Chapter 6
Lark
It’s been two days since my life imploded, and it literally feels like that’s what happened. Mainly, because I was right in that Kelly wouldn’t keep her mouth shut about everything.
I was off yesterday, which was Monday, and I was so glad for the reprieve.
It also gave me time to focus on Void.
I’d gone to the local humane center as soon as they’d opened and then got to love up on him for about an hour as we got used to each other.
Unfortunately, they needed a little time to process my application, as well as give him a couple of shots that he was due so I couldn’t take him right then and there.
My chest had ached when I had to put him back in his little cage and I damn near cried at hearing his little meows as he tried to reach for me through the bars.
While they did what they needed to do at the shelter, I took the time to go to the local pet store to get supplies for Void and made sure I got the same food that the humane society was using.
I’d just finished setting everything up in our house and was in the process of getting rid of the trash when they called me back and said I could pick him up.
I spent the rest of the day with Void as he settled in and explored the house. In an attempt to keep my little bubble secure for a bit longer and to give myself time to process everything, I purposefully ignored any text messages and my social media accounts for most of the day.
But then, my little bubble burst, and it was time to face reality.
And fuck, was it a nightmare of a reality I was being forced into.
Miracle had warned me not to look at Kelly’s social media pages, but I couldn’t not look. I needed to know what she was saying about me.
So, I started going through my texts and notifications as I lay in bed, curled up with Void.
Even though Miracle had blocked Aiden’s and Kelly’s numbers on my phone, Kelly apparently had gotten a burner phone or something and was still texting me.
The lies she was spewing, both in the texts and her online messages, had my stomach rolling, almost to the point where I was afraid I was going to throw up, which seems to be a trend with anything relating to Kelly.
Finally, around midnight, I put my phone down and attempted to go to sleep.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get much sleep, which is why I’m running around, rushing through my morning routine as quickly as I can so I don’t miss the supply delivery for the supper club.
I know I could have asked Ma, Granny, or Pappy to do it, but they don’t need to be lifting such heavy boxes. Especially Granny or Pappy.
Filling a thermos of coffee, I lock up behind me and speed walk down our lane.
As I walk, I pull up our security camera app on my phone and flick through them until I get to the ones pointed at our delivery dock.
I sigh in relief when I see that the delivery truck hasn’t shown up yet and I slow my pace a bit.
Taking another deep breath, I try to calm my nerves.
Thankfully, the truck still hasn’t arrived by the time I get to our delivery dock, so I walk over to one of the picnic tables we keep back here for our employees’ breaks and take a much-needed drink of my coffee.
My phone pings and I reach for it, but then I hesitate.
Do I really want to see more of her shit right now? Another ping has me unlocking my phone on the off chance that it’s someone else trying to get a hold of me.
No such luck.
I groan when I see how many more unread texts and notifications I’ve gotten since clearing out a bunch last night.
The sound of a truck approaching has me looking up and then I look back down at my phone.
Biting my lip, I put it on silent without opening any of the messages.
As I slip my phone back into my pocket, I pray that today’s delivery guy is someone that doesn’t know me.
As soon as he parks, though, I groan silently as I realize I must not have any luck left at all.
It’s our usual delivery guy, Tyler.
Not that there’s anything wrong with Tyler.
He’s a nice guy that I’ve known since we were kids, even though he was a few grades above me.
While we weren’t close in school, we got to know each other better when he started delivering supplies for the supper club about five years or so ago.
Now, I even consider him a friend. Today, however, I was just hoping it was someone who wouldn’t know me and possibly wouldn’t know what happened two days ago.
“Morning, Tyler,” I call out as he gets out of his truck. Turning, I open up the back doors leading into our storerooms and prop them open for him.
“Good morning, Lark.”
I bite my tongue to keep from telling him it’s not in fact a good morning but judging by how he keeps glancing at me as he unloads our supplies, I’m pretty sure he knows what happened.
And sure enough, after he drops off the last box, he doesn’t slide his dolly out from underneath the boxes, and instead, he turns toward me as he leans an arm on one of the handles.
