Chapter 9
Levi
Her car is parked in the driveway when I arrive, and I hope to God that she's finally ready to talk.
I need to know. I need to know a lot of things.
I need answers. This shit is going to ruin me if I don't find out.
"Levi? That you?" She calls out as I enter the house.
And it strikes me that I still don't even know how she pays for it.
To my knowledge, she has no job. She just goes to school.
"Yeah." It smells wonderful in here. Like she's had a pot roast in the slow cooker all day.
"You hungry?"
"I am now. Jesus Christ, this must be what heaven smells like." She smiles, as I enter the kitchen. An apron around her waist and matching oven mitts makes her look like a whole other person. "Have you been cooking all day?"
"Kind of. My girlfriends are coming over later. But I made enough for you, if you want some."
"Sure. I'm game." I'm half pleased that she's in such a great mood and cooked, but I'm also have concerned that with her having company over later, that she either won't be up for talking about anything serious, or there won't be enough time to do so. "What time is this shindig starting up?"
"Soon. They should be here in an hour. Y'all can stay for a bit if you want to meet them."
Part of me wants to stay and see if her friends will bring out any more truth in her, but the other part doesn't want to get to know more people in her circle.
Do they even know that she's pregnant? Do they know about me?
Why is she even offering for me to stay?
Isn't that weird if it's a girls' night?
"Um, I'll think about it." I go for bold. "Do they know that you're pregnant?"
"No. I haven't told anybody yet." Interesting.
'What about the whole party at Wyatt's wedding' comes to mind, but I don't say anything. "Why not?"
She ignores my question and sticks a wooden spoon in my face. It's steaming with something that looks and smells like what's in the room, so I can't resist. "Taste this for me. Tell me if it needs anything else."
I take a bite. It's perfect. "No. I'd eat it as it is.
" She washes the spoon off before placing it back into the pot.
Then she turns the radio up in the kitchen.
It was already on softly, but it's now playing more upbeat tunes.
I feel like she's got this party vibe going, and me asking a lot of questions is not going to go over well, but I need to try. "Do you mind answering a question?"
"What question is that?" She asks, like she didn't hear me the first time.
"Why didn't you tell your friends that you're pregnant?"
The oven mitts come off. "Because I figured after the slip of my tongue at the wedding, it might set you off."
"It set everyone off, actually."
Wrong choice of words.
Her face changes. A hand goes to her hip. "Are you trying to pick a fight?"
"No. In fact, I came here because I want to talk to you about a few things."
Her face is set. She pulls a chair out and gestures for me to sit. But I feel like I'm about to be attacked for my comment. "So, sit. Talk."
She doesn't bother to turn the radio down. It's like she's not about to let me ruin her vibe, even though her face says that it's already ruined. "Well, um, I think we ought to talk about this baby."
She's irritated. "What about it?" A hand goes through her hair, and her tone says that she's in a hurry.
I chuckle facetiously. "What are we going to do about it?"
"Define 'do about it'."
"Are we keeping it? Are we giving it up for adoption? How far along are you? Things like that. Normal things that two people expecting a baby would have discussed already."
A quick sigh. "Look, Levi. I don't have any answers right now, okay? Jesus Christ, here I am, trying to forget about my problems for the night, and here you are, reminding me of every last one of them."
"I'm sorry." I say, although my tone is unapologetic. "But we need to get this shit out in the open. I need to know."
"Why? Why do you need to know this very second, Levi?" She demands.
"It's not this very second, Shelly. Shit, we've known about this long enough. We've not discussed a goddamn thing, and I need to know."
She rounds on me. "Why? If I say I'm keeping it, are you going to flee? What if I don't want it? Are you going to try to talk me down off the ledge? And why do I have to decide now, anyway? I'm in school, just like you are. I've got assignments and tests to worry about, too, you know."
"I get all that." I raise a hand and level with her. "Really, I do. But nothing is going to get solved if we don't talk about it."
Sitting down with a slump, she huffs but then goes silent. I'm thinking it's best to keep quiet while she thinks, but then I do something stupid. "Are you married, Shelly?"
Slowly, icily, her gaze meets mine. Her voice is low, warning. "Why would you ask me that."
"The rings. The ones that were on your counter until just a few days ago. I figured y'all was married and now you're up shit's creek without a paddle."
