AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Okay, okay! Tell me something about you that nobody knows."
Making a friend has been harder than I thought it would be. Especially when they genuinely want to get to know the skeletons in my closet. I've skirted so many questions about my baby daddy, why we moved here, and all the other gritty details I don't feel comfortable rehashing right now.
I haven't outright lied, but shying away from the truth is becoming harder the longer we sit together. It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed or smiled this much. And damn, does it feel good.
The wine doesn't help my shadiness, either. It shines a fucking light on all my crap. I've only had a few sips; there is no way I would ever get drunk with Layla in the house. But for someone who doesn't drink, those few sips have loosened the shackles I have had wrapped around my heart.
"I miss my brother."
Fuck.
Now my pixie friend is frowning again. I didn't mean to bring up my family, but that’s one thing absolutely nobody knows.
"Do you want to talk about it, Ry?"
Ah, hell. Her response was perfect.
Sighing, I lean my weight onto my palms. "My parents disowned me when they found out I was pregnant with Layla. I was seventeen. They were prestigious. The blow to the family image would have been preposterous." I roll my eyes and decline the offer of another sip. "Tate was too young to really understand what was happening. I'm sure from his perspective, his older sister ran away after a fight with our parents."
"I'm so sorry. Have you spoken to him since?"
"No. It's been six years. He would be eighteen now." I wonder where life has taken him. The largest thing he was striving for the last time I saw him was to be popular.Is he going to college? Did his first date go well? Has he had his first kiss?Does he hate me?
The sound of Gabby's phone ringing pulls me out of some questions I have never allowed myself to ponder before.
"Hey, woah. Calm down. What's your problem?" Whoever is on the other line has her scowling harder than I thought possible.
I can't hear exactly what the other person is saying, but their raised voice is enough to tell me they are pissed. Pursing my lips, I debate whether or not we are close enough for me to snatch her phone and tell whoever has my new friend's face twisting in anger to go fuck themselves.
All the fight drains from her face, making me even more curious. "I'm sorry I scared you, JJ. I'm at my friend's house." She waits a moment, and a sigh slips out, pinching the bridge of her nose.
A clear sign of her displeasure, see?
"It was only a couple blocks, but yes, I walked." Making eye contact with me, she rolls her eyes and smirks. "Yes, I'm drinking, and no, I didn't just roll my eyes." I slap my hand over my mouth to cover the shout of laughter that wants to escape.
I'm becoming more and more curious about who she's on the phone with by the minute.
Another sigh escapes after a big gulp of wine. "Fine, pick me up in…" She sloshes the wine, giving it a critical eye. "An hour." Throwing my hair up in a bun, I wrap the blanket further around my body, invested in figuring out if this is a boyfriend. "Love you too. Kay, bye."
"Spill!"
Tossing her phone in between us with a groan, she flops onto her back beside me. "There's nothing to tell. That was one of my brothers."
"Boo, not a possessive boyfriend, or girlfriend... or both?" Yeah, sue me; I read and write smut. Something about spending the majority of the day with Gabby has loosened me up enough to let the fun version of myself out.
"Nope. He is protective as hell, though. He hates it when I don't check in for a few days. Add that to the fact that I walked here at night and plan to walk home after drinking alone."
Now I feel like a shitty friend because that absolutely does not sound okay. I didn't think about how she was getting here or back home. I was so focused on getting Layla down for the night.
She must be able to read the concern on my face. "Don't worry. He's picking me up."
"No boyfriend or girlfriend?"
"Why? You offering?" She shoots me a mischievous wink.
"Nope. Just a single mom who would love a dick to sit on, not a pussy to eat. Sorry, Gabs. I accept all dirty deets, though. Lord knows I got nothing going on."
Her laugh is so loud I have to clamp a hand over her mouth lest we wake up my Bug. Her words are little more than puffs of laughter when she responds, "Jesus, where have you been all my life?" Swiping a dainty finger under her eye, she continues, "Nothing serious for me right now, no. Just some fun."
