Chapter 2
Shelly
The giggle inside my head is almost too good.
I'd love to punch the look of distaste off the bitch's face, but I'll wait until she has something spicier to say.
I'd hate for it to go down in history that I lost my shit over a mild comment.
The look on Nash's face is priceless, but the best one, of course, is on poor Levi's face.
God love him. He's so sweet and innocent, and I hate to do this to him, but I can't resist. Being devilish is in my blood, especially under the circumstances.
I'll get into the circumstances later, but for now, I think I'll just let this ride. Let them all sweat.
"You're pregnant." Braylynn confirms. It's not a question. It's a confirmation. I see the contempt in her eyes.
"You got something in your ears?" I volley back, not hiding the snark in my voice.
Levi looks like he's going to puke, and Nash has this lovely snarl. I can't remember ever being this happy.
"Hey, watch the attitude, okay?" Nash states.
"What attitude?" I scoff. "She's the one making me repeat myself when I spoke loud and clear."
Braylynn exhales and starts fanning herself with the menu. "Fine. But you and Levi haven't been dating long enough for this, am I right?"
I look at Levi. He scrapes a hand down his face. "A couple of months."
"Let's not forget about the first time we met." I tell him, using a suggestive voice, so there's no guesswork for anyone.
I love the disgusted wince on Braylynn's face.
Why I hate her so much already is beyond me.
She rubs me the wrong way. They all do, except for Levi.
He's so cute I could squeeze him. Nash raises a hand.
"Okay, we've heard enough." He looks at Levi.
"Judging by the look on my brother's face, you picked a fine time to tell him.
You might have let him in on the news before springing it on us the first time we meet. "
I suck my teeth. "Your daddy's in jail and you're judging me?"
Levi interjects. "Look, that's enough. While he's right, that you should have told me before tonight, we're in a public place here."
"But I only found out today, Levi."
"And you couldn't let that shit settle for a day or two?" Nash argues. "Do you think it's fair to my brother or to me, that you're airing out your dirty laundry here?"
"What am I supposed to say?" I point at Braylynn, who has this self-righteous, smug grin on her face. "She asked me outright why I wasn't having a drink like everyone else. I'm not a liar, Nash." I sit back in my chair, pleased with myself. Point for me. "It's not my fault she's nosy."
"I'm not nosy." Braylynn says.
"Well then what are you?" I taunt. "Did you have to ask me that? What's it of your business, anyway? You're nosy."
"At least I'm not rude." She tosses back, just as the waitress delivers our drinks. We sit here, in silence, sipping. I'm sipping fast, pretending like I'm going to throw my empty glass at the bitch.
"Are you ready to order?" The waitress asks, completely oblivious.
"I am." My voice is self-serving. "I'm damn near starved. I'll take the steak and a garden salad with a baked potato." I pat my stomach. "And I'll take a chocolate mousse for dessert. Eating for two now, see."
"Congratulations." She pastes on a smile and gives me a little curtsy as she takes my menu.
I listen to the rest of them grumbling out their orders.
Levi orders a pasta dish, while Nash gets ribs.
Braylynn, the sap, orders a shrimp salad.
While I eat like it's my last meal, everyone else seems to pick at their food, asking for containers to bring the rest home.
It's obvious that I've successfully ruined the evening.
Nash and Levi speak amongst themselves, but the conversation doesn't go beyond that.
Nash dives at the opportunity to get the bill and pay for it on the spot.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the Barnes home tonight.
Nash's phone pings as he's paying the bill.
"Billy could use a hand with Digger tonight. " He says to Levi.
"I'll come along. We came in Shelly's truck, anyhow." Levi responds.
"Well, it was a pleasure meeting y'all." I say facetiously, getting out of my chair. "I'll be seeing you."
I kiss Levi on the cheek and leave, not bothering to offer to pay my share of the bill.
Screw them. Screw them all. They had it coming.
What right did that bitch have to ask me why I was ordering a dang smoothie, anyway?
