Chapter 42 - Becca - Leaving Tonight
“Thank you, all of you, really, for your concern, but whatever you think is or is not happening between me and Aiden is really none of your business. I’m a grown ass woman. I can handle my own love life, thank you very much,” Rhea says, defending herself from the grand inquisition being directed at her by all the women gathered around in Alex’s kitchen.
Everyone is silent for a beat before we all burst into laughter in unison.
“Oh, honey, you’re one of us now. Your love life is everyone’s business, I’m afraid. It’s probably even scheduled on Ivy’s calendar to check in on you two sometime,” I tell her, and Ivy nods in agreement, like she does have it booked already.
In the last few weeks, Denise hired Ivy, the server from the diner, to be her new assistant, and it sounds like she’s doing a fabulous job. I’m glad. I really enjoyed talking to her at the diner. She’ll be fun to have around.
Alex jumps in. “Just wait, as soon as we’re done with you, we’ll be talking to Becca about Johnny.” She winks at me while everyone laughs some more.
“Thatison today’s agenda, actually,” Ivy jokes. “I’ve got you pencilled in for six o’clock.”
“Look, that really is none of your business. I’m serious,” I say firmly, pointing a warning finger at everyone around the table. “Stay out of it.” Maybe I don’t like Ivy as much as I thought.
The laughter gets louder, and I can feel my anger growing. If only they knew what he said to me after sex the other night. How could he agree with my mother? Okay, I can see how he could. I’m not on his level. But how could he think saying it to me at all, let alone at that exact moment, was a good idea?
“Oh, so you’re the baking muse Aiden was talking about? The reason that Johnny has crazy baking marathons?” Rhea asks me.
A muse? Me?
Yeah, right. I snort a laugh.
“What do you mean, ‘baking marathons’? Johnny bakes?” Alex has calmed herself down enough to join in the conversation. “He’s never baked for me.” She sticks her lip out in a pout.
“Oh, I mean, that’s just what Aiden told me. Maybe I misheard?” Rhea backpedals.
“No, Rhea’s right. He bakes when he’s stressed. I keep telling him I don’t want a relationship and he’s upset about it. So he bakes and brings most of it to Aiden for the shelter.” I was almost ready to give in to him when he told me he agreed with my mother. I would have had my first real boyfriend. At thirty-five years old.
“What do you mean, he brings it to Aiden for the shelter?” Rhea looks even more confused than she sounds. For all that we’re giving her shit about Aiden, it doesn’t seem like she knows him all that well yet.
“I volunteer at a local domestic violence shelter. I bring Johnny’s baked goods for the moms and kids that are using our services there. A home baked treat goes a long way when I’m making friends with the new kids. I usually play with them while their moms talk to the director in private.” Aiden walks into the kitchen, followed by the rest of the guys in the band.
“And I do the baking.” Johnny looks amazing and I’m now I’m even more pissed off. Why didn’t I think to dress up and make him sorry for what he’s missing out on? “I’m Johnny. It’s nice to meet you.” He turns to look at Aiden. “You’re right man, she is hot.”
The rest of the conversation flies right by me as I sit and seethe. Rhea is a beautiful woman. And she’s not covered in scars. She’d be a much more appropriate partner for Johnny. No wonder he thinks she’s hot. I cross my arms tightly over my chest and I sit there, replaying the other night over and over in my head.
Laying there with Johnny, satisfied, tired, and so happy for the first time. And then he says it. My mother is right. We’re not on the same level. Why would he come out and tell me I’m not good enough for him?
It was good, right? He said so. I know I’ve never come so hard in my life. Nor so often. The problem with one night is your partner rarely cares about your needs. Johnny seemed to care. Like getting me off was his only concern. Like he wanted it more than he wanted his own release.
So why tell me I’m not good enough for him?
I’m jolted out of my thoughts when I look up and everyone is already leaving the room. Soon it’s just me and Gran.
“Well, my dear. Looks like things between you and Johnny are still complicated. Didn’t you take my advice to play with each other’s genitals?”
I choke on my spit, not sure whether I’m trying to laugh or protest.
“It’s okay if you haven’t yet. I just figured you kids moved faster these days.”
“That’s not it, Gran. We, uh, we tried. But he’s decided I’m not good enough for him and I’m not going to hang around to keep his bed warm while he waits for someone better.”
Gran sits up straighter and looks me in the eye. “He said that to you? That little fucker. Go get me a wooden spoon. I’m going to teach that boy a lesson his momma should have taught him long ago. JOH—”
“Shhhh,” I say to her, putting my hand over her mouth. “No, Gran. No. Thank you, but that’s not necessary. His mom is a lovely woman. I know she taught him better. He must’ve gotten this attitude as part of his rock star ego or something. He definitely didn’t learn it at home. He could learn something like that at my home, but not at his.”
Gran looks at me, duck-billing her lips and squinting. “What do you mean he could learn that at your home?”
