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CHAPTER 8
Isabella
My father had a poker face like no other. It had helped him become the titan of industry that he was. My entire life I’d observed people trying to decipher what he was thinking when they interacted with him, myself included. And all my life I’d seen people, myself included, fail to do so.
I would give anything to have inherited that trait. Sadly, I did not. The opposite was true for me. If I thought something or felt something, it was broadcast on my face in HD.
Still, I was doing my best not to let the roller coaster of emotions I was experiencing show in my expression. It was difficult considering the waves of embarrassment crashing over me. I felt like I was drowning in them.
All of the confidence, the boldness, the lack of inhibition that I’d possessed when I’d been alone with Jimmy had vanished. I realized now that it had only been there because I thought I’d never see him again. At least not in a real way. Randomly running into him in town, sure. But that still felt anonymous.
This was personal. He was Cheyenne’s brother. Cheyenne, the only girl in school that I would’ve ever described as a friend. Jimmy was her brother. I’d heard people say that it was a small world, but this was ridiculous.
My only hope to get through this without embarrassing myself further was to maintain whatever shred of composure I had and then get the hell out of there the first second I could.
After the awkward introductions, I was doing my level best not to look in his direction, even though my eyes kept trying to defy me and glance his way. In my sad attempt not to make eye contact with Jimmy, I did with Billy and Hank.
Maybe I was being paranoid, but I would swear that they had some form of recognition when they looked at me. Not that they knew me, but that they knew of me. They were giving each other these little brother looks. Knowing looks. I was sure of it.
Had Jimmy talked to his brothers about the girl that blew him on the boat, and that he pleasured on the Ferris wheel?
As soon as I asked myself that question, I answered it.
Of course he did!
Why wouldn’t he? That was exactly the sort of things brothers told each other.
At least, I thought it was. Since I’d never actually had siblings, I couldn’t be sure. But if I’d had a sister, I more than likely would’ve told her about the encounters.
As I stood beside Cheyenne, facing her brothers, I felt exposed. Raw. More vulnerable than I ever had in my life.
Out of habit, I lifted my hand to twist my mother’s earring and…it wasn’t there.
Great. So, I’d lost my mother’s earring and humiliated myself.
I checked my other ear and the right one was still in. Well, at least there was a small silver lining.
“What are these?” Cheyenne picked up some paperwork that sat on the bar.
“Nothing.” Billy tried to grab them out of her hand, but she maneuvered so they were out of reach.
Ignoring her brother, she began to read them. “Are these Mama’s…”
I noticed Hank, Billy, and Jimmy exchanging a different sort of look, one that had nothing to do with me.
“We can talk about them later.” Billy reached for them again.
The energy had shifted since Cheyenne picked up those papers. This was definitely a private family meeting and I was very out of place. “It was nice meeting you all. Cheyenne, I’ll see y—”
“No.” Cheyenne grabbed my arm. “Stay.”
I wanted to do as my friend asked but I’d never done well fitting in with people, and this situation was no different.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a movement and when I looked over, I saw that there was a pig standing between two tables. Not a tiny piglet, or a pot belly-type pig, but a full-grown pig.
“Umm…” I pointed, wondering if I was the only person that saw what I was seeing.
“That’s Kevin.” Jimmy stepped beside the pig and gave him a scratch behind the ears. The pig grunted. “Kevin Bacon.”
