by Skye Turner
Blue rolls her eyes and mutters, “Really. I swear you guys act like fifteen year olds sometimes.” Then she pins me with her gaze. I shift uncomfortably. “Really, Liam? She saw you with another one?”
I smirk. “In my defense, I was home alone last night and Chelsee has never stayed over before.”
Jessie whistles and says, “Model Chelsee?”
I nod and Blue glares at him. “What do you know about ‘model Chelsee’?”
He laughs, “Nothing, woman. I have never touched her, which is saying something since I think every male over eighteen in Southern Louisiana has tapped that.” He points at me. “Including your boy over there.”
When he says it like that, ugh… No wonder Clove didn’t want to contaminate her perfect skin by touching me. I need to take a shower. Like now. A scalding hot one.
She glares at me. “Really, Liam? You’re better than that, Hun.”
This sucks. My friends are all ganging up on me. I need to take a trip today.
Just as Blue says, “I’m heading upstairs to see Clove. Bradi is actually going to meet us here in a bit and we’re going to hang out with her today doing girl stuff.” I stand up and say, “I’m heading to Lafayette for the day. I’ll be back sometime tonight. Going to shower.”
I have a funny feeling in my chest and I need to make the trip today. I need some advice.
A few more comments are exchanged and I close myself in my room and wash off what’s left of Chelsee. I also strip my bed and throw the sheets in the laundry room on my way out the door. So why do I still feel so dirty?!
Chapter Eight
Clove
I’m singing along to the songs of the eighties on Spotify as I straighten up my bed and change my clothes. I love the eighties. It’s my favorite decade. The music makes me happy and if an eighties movie is on, I’m watching it. As I belt out Pat Benatar and dance around my room, there’s a knock at my door.
What? Who is that?
Grabbing the remote, I turn my Bose down and call out, “Yeah?”
I hear through the door, “It’s Blue. Can I come in? You dressed?”
Racing across the floor, I open the door. “Of course. Come in.”
She comes in and grabs me, pulling me into a hug. Pulling back, still hugging me, she glares at me. “Really, Clove? How could you not tell us?”
Smiling sadly, I answer her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
She shakes her head and her short hair flares out. With her dark hair, blue highlights, and piercing blue eyes, she’s gorgeous. I always feel so mousy and plain next to her and then there’s Bradi with her blonde hair, perfect body, and supermodel good looks. Let’s also not forget beautiful, redheaded, stacked, Lexi. Yeah, I don’t fit in with these women. Feed my insecurities much…
She’s reading my face. “Stop. I don’t know what’s causing those frown lines, but stop it.” She taps my nose. “I know you were scared, but we’re your friends and more than that you’re family, Clove. You should have told us. We would have never let you deal with all of this shit alone.”
She pulls my hands and we sit on the bed facing each other. I shrug and grimace. “I know. I’m sorry. I seem to be saying that a lot here lately, but I am sorry. I just thought I’d screwed up my life enough with my stupid choices and I didn’t want all of you to think I was an idiot.”
Squeezing my fingers, she says, “How exactly did you screw up your life? And we would never think that, Clove.”
Letting go of her hands, I trace the floral pattern on the quilt of my bed. I’m not like them. I’m younger and not as strong. I’m not as beautiful. And I’m damn sure not as smart.
Looking up at this beautiful woman who is like an older sister to me now, I smile sadly. “Let’s see… I let a creep cheat on me and lie to me and treat me like crap. I also got knocked up by the same creep. Then it turned out he was even more of a creep than anyone knew. He was having SEX with Jude’s fans. In his house. In his bed. And I lived in the same house and didn’t even know! I trusted him even though there were warning signs everywhere. He also STOLE from Jude left and right! I have always fallen for the wrong men… My whole life. Something must be wrong with me.”
Blue chuckles. “Girl, every woman falls for the bad boy. We all do it. Sometimes the ‘bad boy’ is actually a good guy, but trust me, we all do stupid shit over men at some point. Look at me. I was engaged to a man I didn’t love and I really didn’t even like. I was going to marry him. Then I saw him screwing an intern on his desk in the office. And that was that. Granted, Brock’s intern was in her early twenties and not days over seventeen, but they are really not that different. You didn’t do anything that tons of other women haven’t done and don’t do every day.” She grabs my hands. “Hey, look at me.” I do. “Seriously, Clove. We love you and you are a smart, beautiful woman. You made a mistake and someone took advantage of your goodness. That’s on them and not on you, ok?”
She reaches out as I nod. Pieces of hair are falling around my face from the knot I threw on top of my head. She clucks her tongue and strokes a piece of hair. “So, what’s this about? Why the sexy hair?”
