Page 93 of Bronx

Her beautiful face brightens as soon as she opens the door and sees me standing there, and she pulls me in for a tight bear hug that I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love. I allow her to pull away first and notice a small tear in her eye. While I know they’re tears of joy, I hate that I just made my Mother cry for the mere fact that she hasn’t seen me in so long. It makes me feel like a shitty son.

Hell, maybe I am.

After she gives me a small peck on the cheek, she asks about Karma.

“And so who is this?”

“This is a friend of mine. Her name is Karma Moore. Karma, this is Mom or Mrs. Masterson to you.”

“You have such a beautiful and unique name, and I bet it totally fits you. Welcome to our home, Karma. My name is Elizabeth, not Mrs. Masterson, so don’t call me that, okay?” She beams.

“Okay,” Karma agrees.

“Bronx, why don’t you take her inside to meet your brothers and your dad? They’re in the den watching the game. I’ve got a few more minutes in the kitchen.”

“Can I help you, Mrs.–, I mean Elizabeth?”

Mom smiles at me, clearly pleased with Karma’s good manners.

“Thank you for the offer, sweetie, but I’ve got it handled. Go relax in the den with the boys.”

With everything that’s been going on, I’d forgotten for a beat that Seven and Knox know exactly who Karma must be when we walk in the room. The obnoxious smirk on both of their faces gives it away, and I can already see what kind of evening this is going to be.

“Karma, this is my brother Knox and his wife Gigi. And the lesser version of myself sitting over there, with his head buried in his laptop, is my brother Seven.”

Knox immediately stands to greet Karma with his ever charming self. The thing about my older brother is that he always has to be or swing the biggest dick in the room. Even with his wife in the same space, he has the need to charm every woman he meets. The shit has always been annoying.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Karma. I’ve got to say, this is unprecedented in Masterson history.”

“Why is that?” she replies.

“Bronx has never brought home a woman for us to meet before.”

“Well, that explains it then. I’m not a girl he’s bringing home to meet the parents. I’m just a friend, a new friend, who he’s helping out for a little while.”

Seven hasn’t said a word yet, but just gawks at me with his mouth agape. He thinks it’s funny that Karma won’t claim me when all of my life girls have fallen over themselves to get me. I, on the other hand, don’t think it’s funny at all, but I do my best not to give my hand away.

“Nice to meet you,” Gigi shakes her hand.

“You as well.”

“Where’s Dad?” I ask, cutting short the rest of the pleasantries.

“He took a call outside.”

Of course he is. But that’s my Dad. Always a fixer. Always on the clock.

“Can I speak to you for a minute?” Seven blurts out.

Knox looks between us and decides to stay out of it.

“Y’all go ahead. Gigi and I will show Karma baby pictures,” he taunts.

I scratch my head with my middle finger, a “fuck you” that both of my brothers would recognize, and then I leave the room with Seven right behind me.

“What could you possibly want that couldn’t wait for another time?”

“You brought her to family dinner?”