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And that was the first time that I pissed Brielle off, but certainly not the last of that night.
The second time came when I was in the front seat of my father’s truck with Isa in my lap as we watched the helicopter land.
When the helicopter’s blades finally stopped spinning, Isa and I got out of the truck’s cab and walked over to where Bayou was standing next to Zee.
Zee’s eyes went to me and away from Brielle.
His eyes flicked to Isa, and then to Bayou, and back again.
He’d heard, just like they’d all heard, that Bayou had found out about having a kid. But this was the first time he’d seen her.
“There’s no denying the parentage on that one,” Zee finally said.
Brielle snorted. “I don’t see it.”
“Then you’re blind,” I said before I could curb my tongue.
Brielle snarled at me. “I’m sorry if I don’t believe that stupid whore’s word.”
“Language,” Bayou snapped. “She’s three. You will not speak that way in front of her.”
I barely refrained from saying ‘bullshit’ under my breath. The man was one to talk. He’d been horrid on his language around her thus far.
Brielle rolled her eyes at Bayou, crossing her arms over her chest. “If I honestly believed that you cared, which I don’t think you do, I’d stop. But I’m not going to stop my ‘language’ just because this bitch doesn’t like when I say a curse word around a kid that we’re still not sure is yours.”
Bayou’s eyes narrowed on Brielle. “She’s mine, Brielle. Drop it.”
“Kid’s his,” Zee butted in. “Look at the eyes and hair. I would think that if that was a kid from some random Joe Schmoe that showed up on his doorstep, maybe he’d question it. But he knew this chick, and it’s exactly like something she’d do, keep his kid away from him. And with the testimony of the mother saying it was his, too? There’s no doubt.”
I looked at Zee.
I hadn’t really had a chance to get to know Zee over the months that I’d been working at the prison. He didn’t come to half the parties that I was invited to, either.
My sister had told me a little about him in text messages on the way here. I’d wanted to know what the big deal was about why Bayou needed to be there if the other part of the fire department was going to be there as well.
From what I’d learned, Zee worked for the Sheriff’s Department and was on the bomb squad. He also flew for the helicopter transport company part-time. And, according to my sister, he was a very talented artist that tattooed out of the garage of his house.
From what my sister also explained, Zee had once had a girlfriend that he was starting to fall in love with. Then the woman had decided that all the jobs Zee had were too demanding of his time. But, instead of telling him that she had a problem, Zee’s ex had just decided to take up with another man. A man who, according to Pru who’d asked Hoax, was also on the volunteer fire department.
A man that Zee had introduced his girlfriend to and had been Zee’s one-time best friend.
Though apparently, it was very common knowledge and the entire town had heard about it because Zee’s best friend had grown up there and was the town ‘everybody knows the guy’ guy that was loved by everyone and everything.
Apparently, he wasn’t there, though, because things were smooth sailing so far.
“I…” Brielle started to argue some more, but Bayou cut her off with a look.
“Seriously, swear to God, you’re pushing it,” Bayou said softly. Menacingly.
Brielle snapped her mouth shut and turned her head. “Whatever.”
I bit my lip to keep the smile off my face. I really didn’t want Brielle to hate me because I had a feeling that Bayou and I were a thing. But I really disliked Brielle. She had this air about her that rubbed me the wrong way, and I didn’t like it. Not at all.
Zee, who was also quite silent during the exchange, glanced at me.
I widened my eyes at him, and he scrunched up his nose.
“Why don’t you have tattoos covering every inch of your body if you’re a tattoo artist?” I blurted.
Zee looked down at the few bare portions of his arms, which were exposed due to him bunching up the ends of his flight suit due to the heat.
“I don’t know. As for why I don’t have more? I didn’t want any,” he admitted. “I’m not a fan of the process of getting ink.”
“You tattoo, but you don’t like getting tattooed?” I asked.
“Zee is afraid of needles,” Brielle said.
Zee gave Brielle a look that clearly said ‘fuck you.’
I bent my head behind Isa’s to hide the smile that overtook my face.
