“Who says I don’t want kids?”
“Look, when someone mentions having kids to someone who wants to have kids, you see all sorts of longing and shit in their eyes. You know what I saw in your eyes when your mother mentioned kids? Impatience.”
Sissy laughed so hard she started coughing, and Roxy nodded her head. “I thought so.”
She patted Sissy’s knee and leaned in close, whispering, “Just FYI, baby-girl, but Mitchy doesn’t want kids either.”
“Stop.” Sissy pushed Roxy’s granite shoulder with a chuckle. “Please stop. And shouldn’t you be trying to hook him up with a nice Pride female or a full-human? I thought most cats would rather see their cubs with a full-human than a canine.”
“I want my Mitchy to be happy, and he won’t be happy in anyone’s Pride. And he’s much too good natured to be around other cats.” She took out another cigarette, her face getting serious. “I worry about him, though. He’s not sleeping. Or eating enough. I can tell.”
“It’s this upcoming trial and everything. And now there’s the bounty on his head.”
Legs crossed, eyes focused on the sky, Roxy pursed her lips. “He’s had a bounty on his head. That’s why he came to New York, right? A few grand?”
“I think they raised it. Based on what I heard, it’s mighty.”
“How do you know this?”
“I was nosey and listened in to his conversation.”
Roxy nodded approval. “Good girl. What else did you hear?”
“He’s heading back to Philly on Monday.”
“And you’re going to miss him.”
Sissy answered honestly. “He’s my best friend, Roxy. Next to Ronnie Lee. So of course I’m gonna miss him.”
“I tried to talk him out of this, you know? Tried to convince him to keep his mouth shut and pretend he didn’t see anything. I’m from the neighborhood. I know what happens to snitches.”
“He’s not a snitch,” Sissy snapped, automatically defending him. “He’s a cop doing his job. And he’s doing a good job. Putting his life at risk to take down scumbags like Petey O’Farrell takes guts most of us don’t have.” Sissy took a breath to calm herself down. “You’re his mother, and I respect that,” she finished, “but watch what you say. I don’t want Mitch hurt because someone’s being careless.”
That gold gaze watched Sissy for a long time, and when Roxy moved, Sissy braced herself, expecting to get punched. Instead, Roxy kissed her forehead. Almost on the same spot her father had. What was going on with everyone today? Was it the wedding? Did it affect people the way funerals did?
“You are a darling, wonderful girl, and I’m so glad you’re Mitch’s”—she paused for a moment, but it said volumes—“friend.”
Roxy stood, tugging her dress back into place. All those voluptuous curves, the woman knew how to work a wardrobe. “Come on, baby girl. Let’s get you a real drink. I know I could use one.”
“I better not. I’ve already had two ... or three.”
“What’s one more? Don’t worry.” She grinned, and Sissy would swear she saw fangs peeking out of her gums. “I’ll watch out for ya.”
Mitch was being thoroughly entertained by Ronnie Reed’s uncles and brothers getting sauced on the homemade ’shine they’d brought from Tennessee when he saw Dez MacDermot strut out of the ballroom. He liked Dez. She was a good cop. Little crazy, but you had to be to do the job.
“All right, gentlemen. Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Rory Reed, Ronnie’s oldest brother, asked way too loudly. Wolves ... they simply could not hold their liquor.
“Out front. The bride and groom are leaving, and there’s a whole tossing of flowers and garters thing that’s involved. So let’s go.”
“The flowers are fake,” Mitch reminded her.
“You’re gonna start with me now, cat? ’Cause I’m tired and cranky, and the chocolate is wearing off.”
“I see why Mace loves you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fuck youse, too.”
Mitch and the Reed
“Look, when someone mentions having kids to someone who wants to have kids, you see all sorts of longing and shit in their eyes. You know what I saw in your eyes when your mother mentioned kids? Impatience.”
Sissy laughed so hard she started coughing, and Roxy nodded her head. “I thought so.”
She patted Sissy’s knee and leaned in close, whispering, “Just FYI, baby-girl, but Mitchy doesn’t want kids either.”
“Stop.” Sissy pushed Roxy’s granite shoulder with a chuckle. “Please stop. And shouldn’t you be trying to hook him up with a nice Pride female or a full-human? I thought most cats would rather see their cubs with a full-human than a canine.”
“I want my Mitchy to be happy, and he won’t be happy in anyone’s Pride. And he’s much too good natured to be around other cats.” She took out another cigarette, her face getting serious. “I worry about him, though. He’s not sleeping. Or eating enough. I can tell.”
“It’s this upcoming trial and everything. And now there’s the bounty on his head.”
Legs crossed, eyes focused on the sky, Roxy pursed her lips. “He’s had a bounty on his head. That’s why he came to New York, right? A few grand?”
“I think they raised it. Based on what I heard, it’s mighty.”
“How do you know this?”
“I was nosey and listened in to his conversation.”
Roxy nodded approval. “Good girl. What else did you hear?”
“He’s heading back to Philly on Monday.”
“And you’re going to miss him.”
Sissy answered honestly. “He’s my best friend, Roxy. Next to Ronnie Lee. So of course I’m gonna miss him.”
“I tried to talk him out of this, you know? Tried to convince him to keep his mouth shut and pretend he didn’t see anything. I’m from the neighborhood. I know what happens to snitches.”
“He’s not a snitch,” Sissy snapped, automatically defending him. “He’s a cop doing his job. And he’s doing a good job. Putting his life at risk to take down scumbags like Petey O’Farrell takes guts most of us don’t have.” Sissy took a breath to calm herself down. “You’re his mother, and I respect that,” she finished, “but watch what you say. I don’t want Mitch hurt because someone’s being careless.”
That gold gaze watched Sissy for a long time, and when Roxy moved, Sissy braced herself, expecting to get punched. Instead, Roxy kissed her forehead. Almost on the same spot her father had. What was going on with everyone today? Was it the wedding? Did it affect people the way funerals did?
“You are a darling, wonderful girl, and I’m so glad you’re Mitch’s”—she paused for a moment, but it said volumes—“friend.”
Roxy stood, tugging her dress back into place. All those voluptuous curves, the woman knew how to work a wardrobe. “Come on, baby girl. Let’s get you a real drink. I know I could use one.”
“I better not. I’ve already had two ... or three.”
“What’s one more? Don’t worry.” She grinned, and Sissy would swear she saw fangs peeking out of her gums. “I’ll watch out for ya.”
Mitch was being thoroughly entertained by Ronnie Reed’s uncles and brothers getting sauced on the homemade ’shine they’d brought from Tennessee when he saw Dez MacDermot strut out of the ballroom. He liked Dez. She was a good cop. Little crazy, but you had to be to do the job.
“All right, gentlemen. Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Rory Reed, Ronnie’s oldest brother, asked way too loudly. Wolves ... they simply could not hold their liquor.
“Out front. The bride and groom are leaving, and there’s a whole tossing of flowers and garters thing that’s involved. So let’s go.”
“The flowers are fake,” Mitch reminded her.
“You’re gonna start with me now, cat? ’Cause I’m tired and cranky, and the chocolate is wearing off.”
“I see why Mace loves you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fuck youse, too.”
Mitch and the Reed
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