AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Is that what these women were? My friends?
It had only been a short time that I’d known them, but they’d treated me like I thought a friend would. I just didn’t know what that felt like and was unsure. I was also too scared to let down my guard and trust everyone. And yet, on some level, a part of me was starting to.
But one thing I was glad of, was that it was only one of them I would be riding with. I never had an easy time with conversation as it was and being stuck alone in the car would be difficult for me.
My phone alerted me with a text from Alley that she had arrived. Grabbing my purse and coat, I walked out of my room, and my mouth dropped open at her ride. A big, black monster truck was sitting there, a powerful engine idling, and Alley was jumping out of it. Well, more like she catapulted out of it like a rocket that had been launched.
The girl had serious energy for sure. Something in which I had been lacking for a long time. Living in the hell I had been for the last ten years with my father and then Thad didn’t leave me with much drive, motivation, or happiness. I guess you could say depression had set in. But when I learned I was having a baby things started to change. I had something to live for, look forward to, and someone to care for.
Yet even with a little more spring in my step and fight in me than I had over the last decade, I still had to ask myself the question that had been on my mind since I walked out and saw the beast of a truck.
How in the world was I going to get in that?
First of all, I wasn’t very tall. And second, I was sporting a pretty large belly.
“Come on, I will help you in.” Alley laughed, reading my mind, as I locked and shut my door.
Is everyone around here a damn mind reader, I wondered?
Walking over to the passenger side, she opened the door. “We bought a new car before I had the baby, but I couldn’t give up my truck even if I don’t get to drive it much, so I needed to bring it today. It was either this or the motorcycle.” She chuckled. “I figured this was safer for you.”
After helping me get in the crazy thing, she shut my door and rounded the vehicle. Once I was inside and looked around, I could tell just in the short time I had known Alley that it fit her perfectly. Her personality was as big as her truck. I had this feeling that her heart may just be too.
I could also see the appeal myself. It was like I was a giant in the truck and nobody could touch me while I was inside it. I felt powerful.Almostsafe.
“You ready girlfriend?” Alley asked with excitement as she bounced up into the truck like she had springs on her feet.
Girlfriend?
First I wondered why she would call me that and then I asked myself again where this woman got so much energy. I needed some of whatever she was drinking because there must be something damn good in the water.
Staring at her and dumbfounded by both thoughts, I hadn’t responded. And then right before my eyes, Alley’s demeanor changed and a softer side appeared.
“Don’t look so shocked, Teal. You are my friend and the others consider you one too. That’s if you want us to be.”
She looked at me with so much sincerity, my guard dropped and right then my trust for her started to build.
“I—” Alley peered at me, not pushing, as I paused to swallow the lump of emotion in my throat. “I would like that I think. I haven’t had any friends before so forgive me if I don’t know how to act.”
I felt stupid when the words left my mouth, but she didn’t look at me like I was dumb. She just smiled and said, “Well now you do. So you ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
But when we walked into the restaurant and were led to a small more secluded area of the building in the corner that was decorated with some balloons, cute little plates, napkins, and a tier of cupcakes in the center of the table, and I saw the other ladies, I wasn’t so sure.
Because I was about to cry in front of everyone.
* * *
“Surprise!”all the ladies said in unison.
My mouth dropped open in shock and tears gathered in my eyes. Why were they being so nice to me? Standing there speechless, I prayed the wetness that spilled down my cheeks wouldn’t be noticeable, but that prayer wasn’t answered when Jurnee jumped up from her chair and rushed toward me.
“Oh, honey, please don’t cry.” She immediately wrapped her arms around my pregnant frame and hugged me.
My body tensed on contact, not used to someone touching me this way and unsure how to respond. But then, her warmth soaked into me and my muscles slowly started to relax. However, as they did I lost control of my emotions and sobs racked my body.
Jurnee just held me through it.
