"Well, I didn't get myself pregnant, and unlike your darling fucking Starlah, I have goals that reach beyond this shitty town!" Braelyn spat, spittle flying from her mouth. "And those errands are for my baby. I have to get his or her bedroom ready, and Jerrod's Furniture store had a good scratch and dent. I wasn'tbuying it without seeing it first. What, you want me on the bus? By now, you could have fixed my car, Colt."
He kissed his teeth, and his brows dipped. If he brought her car even near the Steel's mechanic shop, he knew he'd be questioned since Braelyn was saving every dime she had for her unborn child. Swift monitored the books, so every job had to be accounted for. Colt couldn't run that risk unless he took it on an off day.
"I'll figure something out, but what plans did you have, Brae, before all of this happened? Chasing Creed, who was so far up his father's ass, he couldn't give you the fucking time of day?"
"Not true. He wanted to help him out, Colt. Something you know nothing about when it comes to those you love. Lucky was involved in some shit, which led to them both being killed."
"Wait, what did you say?" Colt frowned.
"Nothing," she muttered, taking a seat next to him.
Braelyn was so exhausted from all the secrets she'd kept over the years, the biggest being her and Creed leaving Pellum once he saved up enough to buy his own piece of land.
"Naw, I heard you. What happened?"
Colt figured he could use the information to not only get back in Starlah's good graces, but he also wanted whoever had killed them to pay for it.
"I'm not sure," she replied. "Creed didn't give me all the details, but I have a child to think about. Let the sheriff deal with it, Colt. No meddling."
"Sheriff? Pfft. He's barely interviewed people. That damn press conference was a joke, and that reward money," he fumed.
Once Choppa's alibi cleared him, he'd offered a reward with Sheriff Jakes front and center with him, even shedding a few tears. All Braelyn knew was that at one point in time, Lucky had some dealings with Choppa, but so did plenty of them in town when they needed a loan.
She rubbed her stomach, feeling grief wash over her. If the baby were Creed's, she'd be proud to carry his legacy, but she still hadn't heard from Lucky's attorney. Sadly, she needed money, but without proof, she knew Logan wouldn't just hand it over. She sighed, then yelped when she felt swift kicks from her unborn child.
Colt's eyes quickly darted to her when she grabbed his hand.
"Did he just—" A slow swallow digested his words when Braelyn smiled and nodded. "May I?"
Each time he saw her, he wished he'd never touched her, but in that moment, he felt a jolt of happiness. Still, after all the girls he'd slept with over the years, he'd never once had a pregnancy scare. It was just his luck that it was with Braelyn Gardner the first time it happened.
They were neighbors, and their mothers were best friends. Before they crossed that line, Colt had never seen her as more than an annoying gnat that helped his mother keep tabs on him. The night Braelyn showed up, he was upset that Cassie had invited her. They didn't hate each other, but he didn't trust that she wouldn't provide his mother with a play-by-play of anything he did in the name of having fun.
"S-Sure."
Braelyn took a deep breath when Colt gently slid his hand over her abdomen. A slight rumbling feeling was felt underneath his hand until something pressed firmly against his palm, causing her to giggle.
"The fuck?" A goofy grin appeared on his face.
"I think that's his foot."
"He?"
"I don't know the sex," she softly replied. "Creed wanted to have a gender reveal, but I wondered how that was possible when he still hadn't told Lucky I was even pregnant. Myfather said it was my fault, while my mother had given me an ultimatum. I'm four, close to five months now."
Colt and Creed were cordial, but they weren't close. He didn't force it, but he felt Creed's issue with him was not only taking Starlah's virginity but also not being the faithful man he should have been once he overheard the rumors Starlah hid from him.
"This baby is coming one way or another."
Colt dragged his hands down his face, then rested his elbows on his thighs.
"I won't force you to be there when he or she is born, but I'm open to a DNA test. It's the only way I know since Creed's not here to take one himself."
Colt knew if he didn't cooperate, it would surely work against him when Braelyn forced his hand. She had no one to lose when the man she loved was gone, but he had everything to lose — that same man's sister and the love of his life.
"Let me see if I can come up with some money to do that while you're pregnant. I can't wait that long, Brae, and you shouldn't want to. It's fucking with me, and keeping it real, Starlah deserves better than this. If it's mine, and if she can find it in her heart to accept my child, I'm not leaving her for you or anyone."
"Damn, Colt."