“Lark, I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but just so you know, anyone that knows you doesn’t believe a single word that is coming out of that woman’s mouth.”
The matter-of-fact way he says that, like he knows one hundred percent sure that what he’s saying is true, has me looking up at him sharply in question and he nods his head.
“Yeah, I mean it, Lark. She was spouting off to anyone she saw yesterday and this morning as well. Thanks to this town’s gossip chain, we all knew you and Aiden were together first instead of you butting in on their relationship.
So, when she said you tried to steal him from her, we knew it was more of her lies. ”
My eyes sting, and I blink repeatedly to keep any tears from falling.
“Thank you for telling me that. I’ve been trying to avoid the drama and to not feed it because that’s how she is.
If I react, then that’s just more fuel on the fire for her to distort what really happened.
I just want to move on and forget that chapter of my life. ”
He nods and looks like he wants to say more.
Sighing, I give him a small smile. “Just say it, Tyler.”
He sighs in return, though his lips kick up a little. “Is it true you pulled a gun on them?”
I huff but nod. “I’m not surprised she didn’t let that go.
But yeah, I pulled a gun on them when I found Aiden fucking Kelly on my bed.
Got the story out of them, including the fact that she started sleeping with him a month after Aiden and I had started dating last year.
I kept ‘Ol Faithful trained on them while they left my property.
Then I had to clean up multiple messes that they oh so graciously left for me.
Had a nice ‘ol bonfire to purge everything afterward.”
I bite my lip when I finish. I hadn’t meant to spill all of that, but I know Tyler won’t go around gossiping about any of what I’d just told him.
Tyler stares at me blankly. “Seriously? That’s what happened? They were fucking on your bed? And it’d been going on for that long?”
“Yup,” I reply, popping the ‘p’.
“Fuck, Lark.” He pushes off the dolly and strides over to me, wrapping me in a big ‘ol bear hug. “If you ever need to talk or vent, just let me know.” He pulls back and runs his hand down his short beard as he shakes his head. Then he looks at me, a question in his eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to speak up about this? To set things straight? She’s saying a lot of awful shit about you, your family, and the supper club.
Almost everyone in town knows you and knows you wouldn’t do anything that she’s saying, but there’s still a fair amount that don’t know you or your family that well.
They might believe what Kelly’s spewing. ”
I hesitate at that. I can see both sides, but do I really want to do that? I groan internally as I exhale heavily. He’s right. Fuck. This fucking fiasco could affect the supper club. Why didn’t I think of that? Exhaling heavily again, I nod as I make my decision.
“If she comes at me, addresses me directly, or comes to the supper club when I’m here while spewing that shit, then I’ll say something. But I can’t keep her from talking when I’m not around. No one can.”
We talk for a little bit more, thankfully not about my hot mess, before he has to leave to deliver the rest of his orders.
Turning back to our supply room, I silently tell myself that I can do this and I repeat that mantra over and over as I put everything away.
Later that night, I’ve just finished mixing a drink for a customer and, as I place it on a tray for the waitress to pick up, I hear a commotion toward the front of the dining room that has me looking up.
I freeze when I see Kelly standing there in a skintight red dress that shows off way too much cleavage as well as her baby bump. Not to mention the dress barely covers her ass. She’s draped over Aiden’s arm and his parents stand behind them.
I can’t contain my groan.
Judging by the glint in both Kelly’s and Richard’s eyes, I’m almost positive they’re going to make a scene.
Before we opened tonight, Ma, my grandparents, and I talked to all the staff that were scheduled to work tonight.
Something I’m extremely grateful for now.
There were a few of the newer employees who looked at me in disgust at first, and I knew they’d heard the shit Kelly had been spreading around town.
However, when I set the record straight, their tunes quickly changed.
Not wanting to ban anyone, I told them that if the Coxes or Kelly were to come here, they were to be served like any other normal customer.
However, if they caused a scene, then I would decide on the outcome.
Most likely it would be kicking them out, but if things got out of hand, I wouldn’t hesitate to ban them from reentry in the future. Or call the cops if need be.