun in my sweet Kayla's oven and didn't even tell me!"
Finally, she has my attention.
"What the fuck are you talking about, Mom?" I growl.
"White Hall! You do not talk to me like that! Would you kiss your mother with that mouth? Don't answer that. You barely come see me, let alone kiss me. I swear I don't know where I went wrong with you boys. If it wasn't for Cyan, I'd feel like a total failure."
"Oh, please." I all but roll my eyes at her claim. Of all of us, Cyan is probably the wildest. Somehow, however, he has managed to completely snow mom into thinking he's practically a virgin saint. If she ever found out the truth, it would probably kill her.
"I'm serious. You could learn something by trying to be more like your brother."
"Sure. What are you talking about with Kayla?"
"I'm talking about the fact that I had to read in a magazine in the checkout lane that my sweet Kayla was pregnant! I can't believe you, White Hall. You should have at least told the family what was going on."
"Mom, I have no idea what you're talking about here, and Kayla is definitely not pregnant."
"She's not?"
"She's definitely not. It's not even possible," I tell her.
"Well, shit. Maybe I should tell you to be more like Gray. He seems fertile enough since he met CC."
"Mom, would you please explain where you heard about me and Kayla?"
"I did, dear. Though you were probably playing with your make-believe pussy and didn't listen."
"Mom—"
"It's in all the gossip rags and on that horrible television show that says it’s all about entertaining news, but in reality is just a place for junk reality television that rots brain cells."
"You're fucking kidding me?"
"No. I'm pretty sure if we have a zombie apocalypse, the origins will be traced back to that TV channel. You can't keep brain cells alive and active watching—"