Besides, I didn't want to meet any of them fools, since Levi already gave me the heads up that I'd be put through the third degree.
He's too sweet, see. And he saw my wedding band and engagement ring in my bathroom and panicked.
For all intents and purposes, that's none of his business, either, see.
And I don't want to go and get his panties into a twist over it, and I think I did well, avoiding the questions.
But they’re not over yet.
Levi
I lift my hand defensively the moment we get into Nash’s truck. “I don’t need it. You know as well as I do that I didn’t know she was pregnant.”
Braylynn rounds on me. “You better get a goddamn paternity test done, Levi. If that chick is still married, chances are that kid’s not even yours.”
“Yeah, and thanks for that, by the way. Y’all just had to ask her about the damn smoothie.”
“Alright, fine. I admit it. I didn’t like her from the second I heard from Piper about the wedding bands.” She admits wholeheartedly. “That woman is a snake. I can feel it in my bones.”
“I’d be lying if I said I was a fan myself." Nash comments.
“Fans or no fans, if she’s carrying my baby, I’ve got a responsibility to her."
“Well, I don’t buy it for one second. She’s no more pregnant than I am. That snake just said it to ruffle my feathers."
I shake my head, but I say nothing.
Braylynn’s face changes. It’s like a lightbulb went off. “Wait a minute. Did you tell her that I was going to be asking questions about her wedding bands?"
I hesitate to answer. I don’t like where this is going. “I might have given her a heads up, but I don’t see how that’s relevant."
She rolls her eyes and scoffs. “It makes perfect sense, Levi. That’s why she made such a fuss about me asking her about the smoothie. She knew damn well that I’d be raising questions. She’s no fool. Like I said, that girl is a snake.”
This is when Nash interjects. “Let me ask you this, little brother. Have you been using protection? Is there a legitimate chance that she may be pregnant with your child?"
“I’ve been careful. Mama taught me well, just like she taught you."
He pats me on the back. “You’re still getting a paternity test though. I wouldn’t believe that woman as far as I could throw her. What class is she taking in school, anyway? She learning how to cook using a cauldron?"
“I’ve never asked her. We have no classes together."
“What the hell do you talk about, anyway?" Braylynn asks, giving me a look like I just told her I was giving birth myself.
“If my brother knocked this chick up, chances are they aren’t talking about much." Nash points out to her.
When we pull up to the ranch, Piper is sitting on the porch. She sees me sitting in the back of the cab, and she rises. Concern is registered all over her face. As I step out of the truck, I watch her reaction to both Nash and Braylynn's expressions. “What happened?"
They both have the grace to look at me for approval before speaking. I nod, giving them a knowing look. “That woman is a snake." Braylynn comments, using what seems to be her favorite word tonight.
“She blurted it out, plain as day, that she’s pregnant." Nash adds.
Piper's mouth widens. “You’re not serious."
“As serious as the nose on my face." Nash confirms. “But he’s getting a paternity test before she squeezes a dime out of him." Nash indicates, thumbing towards me.
Billy walks out from behind the barn, evidently with ears like a hawk. “Is she married?"
I get irritated. “Was this all a plan just to interrupt our evening so you could gossip?"
“No, I took care of things here, but Piper said that y’all were on your way back anyway, so I figured best not to bother you.” He gives me an evaluating glance. "What are you doing back so early, anyway? Did you find out if she was married or not?"
My eyes roll. "For chrissake. No! We didn't get to that! She got all flustered and the night went all to hell as soon as Braylynn opened up her big mouth!"
Billy's face is blank. I don't normally speak to him that way, but I'm not actually speaking directly to him.
It's more like I'm addressing everyone here.
And I'm so frustrated I could punch a hole in a wall.
I'm not an angry person. Never have been.
But after tonight, there are so many things running through my head, and I need to get away from it all.
Now. After scraping a hand over my face, I sigh.
"Billy, you mind if I take Digger out? I need some air. "
"Sure thing, man. He's not saddled."
"I'll do it." Nash offers. "You go take a walk for five minutes."