“Schedules aren’t aligning. Don’t worry. Everythingisfine.”
At least, I hope it is. Then again, if it’s not, it’s completely my fault.
As I go to say something out of my ass to get these two to stop asking me questions, the bell above the door rings, and I almost faint from surprise when I see the brown hair walking through it.
“Shelby! What the hell?”
I run over to my best friend, nausea be damned, and hug the crap out of her. “When did you get into town?”
“Came straight from the airport,” she says, patting my back as I squeeze the life out of her. “Figured I’d surprise you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming today?” I ask. “I’d have picked you up.”
“I needed to rent a car anyway, so this is better.” Shelby links her arm in mine and walks us deeper into the bakery, straight to my favorite pair of ornery customers. “You two must be the infamous Phyllis and Kitty I’ve heard so much about.”
“In the flesh,” Phyllis says. “And you must be one half of the duo who took our girl here to Vegas.”
“Guilty as charged,” she says. “I’m Shelby.”
“Nice to meet you, sweetheart,” Kitty says. “Unfortunately, we have to get going. Can you make sure Gabi here eats something and gets to bed at a good time tonight? She hasn’t been feeling herself.”
“Tattle tale,” I say to Kitty. “No more bear claws for you.”
“I’ll chance it,” she says. “Phyllis. Let’s go. Your boyfriend is outside with our ride.”
Phyllis stands up slowly and slips on her long trench coat. “Damn right he is. He knows he better be on time if he wants any tonight. Wednesdays are blow job nights.”
I slap my hand to my forehead, thankful they’re the only two in here right now. But Shelby? I think she might pee her pants laughing.
“Phyllis, I want to be you when I grow up,” Shelby says as she wipes tears from her eyes.
“Then always have a man ready to go,” she says. “Never settle for one, and keep the one you do have on their toes.”
“It’s like you’re a prophet.”
“Better than all the shitty male ones who start cults,” she says. “Bye, you two. See you tomorrow!”
Shelby is still laughing her ass off as I fall into the seat just abandoned by Kitty. “Proof every story I tell you about them is real.”
“If anything you didn’t tell me enough,” she says. “But back to what Kitty was saying. Are you feeling okay?”
Lying and hiding my symptoms to a few regular customers and my part time employees is one thing, but lying to Shelby? Impossible. Doesn’t mean I’m not gonna try.
“Yeah, I'm fine.”
As if my stomach wants to scold me for lying, I’m flying out of my seat the second the words are out of my mouth. Thankfully this isn't a long bout. And in the grand scheme of what my body's put me through over the past few days, it's not even in the top five worst. But it's enough for my conscience to punish me for being a damn dirty liar.
I’m not fine. In so many ways.
I quickly splash some water on my face and rinse my mouth out the best I can before making my way back out to where I left Shelby. When I’m back in view, I watch as Shelby turns off my “open” neon light and locks the door. When she turns to me, her arms are crossed, and I know I’m about to get scolded.
“How far along are you?”
“What?” I ask, playing stupid. There is no way she could know.
“You’re pregnant, aren't you?”
“I’m…that’s…why would…”
