“It’s a Japanese sakura-flavored whiskey that’s got glitter in it.”
I clear my throat. “Ok, yes, I did want to know that, actually.” I’ve been drinking too much the last few months, trying to take the edge off but losing track too many times, so I really need to stop cold, but that just sounds fun.
Andy chuckles. “Yeah, I thought you’d like that. They don’t have a big budget for you, but they had some really wild ideas of the kind of ad campaign they want to do, sounded like right up your alley.”
“Will there be glitter?”
“And a pinkboa, yes.”
“Yusss,” I hiss with a clench of my fist. I’m super down for that.
“And listen, Blaise?”
I pull the frying pan down. Even if I can’t get that stadium — but I was a good boy last season, I deserve it — the Sakura whiskey money will dig me out of the hole for a good chunk of time.
“Yep?”
“It’s probably not your baby. I’ve got my team looking into this Tilly bitch, and they’re struggling to even find her on paper, but it’s probably just part of her scam. You get that, right?”
“Yep.” It’s a dry sound, though. I’ve been thinking about it all week. I used one of those pregnancy trackers. It doesn’t look good for me. She’d be a month away from having the baby if it’s mine, so there’s not a big window there if it’s someone else’s.
“You told me she wasn’t drinking that night at the convention, right? Like she knew she was pregnant.”
I set that frying pan on the counter, pick up the steak, march right outside with it. “She was high, Andy.”
“On acid. Listen, I’m not saying it’s okay to take acid while pregnant, but it’s not like alcohol. She probably got knocked up by her boyfriend, he freaked, and she figured she could pull a fast one on some sucker. Or she was just out to party, and then you left her all that money like a fucking idiot, and she saw a cash grab.”
“Thanks, uhh, thanks for that victim-blaming, I guess.” I turn the knob on the gas grill, but I’m eyeing up that fire pit. Now that I’ve got some money coming in, the urge to set the steak on fire, just to see if I can, and then order my weight in sushi is strong.
“I’m telling you, as soon as that baby pops out, she’s gonna be coming at you for child support. Just stay away from her, Blaise. See what happens. And don’t give her another fucking penny until you talk to me first.”
It’s sobering enough that I decide I shouldn’t just assume that whiskey money is going in my bank account and throw the steak on the grill. “You got it, man. You get me that stadium.”
“You stay out of trouble. I mean it this time.”
I crack a smile. He’s said it so many times it’s a joke now, but I don’t know how much it even matters anymore. Tilly is going to ruin me, I feel it in my gut.
I overcook the steak, but on purpose. Not that I like steaks well done, I’m not a heathen, I just feel like chewing through a boot. And as much as yeah, I do have all the ingredients to make a good salad, I stick with the generic, dumping the contents of the bag in a bowl and half-heartedly stirring in half a gallon of Vedder’s ranch dressing while I sit in front of the TV.
I put on some anime, picking a subbed one instead of a dub. It’s been my preferred lately, since I have to focus so hard on the words. I’m so focused that I manage to scare myself when my phone rings.
It’s Gabe, asking me to check in on Tilly because she just told Joss she isn’t feeling well but won’t go to the hospital.
I should say no. Andy just told me to stay away from her. But if they’re asking me, it means there’s no one else around. This is my chance to have a one-on-one with her. I’d rather just confront her now than wonder what her next move is going to be.
When I ask Gabe if I can borrow his car, he doesn’t ask me why.
Which means I don’t have to tell him I sold mine today.
Chapter 10
Tilly
I’m fine.
I mean, I’m notfine.I’ve felt off all day. But I’m thirty-seven weeks pregnant, home stretch. Everything feels a little wrong right now, no matter what I’m doing; this just feels a little more wrong than usual. I figure it’s all just downhill from here.
Besides, it’s a walk in the park compared to chemo. My doctors have had pregnant patients who’ve been through chemo in the past. When they told me about going to the hospital if I wasn’t feeling right, they would have told me if it wasn’t even going to feel as bad as chemo.
