Chapter 27
27
Brian was sitting in his living room, the television watching him as he nursed a rum and Coke, when his doorbell rang. He sat up straight. At first hopeful that the person at the door might be Tracey. The hope died almost immediately. In the week since she’d told him they couldn’t be together until things were figured out, she hadn’t popped in to see him. If it didn’t have something to do with work or a wedding, then she didn’t interact with him.
He understood why she’d stepped back. He would have done the same thing in her shoes. But damn if knowing this was the right thing to do still didn’t stop him from missing her.
He stood and went to the door. Dread slowed his steps. Tracey wouldn’t be here, but that didn’t mean that Renee wasn’t on the other side. She was acting even more needy than usual. He understood she was lost, confused and looking for a place to turn, but he didn’t want her messed-up situation to inter fere with his life anymore. His mom had thankfully agreed that Renee staying at her place was better than her moving in with him. Renee would only wreak more havoc if she was under his roof.
He opened the door, and his eyes widened. Cyril and Quinton stood on his porch.
“What are y’all doing here?” Brian asked.
“Hey, man, we knew you weren’t going to come out, so we decided to come check on you,” Cyril said.
Brian stepped back and let them in. “I don’t feel like dealing with the gossips right now.”
“I get it,” Cyril said. “I try not to let any foolishness go down in my bar, but that doesn’t mean I can stop people from asking you questions.”
Quinton nodded his head. “And they will ask. I thought I had the biggest Surprise, you’re the daddy! drama this town had ever seen.”
Brian snorted and led his friends into his living area. “Except I’m not the dad.” Brian picked up his drink and took a sip. “You want something to drink?”
“You sure you’re not the dad?” Quinton asked.
Brian shook his head. He was sick of answering that question, but he understood why people kept asking. “No. I’m not. She doesn’t know who the dad is. And I haven’t touched her since that night over a year ago, so the one she’s pregnant with also isn’t mine.”
“Damn,” Quinton said and ran a hand over his face. “I’m gonna need that drink.”
Cyril nodded. “Same.”
Brian filled them in on Renee’s problems while he mixed up a rum and Coke for each of them. By the time he finished the story, they’d all drained their glasses and were ready for the next round.
“How long is she going to stay?” Cyril asked.
“She’s talking about moving here. I think she wants me to help her.”
“And do you want to help her?” Quinton asked. “You said before that she was the one who always got under your skin.”
“Yeah, well, now she’s under my skin but not in a good way. I don’t blame the kid. He didn’t ask to be born into this, but I can’t let that push me back with Renee. And then there’s Tracey.”
“You and Tracey still hooking up?” Cyril asked.
“She said she didn’t want to keep seeing me with all of this going on. I can’t blame her.”
“So that’s why Craig was sniffing around her the other day,” Quinton said.
Brian’s back straightened. “What do you mean?”
“She was in Books and Vibes meeting with her brother and Mikayla. He saw her and went over and asked her out.”
“What did she say?”
Quinton shrugged. “I didn’t get to stick around and hear the answer. I was in there with Shania, and she was ready to go. Plus, I know you two weren’t real serious, so I didn’t think it was any of my business.”
“It was getting serious. But then Renee came.” Brian’s hands clenched into fists.
Cyril held up a hand. “Hold up. When did you two get serious? I thought you weren’t doing serious relationships anymore.”
“Hell, I thought so, too. I didn’t expect this to happen.”
“How serious we talking?” Cyril asked.
“I didn’t ask her to marry me or anything. I just told her I wanted to be the man in her life.”
“You may want to, but so does Craig.”
Brian stood up. “Nah. That ain’t happening.” He’d go to Tracey now and beg her to wait for him.
Quinton grabbed his elbow and pulled. “Sit down. No need to go running over there tonight and demanding anything. Not until you get this situation worked out.”
Brian wanted to pull away. But Quinton was right. Demanding anything of Tracey was the best way to push her away. He let out a frustrated sigh and sat. He needed this situation with Renee to be over.
“I don’t have time to get this worked out. Renee doesn’t know who the dad is, and I don’t think she’s trying to figure it out.”
Quinton sipped his drink then shrugged. “She doesn’t have to know as long as you know he’s not yours. She’s a grown woman with the ability to make grown-up decisions. Let her figure this out.”
“I need her out of my mom’s house.” Maybe getting her out of his mom’s place would be enough to get Tracey back.
“Then, help her find a place of her own,” Cyril said. “You’ve been nice enough to her already. You don’t owe her anything.”
***
The next day Brian went to his mom’s house after work. She had Bible study, but he’d guessed Renee hadn’t gone with her. He’d guessed right. Renee was home alone, draped in her loungewear, eating her mom’s favorite key lime pie from the bakery while her kid’s toys were scattered over the floor. The baby slept in the playpen in the corner of the living room.
Brian pointed to the mess. “You’re going to clean this up?”
Renee looked around as if she were just noticing the toys and clothes all over the floor. “Yes, of course.”
“You’re trashing my mom’s place.” It had only been a week, but the house looked like Renee had been there a month. His mom liked a clean house. She wouldn’t say anything to guests who were messy to avoid conflict. She must be biting through her tongue with Renee there.
“No, the baby was playing earlier that’s all,” Renee said. “Your mom did tell me to make myself comfortable.”
Brian picked up some of the clothes and threw them in the basket next to the couch where he assumed they’d come from in the first place. “That doesn’t mean that you make a mess. Look, Renee, you’ve got to figure out your next steps.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Her voice wobbled.
“You can’t live here forever. You’re going to have to go somewhere else.”
Her eyes lit up, and she moved closer to him. “Do you want me to move in with you?”
He stepped back before she could touch him. “No. That’s not what I mean.”
She pouted. “Why not, Brian? We’re so good together.”
“No, we weren’t, and we’re not. My mom agreed to help you because we were married for so long, but that doesn’t mean you can stay here forever. What’s your plan?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Have you tracked down the guys?” Was she even trying?
She shook her head. “Do you know how hard it’s going to be, and embarrassing? To say that I don’t know who my kid’s father is. Why can’t I just…say he’s yours?”
“Because he’s not mine, Renee,” he said frustrated. He took a breath and lowered his voice before continuing. “This isn’t your chance to try and get me to play daddy. You either work this out with your husband or find the real father. I’m not playing either role.”
“You just want to kick me out?”
“I didn’t ask you to come here. You showed up. If you want to stay in Peachtree Cove, cool, but it won’t be with my mom or with me. You’ve got two weeks to find a new place.”
She jerked back and scowled. “Two weeks?”
“That’s it. Find a place, and stop taking advantage of my mom.”