Her snuffle is mirthless. Her smile is more like she can't believe what I just said. "Where do you get off?"
"What do you mean? When a woman that I'm seeing and is having my baby owns a pair of wedding rings one day and then they disappear the next, I think I have a right to know, or am I crazy?"
It's like she can't handle my angle on this.
Her eyes flutter as she drags a hand through her hair.
"Let's just get back to the subject at hand here, okay?
I am pregnant. Beyond that, I don't have a goddamn clue what I'm going to do about it yet, okay?
And the last thing I need is for you or anyone to come around and try to tell me what I should do. "
"Then why did you blurt it out to an entire fucking restaurant?" I say aloud, not bothering to hide the ire in my voice.
She swallows, so angry I swear to God there is smoke coming out of her ears. "I made a mistake. It was a Freudian slip. If I could take it back I would, but I can't, and you shoving that in my face right now is really low."
My chest heaves with a deep breath. When I let it out, I place a hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry. Look, I'm no better at this than you are.
We both aren't great with being put in surprise positions.
I just, I want to be on the same page as you.
If we're going to make these important decisions together, then we've got to talk it out first, that's all.
" I pause and search her eyes, which are softening some.
"Can you at least do me one favor, so that we're all on the same page? "
After a beat, she nods. "Sure."
"Can you go to the doctor and at least find out how much time we've got until a decision needs to be made? Figure out how far along you are?"
A swallow, and her voice evens. "I can do that. But can we agree that we don't talk about this again until I do?"
"That sounds fair." I nod.
She leans forward and kisses me on the mouth.
I kiss her back, but it feels different.
It's like she's my fucking sister now. But I hide it by changing the subject and speaking like I need to ask her something quick.
"Okay, so, since this is going to be a PG party, do y'all want me to head down to the Cineplex and grab you some movie popcorn or something? "
"They're bringing guacamole and junk food, but thanks."
I lift a brow. "Isn't guacamole going to make you hurl?"
She waves. "No. I don't eat it, anyway. It's for my vegan friend."
"Remind me to steer clear of her."
"It's a he." Her eyes flash.
Another brow lift. "Really?"
"He also likes nail polish, Elton John, and tonight we're watching Cher's concert on Netflix."
"So, he's gay."
She gives me a look that says, 'Bingo', and clucks her tongue. "And I'm bringing him with me to this Copper Cove Hoedown, because he died when he found out that I was going and know someone else that was going, too."
My voice is flat, unimpressed. "Why."
"Because he's dying to have a fling with a small-town cowboy, and he swears that there's no decent ones right here in Dallas." We hear the door knock. Her eyes light up. "Oh, that's them now!"
Shelly
Finally! God, I mean, Levi is sweet and all, but I just couldn’t take another minute of that.
Things got all kinds of serious there. What I need is to kick back and relax, but I don’t want to put it out there that Levi isn’t welcome to meet my friends, either.
These girls have gotten me through thick and thin over the years, and I haven’t seen them since I met Levi. Not that that’s his fault or anything.
As soon as I open up the front door, Darla, my tall, knockout friend opens her arms wide and squeals at my presence. “Girl, I feel like it’s been years!" She hugs me tight, and then she thumbs behind her. “Did you see that kick ass truck out there? Who belongs to that?"
Laz, my gay friend, interjects, sizing up Levi, who is standing there, seemingly numb. “That can only be driven by some hot cowboy and just look who’s right in front of us. Shells, are you going to introduce us to this tall drink of water here?"
“Laz, Darla, this is Levi, my boyfriend."
Like the gallant, dude that he is, Levi sticks his hand out for them both to shake. “Nice to meet you." Levi says politely with a nod.
“Oh, girl. This is going to shape up to be an interesting evening." Laz gushes.
“Oh, I can’t stay. I’ve got studying to do.” Levi cowers.
Now it’s a Darla's turn to size him up. She gives him a sideways glance, with a smirk. “That’s a shame, doll.” I pick up on the facetious tone in her voice.
As the girls come away from the door, Levi squeezes his way through. “It was so nice meeting y’all. Have a nice evening."
“Oh, we sure will." Laz comments flirtatiously.
I give Levi a quick wave goodbye and close the door.
“I swear to God you should check for skid marks after he leaves.” Darla comments.