Page 17 of Steel

I chuckled. “I’m sure she’s a wise woman.”

“You haven’t met her yet. She can be extra.”

I smiled. I swore something about her felt very familiar. I’d been feeling it since she first walked into the building. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

“You ready, baby?” her aunt asked, coming over after finishing up her phone call.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t forget your snacks,” I said, pointing to the snack table the kids had begun to crowd around.

“We get snacks? Awesome! I’ll be right back, Auntie Dee!”

She ran over and joined the rest of the class.

Her aunt laughed. “She definitely gets her love of snacks from me.”

“No lie, I love a good snack my damn self. She did great today, by the way.”

“She did.” Dee sighed. “I really hope this builds her confidence back up. I’ve seen the light dim in her eyes since we’ve been here.”

“What made y’all move?”

“My sister got a new job. I couldn’t let her move here alone.”

“Y’all must be close.”

“That’s my best friend.”

“I feel you. My siblings and I are super close too. I mean, we really don’t have an option in the matter.”

“How many of you is it?”

“Six.”

“Damn!” she exclaimed, then covered her mouth. “Sorry.”

I laughed. “No need to apologize. It’s a lot of us. Same dad, four different moms. Most of us have maternal siblings too, so it’s really like ten. If you get to adding in-laws and their siblings, . . . yeah. It’s a damn clan. It doesn’t help that everybody is so fucking fertile.”

It was her turn to laugh. “You have kids?”

“I have a son. KJ.”

Pulling out my phone, I showed her a picture of my big boy. She stared at it for a moment, before an awkward smile formed on her face. I wasn’t sure what that shit was about.

“He’s adorable. So chunky.” She grew quiet for a moment. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Uh, . . . sure.”

“What’s the D in KD Defense Academy stand for?”

“Dillinger. Why?”

“Oh, oh, no reason. I just realized I only knew your first name. Nayelli! Baby, we have to go!”

Something in her shifted. It was like she knew who I was. I hadn’t noticed it the first time, but she looked familiar too. Just as I was about to ask where I knew her from, Nayelli ran back over.

“Bye, Mr. K. See you tomorrow!”