Their mouths are hanging open by the time I finish. Spent from telling my story, I pick up my drink and take a long, slow sip.
“I knew Lexi was lying about that micro-penis,” Selene says.
I almost choke on my drink.
“I forgot all about that bitch.” I glare at Selene. “And that dick hangs practically to his knees. I gagged, and I had less than half of it in my mouth.”
“You fucking slut,” Selene whispers right before she high-fives me and Cori. “That’s what I’m talking about.” Selene becomes wistful and says, “I wish I had a dick in my mouth right about now.”
“In the middle of Ms. Hazel’s dining room? She’d chase you out with a stick,” I say.
“So, you’re a couple now?” Cori asks. “How is that going to work? Your dad will be a problem.”
“We’re going to keep it quiet. Duh.” I roll my eyes as if that’s not the most obvious answer.
Cori looks from me to Selene as if she doesn’t believe me.
“He said that? He said that he would keep this thing between you two a secret?”
I think back to the weekend. The man is not exactly willing to give information, but he would agree to that, of course. My father is the sheriff in this town. He must know that I can’t be seen with him. That’s why he drove us out of town yesterday.
“Well, he knows we can’t be public, Cori.”
“But did hesaythat?” she asks as if I’m an idiot. “Did those words come out of his mouth, or are you creating your own narrative?”
“He didn’t have to say it. He—”
“He ain’t about to do that,” Selene interrupts. “Get ready because you’re about to stir up a scandal in Shadow Cove. The likes we haven’t seen since Ms. Hazel chased her third husband’s mistress down Main Street during the Fourth of July picnic.”
Cori nods in agreement, but I wave both of them off. They don’t know what they’re talking about.
“Yes!” Selene insists. “You can tell us we’re right later, but—”
The words die on her tongue. I look up, and Sylvie is standing there, looking down at us. She offers no smile or greeting.
“Hi, Sylvie ,” I say, uncertain of why she’s here in the middle of the day without her children. “Where are the kids?”
“Asks the auntie who never visits.” She tosses her hair and slides into the booth next to me without an invitation.
As soon as Sylvie’s ass hits the booth, Ms. Hazel is there to take her order.
Sylvie orders a breakfast skillet and says, “Lunch is on you.”
My nostrils flare, but I don’t tell her no. I won’t call her out and let her know that I know she can’t spend a dime without Levar knowing. Mom let that slip a few years back during one of our phone calls.
All conversation about my love life ceases, and an awkward silence takes over the table. Sylvie picks at the thread on her shirt, and Cori and Selene sip their drink in silence.
“What were you three talking about? You had your heads together, and when I got here, you all went silent,” Sylvie says.
“Just chatting,” Cori replies. “That’s all.”
I catch her eye roll, and I choke on my laughter.
The table goes quiet again, and I resent my sister for intruding on my time with my friends.
“The kids are at the house with Mom,” she says.
I had already forgotten that I had asked where the kids were. Levar’s mother lives with them, but she never leaves her kids with her. According to my mother, Levar’s mother helped them with a down payment on their house. As soon as they moved in, so did she.
