“I get the feeling this conversation has taken place before,” Evonne said, pouring herself another shot.
“All the time between me and Joey. We’ve been trying to figure out his secret.”
“Aaah. I love you girls, but I’ll be fine. Contrary to the messy situation I’ve landed in. I’m a big girl who can take care of herself.” Evonne took the shot. “Phew. That’s potent.”
“Yes, which is why you should lay off. When’s the last time you ate?” Joey asked, reappearing with a sullen look on her face.
“Aaah, Hubby said no can do?” Evonne asked.
“Yes, and don’t call him that. It sounds weird,” Joey said. She poked out her bottom lip.
All three of them laughed.
“Girl, you and that extra estrogen.” Juliette shook her head.
“Just wait. It’s like having your period times a million. I know you’re not stupid, E. I’m not trying to be insulting or motherish. I just don’t want to see you taken advantage of,” Joey said.
“Again, you mean?” Evonne grimaced. Her lower lip trembled, and her head grew light.
“Oh, honey, let’s get you something to eat,” Juliette offered. She wrapped an arm around Evonne. Juliette had to be the sweetest soul she ever met. Saying no to her was nearly impossible. She could look at you with those big brown eyes full of genuine caring and you caved.
Evonne admitted defeat. “Okay, what are you serving me?”
Joey gave a small sigh of relief.
Evonne ignored it. You decide to drown your sorrows with alcohol one time and they shut you down before you can get halfway to obliviated!
“I was thinking sandwich and chips. Maybe some fruit?” Joey said.
“In this place?” Evonne replied with surprise.
Joey laughed. “We’ve taken over the grocery shopping. Got tired of all the questionable and horrible for you items they kept stocked. They still get what they want, but so do we. Our thighs and asses thank us. Or Jul’s do. Mine are about to boldly go where they haven’t been before.”
Evonne snickered. “Thank God I have you two.”
“Hil should be coming soon too. She was out of town researching something or another when we called her.”
Evonne nodded, getting lost in the everyday conversation as they all feigned normalcy. You couldn’t run from your problems forever, but right now a little patch of lighthearted time with her girls was just what the doctor ordered. At least until she stopped feeling like her head had suddenly turned into a balloon. The tipsy feeling helped slow the emotions gushing from the metaphysical wound in her heart. She’d never taken a chance on anyone before. It hurt to know he’d come under false pretenses and turned what she thought was beautiful into a nightmare. A part of her wanted to see what the men had found. But the portion of her in charge of self-preservation said hell to the no.
They all ended up in a small kitchen in the back.
“Sit, both of you. I’ll make us lunch,” Juliette said.
“Not even two months pregnant and I’m getting treated like an invalid,” Joey said.
“The kitchen is the size of a matchbox, but if you like to be all in each other’s space, please come and help me,” Juliette teased with a wink.
“When did you get to be such a smartass?” Joey asked, shaking her head.
“About the time Shooter started tapping the aforementioned body part,” Evonne said.
“Hey!” Juliette protested.
“Aaah, there’s the shy librarian we both remember!” Joey laughed.
“Y’all are freaking terrible,” Juliette said, unable to keep the sly grin off her face. Shooter seemed to make her happy, sickeningly so. She deserved it after the rough road she’d traveled.
And what about me? What do I deserve? Right now, Evonne had no answer to that.