I love the disgusted wince on Braylynn's face. Why I hate her so much already is beyond me. She rubs me the wrong way. They all do, except for Levi. He's so cute I could squeeze him. Nash raises a hand. "Okay, we've heard enough." He looks at Levi. "Judging by the look on my brother's face, you picked a fine time to tell him. You might have let him in on the news before springing it on us the first time we meet."
I suck my teeth. "Your daddy's in jail and you're judging me?"
Levi interjects. "Look, that's enough. While he's right, that you should have told me before tonight, we're in a public place here."
"But I only found out today, Levi."
"And you couldn't let that shit settle for a day or two?" Nash argues. "Do you think it's fair to my brother or to me, that you're airing out your dirty laundry here?"
"What am I supposed to say?" I point at Braylynn, who has this self-righteous, smug grin on her face. "She asked me outright why I wasn't having a drink like everyone else. I'm not a liar, Nash." I sit back in my chair, pleased with myself. Point for me. "It's not my fault she's nosy."
"I'm not nosy." Braylynn says.
"Well then what are you?" I taunt. "Did you have to ask me that? What's it of your business, anyway? You're nosy."
"At least I'm not rude." She tosses back, just as the waitress delivers our drinks. We sit here, in silence, sipping. I'm sipping fast, pretending like I'm going to throw my empty glass at the bitch.
"Are you ready to order?" The waitress asks, completely oblivious.
"I am." My voice is self-serving. "I'm damn near starved. I'll take the steak and a garden salad with a baked potato." I pat my stomach. "And I'll take a chocolate mousse for dessert. Eating for two now, see."
"Congratulations." She pastes on a smile and gives me a little curtsy as she takes my menu.
I listen to the rest of them grumbling out their orders. Levi orders a pasta dish, while Nash gets ribs. Braylynn, the sap, orders a shrimp salad. While I eat like it's my last meal, everyone else seems to pick at their food, asking for containers to bring the rest home. It's obvious that I've successfully ruined the evening. Nash and Levi speak amongst themselves, but the conversation doesn't go beyond that. Nash dives at the opportunity to get the bill and pay for it on the spot. I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the Barnes home tonight. Nash's phone pings as he's paying the bill. "Billy could use a hand with Digger tonight." He says to Levi.
"I'll come along. We came in Shelly's truck, anyhow." Levi responds.
"Well, it was a pleasure meeting y'all." I say facetiously, getting out of my chair. "I'll be seeing you."
I kiss Levi on the cheek and leave, not bothering to offer to pay my share of the bill. Screw them. Screw them all. They had it coming. What right did that bitch have to ask me why I was ordering a dang smoothie, anyway? Besides, I didn't want to meet any of them fools, since Levi already gave me the heads up that I'd be put through the third degree. He's too sweet, see. And he saw my wedding band and engagement ring in my bathroom and panicked. For all intents and purposes, that's none of his business, either, see. And I don't want to go and get his panties into a twist over it, and I think I did well, avoiding the questions.
But they’re not over yet.
Levi
I lift my hand defensively the moment we get into Nash’s truck. “I don’t need it. You know as well as I do that I didn’t know she was pregnant.”
Braylynn rounds on me. “You better get a goddamn paternity test done, Levi. If that chick is still married, chances are that kid’s not even yours.”
“Yeah, and thanks for that, by the way. Y’all just had to ask her about the damn smoothie.”
“Alright, fine. I admit it. I didn’t like her from the second I heard from Piper about the wedding bands.” She admitswholeheartedly. “That woman is a snake. I can feel it in my bones.”
“I’d be lying if I said I was a fan myself." Nash comments.
“Fans or no fans, if she’s carrying my baby, I’ve got a responsibility to her."
“Well, I don’t buy it for one second. She’s no more pregnant than I am. That snake just said it to ruffle my feathers."
I shake my head, but I say nothing.
Braylynn’s face changes. It’s like a lightbulb went off. “Wait a minute. Did you tell her that I was going to be asking questions about her wedding bands?"
I hesitate to answer. I don’t like where this is going. “I might have given her a heads up, but I don’t see how that’s relevant."
She rolls her eyes and scoffs. “It makes perfect sense, Levi. That’s why she made such a fuss about me asking her about the smoothie. She knew damn well that I’d be raising questions. She’s no fool. Like I said, that girl is a snake.”
This is when Nash interjects. “Let me ask you this, little brother. Have you been using protection? Is there a legitimate chance that she may be pregnant with your child?"
