AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. The numbers are running through my head.”
Instead of milk, Cody had a longneck hanging from his fingers while he ran the grill. I watched his forearms flex and the easy way he took a pull from the bottle. The girls chattered about due dates while I fought off “what-ifs.”
What if I could have this? What if I was the one announcing my pregnancy? What if...
“Food’s ready,” Cody announced. Ansen helped him get the burgers and hot dogs on the table.
Needing to keep my hands busy and divert my thoughts, I stood. “I’ll go inside and get the rest of the food.”
Sutton came into the house with me to grab the potato salad Thelma made and the veggie and fruit tray.
Sutton hitched the bowl under an arm and balanced a fruit tray in her hands. “I can’t believe they’re leaving next week. I’m going to miss them.”
I clutched the plate of cut-up celery, carrots, and kohlrabi. Three bags of buns hung in my other hand. “It’s going to be different. Then I’ll be gone soon after.” I clung to my determination, otherwise, I’d cry.
“I know.” Sadness rang in her voice, but she smiled. “I’m glad I got to know you. Does it sound bad that it’s been ages since I’ve made a new friend? You and Vienne.”
“It doesn’t sound bad. I’m the same.”
“I guess it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one. I imagined you having a huge friend group.”
“I was too busy working.” Would I change when I returned? I wouldn’t be able to if I was going to make the money I needed for Mom and lawyers.
Aggie and Vienne piled in.
“I’m going for your buns.” Aggie took the packages from me.
“I worked hard on them,” I joked. I focused back on Sutton, and once more, the wordswhy notran through my head. Why not be honest and forthcoming? “I was pretty isolated in California. I worked a lot, but then...” I’d never told them why I was here, and I hadn’t planned to, but for some reason I wanted to spill all the details. “I met a guy, and I ignored some warning signs because it was nice to have someone help me.” I gnawed on my lower lip. These girls wouldn’t fall for the same bullshit I did. Then I recalled what Cody told me about why Aggie and Ansen broke up. She’d been younger, but suddenly I assumed they’d understand instead of thinking the worst. “He’s in finance, and he took control of my money, and I thought since we were engaged, it was probably fine. I always had an out. I guess I just expected to have time to plan to leave like my mom usually did with her shitty boyfriends. Only I didn’t. He bought out one of the venues I performed at for the night, and he expected me to personally perform favors for his clients.”
“That bastard,” Vienne hissed.
Aggie shook her head, her eyes spitting fire. “We need a horse, a rope, and a big hole.”
“I’ll castrate him,” Sutton offered. “I’m quite good at it.”
Aggie nodded. “She is.”
Their instant support washed over me, leaving a cozy warmth I had never experienced before. Rather, I’d never experienced outside of Cody before. “I wouldn’t want you to do a good job castrating him. Do your worst.”
“I’m so glad you got away from him,” Vienne said, giving me a quick hug that was so motherly, I fought back tears. Instead, I concentrated on the cool metal of her necklaces brushing my skin. “What a cocksucker.”
I sniffled, playing it off as a righteous sniff. “He thought I was the cocksucker.”
“We all are, for the right guy.” She scoffed. “Only not many men understand that it’s our choice.”
Aggie propped her free hand on her hip. “Has he left you alone since you ditched his scummy ass?”
“He’s tried to find me, but my mom’s long-term care center wouldn’t give him access.” I hadn’t told them about my mom either, but I would love to tell them about her. Only there was no time.
They only nodded, and a chorus of “good” rang out.
Vienne yanked the veggies from my hands like it was Frederick’s head and she was going to smash it. “You tell us. If he tracks you down here, he’ll have to face a whole crowd ready to nail those shriveled rotten balls of his.”
The thought cheered me. The scenario would never happen, but I could revel in the fantasy.
We piled out, and the guys were sitting on either side of Thelma, listening to her tell them about what Crocus Valley used to be like when she was a kid.
“That theater was one I used to perform at when I was in school,” she said proudly. She’d told me that at least three other times. She’d never verbalize it, but she was excited to see another generation take the stage.
