Page 121 of Badd B*tch

"I may or may not have already emailed Mama Livvie about that."

She blinked at me. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I emailed her asking if we could rent it from her." I waggled my hand side to side. "You, me, us, whatever. I have savings, and I'm sure you do too."

"Money is the one thing we haven’t discussed, huh?" She bit her lip. "Is it too soon?”

"To move in together?" I asked.

She nodded. “Yeah."

"I mean, probably, but ask me if I care. The thought of not going to sleep and waking up with you every day for the rest of my life kinda makes me want to hurl. Or panic. Or both."

"Or both," she whispered. "You're sure?"

My phone dinged with incoming email; I read it and then handed Tea the phone.

Jax, my dearest,

I have removed the listing. It's yours for as long as you want. No rent. How could I charge my own sweet grandson? I couldn’t possibly. I do, however, trust that you and the lovely, sweet, and wonderful Tea can handle the utilities. She's just the most beautiful addition to our crazy crew, and I am so, so happy the universe brought you two together, although the manner of it may have left something to be desired, I suppose.

With all the love in my heart for you both,

Mama Livvie

Tea looked up from the phone, eyes tearing up and shimmering, hand over her mouth. "Is she for real?"

"The other thing we do better than fuckin' anyone is generosity, babe."

"What don't you guys do better than anyone?"

"Sanity? Peace and quiet?" I chuckled.

"Bah, overrated,” she sniffed, dabbing at her eyes with a napkin. “Gah, again. Jesus." She sniffed again, laughing. "The fucking waterworks, my god."

“Tea, it's okay. You’ve spent your whole life repressing your feelings. Now you're not. You don't have to, ever again." It was my turn to take her hands. "I want to know everything you're feeling."

"I'm feeling like I need to give Mama Livvie a hug."

I laughed because, at that exact moment, Mama Livvie passed by the diner, saw us, brightened, and immediately rushed in.

Tea shot out of her seat and crashed into Mama Livvie, who rocked backward, shocked, then wrapped Tea in a smothering hug, only letting go when Tea did first.

"Sweet girl," Livvie said, petting Tea’s hair back. "Hi."

Tea pulled back, sniffing. "Sorry, I just…we just read your email, and—"

Liv clapped a hand over Tea's mouth. "Not another word. Hugs are my primary love language, sweetie.” She beamed down at Tea, a hand on her cheek. “It is my absolute joy to provide somewhere for you two to be together. I had a feeling as I worked on that house that it was going to go to someone special, but I couldn't have known how special." She smiled at me, then at Tea again. "You have brought new life and happiness to Jax's life, and you’re bringing joy and excitement and humor into ours. Little Harry has talked of nothing but you since that party. Tay-Tay this, and Tay-Tay that."

Tea put a fist to her mouth, eyes shimmering all over again. “Tay-Tay?" There was an odd note to her voice. “She said that? Tay-Tay?”

Liv caught it. "Yes, that's what she's been saying: Tay-Tay, meaning you."

Tea looked at me. "I've had a lot of nicknames over the years. Tee, Tee-Tee, my callsign, Bagger, among others—we’ve talked about that. But only one person ever called me Tay, and that was Luke."

"Tania doesn't?"

She shook her head. “Tania's nickname for me is Tater-bug."