Now, it’s my turn to be confused.
Cadence throws a gesture at Briggs. “Ever heard of Wild & Free Jewelry?” she asks.
“Yeah, I’ve featured her lines on my channel.”
She continues to point exaggeratedly toward Briggs with both hands.
“That’s you?” I breathe. “No way.”
Briggs glares and grits her teeth. “No one is supposed to know, Cadence.”
“You said you were going to go public, anyway.”
“I won’t tell anyone. I’m hiding from the internet right now.” I tuck hair behind my ear and try to force the heat from my cheeks.
“So, Zeke has no idea you’re famous? That your family are gazillionaires?” Cade asks.
I run my fingers through my waves and shake my head.
“Are you going to tell him?” They both frown at me as Briggs speaks.
“Yeah. Just not yet. I’m kind of liking the way he’s treating me. He’s so sweet. I don’t want to give him reason to judge me.”
Briggs laughs. “I’ve known Zeke since he was in diapers.Sweetis not a word I’ve ever heard to describe him.”
“What do you mean?”
Briggs looks to Cadence, who rolls her eyes. “I’m an exotic dancer, and when Zeke refers to my job, he often accompanies it with this.” She mimics grabbing her shirt and exposing her breasts.
There’s a slight disappointment that bubbles up, but it also doesn’t fit. Not with what I’ve seen. I have an urge to defend him, but I stop myself. It’s not my place to tell Cadence what’s offensive to her, either.
“Zeke is a bit wild. He’s never really grown up or matured. But I’m glad he’s different with you.” Briggs forces a disbelieving smile. “Saves his brothers from having to smack him every time something inappropriate comes out of his mouth.”
They both smile like they’ve said something funny, but I’m all turned around.
The boys come up the steps, and it’s time to go in to eat. I’m ravenous, but there’s a sloshing unease in my gut that has now attached itself to Zeke. He’s goofy, and yeah, immature in some ways. But I’ve never seen him in the light they painted him in. I’ve been living with him for a month, and it’s obvious he’s keeping things from me like I am from him, but I can’t help but wonder if the man I’m living with—having a baby with—is who I think he is.
“You coming?” Zeke asks at the door.
I stand and move to him. He holds the door open for me, gesturing for me to go first. He puts his palm on the small of my back to guide me to the table in this house I’ve never been in. He pulls my chair out for me, and the first thing I do is look at Briggs and Cadence. Both of them have a subtle but stunned look on their faces. Zeke doesn’t notice it at all. He’s a thousand percent focused on me, and I’m zeroed in on the other women.
Maybe they aren’t wrong about him. But maybe, like me, Zeke is trying to start over.
If I can change, I have to trust that he can, too.
After we eat, Zeke is quick to stand and remind everyone that he and I need to head to the doctor. I thank everyone for the food, and Briggs, Cadence, and Millie all hug me before I leave. Mary simply nods in my direction, and I shoot Zeke a stern look not to make a scene.
The tension is thick, and the others notice, too—even Millie.
“Grandma, why are you being rude to Nova?” the girl asks, and it’s like the ground has swallowed me up and deposited me in the belly of hell.
“Millie,” Briggs says loudly, her eyes widening with her embarrassment.
“What? It’s true,” Millie huffs, throwing her arms out. “Why is everyone ignoring it?”
Mary stands and walks past me, pausing to look me in the eye. In her stare, it clicks and shakes me to the centre of my being.
She knows who I am.