Page 91 of Seduction

His eyes close and he leans in to my palm before shaking his head. “I can’t let it go, sis.”

“You have to.” I pull him into my arms, giving him the advice our father gave me. “The past is the past. We can’t let it control us. I’ve moved on. It’s time you did, too.”

“Fuck, shorty.” He expels a breath, leaning back to meet my eyes. “You’re happy?”

“I am.”

“That’s all that matters.”

“Then you’ll stop beating yourself up over it?”

“I’ll try.”

He smiles, and even though I can see the relief on his features, I know it will be a while before he overcomes the guilt he feels. I’ve been there, so I know.

Mikey’s excited chatter fills the room, and I watch as Jon leads him over to the pool table, sinking all the balls and clearing the surface. He removes some plastic from the bag he brought in, spreading it on the table. While he’s taking the other items from the bag, I make my way over. They get an even bigger audience when the other guys join me. He lays out an empty bottle, funnel, plastic pitcher, baby oil, and blue food coloring.

“Prospect!” Jon shouts. Tyler comes running over and Jon hands him the pitcher. “Fill this halfway with water.”

“Yes, sir.”

He lifts Mikey onto the table, the little boy’s eyes twinkling as he folds his legs under him.

“What are you making, baby?” I ask.

“Oshin in a bottle!” he squeals.

“Oh. Sounds cool.”

“I know. Ice-tie says it will look like waves!”

Tyler returns with the pitcher, and Jon places it in front of Mikey. He hands him the food coloring, allowing Mikey to add it to the water.

“Okay, that’s enough, little man.”

Jon swirls the water around the pitcher, mixing in the coloring. Pretty soon, the color looks like the deepest part of the ocean. He removes the cap from the bottle, sets the funnel in, and places it in front of Mikey. Picking up the pitcher, he allows Mikey to hold on to it, but it’s obvious he’s the one in control as they pour the water in the bottle. After filling that halfway, they add the baby oil, filling it the rest of the way.

“Ready?” Jon asks Mikey as he screws the lid on the bottle.

“Yeah!” He claps excitedly.

“Okay, here we go.”

He turns the bottle horizontally, rocking it side to side.

“Whoa,” Venom says next to me. “It kinda does look like waves.”

“Wow.” Mikey’s eyes go wide, taking the bottle from Jon’s fingers. “Momma, look! The oshin!”

“I see it, baby.”

“Thanks, Ice-tie!”

“You’re welcome, buddy.” He lifts Mikey off the table, setting him on his feet.

“I’m gonna show Grandpa!” he exclaims, running off.

“Good job, Daddy,” Razor says, laughing.