My face heats up. Dammit, I hate when I blush!
I shrug and chew on my lip. “I don’t know. I just wanted something different. I wanted everyone to stop treating me like a child, I guess. And this was what popped into my head.”
She laughs again and her eyes crinkle. “Hm… does this have anything to do with a certain gorgeous, god-like looking man who lives downstairs?”
She’s staring at me and my face registers my shock. What? No. This was not about Liam. It wasn’t! Yeah ok, Clove. Nothing to do with him… You are a terrible actress. It’s no wonder you failed at that. Stick to cooking! Shit!
My eyes are wide and luminous. “What?” I shake my head “no” and more hair falls out of the loose knot. “No, nothing to do with him. Nothing at all.”
We hear from the doorway, “Riiiiight! If you say so, chick.”
Both Blue and I look up. Bradi is standing there grinning and she has a bag full of something delicious smelling in her hands.
I sputter out, “Shut up! It wasn’t about him.” Then I whisper, “Well, not really.”
Bradi laughs and walks over to hug me. “Uh huh.” She hugs Blue too. “Hey, Bitch. Missed you!”
Blue laughs and stands up as her stomach growls loudly. “As you can hear, I’m starving and whatever you have in that bag smells like heaven, so can we go eat it, please?”
We all chuckle, but I look apprehensively at the door. Bradi sees the look. “No one is here. Dade and Jessie are going to meet Cruz to go over some tour stuff and Liam is gone. No one is here but us.”
My sigh of relief is loud. Bradi and Blue look at each other knowingly. I get a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.
We all head to the kitchen and Bradi takes plates out while Blue tops off her coffee and asks if Bradi wants a cup. She nods. I hop up to turn the on the kettle on the stove on to make my tea.
Once we’re all settled, Bradi opens the white paper bag and the delicious smell of fresh, hot beignets wafts out. We all sigh in appreciation. I realize I’m starving too, even though I just ate some eggs and fruit with Dade.
We all dig in and the sounds coming out of our mouths sounds like an orgy. I start to laugh. Bradi cuts me with her eyes. She has powdered sugar on the side of her mouth. Blue bites into one and powdered sugar floats up and lands on her nose. We all start laughing.
Blue groans and mutters, “Beignets are the food of the gods. Why does this fried dough smothered in powdered sugar taste so damn good?”
Bradi chuckles and licks her fingers, “Because it’s fried and it has powdered sugar, duh!”
We all ignore any pretense of conversation as we scarf down the entire order of fried, delicious, calories.
As I lick the last of the sugar from my fingers, I look up and both Blue and Bradi are watching me. God, that was so good. I shift uncomfort
ably in the chair.
Swallowing to wet my suddenly dry throat, I ask, “What?”
Blue looks at me and then at Bradi. Bradi nods. Blue looks back to me and speaks, “Tell us what happened.”
What? Tell them what happened, when? What do they mean? I already told them why I didn’t tell them I was pregnant. What do they mean?
“Wha- What do you mean, ‘tell you what happened?’ What happened when?” I choke out.
Bradi points at Blue. “She knows Liam… Very well. He was frantic when he called me, Clove. I thought you two hated each other?”
“What does her knowing Liam have to do with him calling you?” I shake my head trying to grasp some understanding. “I’m confused. What are you talking about Bradi?”
Blue clarifies. “She means that Liam is one of my best friends. He called Bradi completely frantic. She couldn’t even understand him. He sounded completely traumatized that you were pregnant and in the hospital, Clove.”
My eyes widen in shock. What?!
Blue continues. “Why would he be so upset that you were pregnant? Is something going on with you two?”
Did I just hear that correctly?! They think I’m sleeping with Liam?! Oh my God, like he would sleep with me. Like I would sleep with him. Oh my God…
“What? What would be going on with me and Liam?” I croak out. Why is it so hot in here? I feel like I’m suffocating.
Bradi is staring into my face. I hate when she does that. She says, “For one thing you don’t hate each other.”
My mouth almost hits the table. What is she talking about? He cannot stand me. I don’t even know what’s she’s saying.
Blue speaks up. “Liam doesn’t hate you, Clove.”
I sputter out, “Of course he does! Everything I do annoys him. He insults me with every breath he takes. He parades these perfect-bodied-bimbos in and out of here. He doesn’t care about women. He treats them like whores. Two days ago I walked into his room and some chick he didn’t even know was giving him a blow job.” Both of them gasp. I rage on. My temper has erupted. “He snapped at me and we had another vicious fight!” I point at Bradi. “I thought I told you all this. Then I went with you to get my hair done, and when I got home, I felt really great. I felt pretty and more like I fit in with all of you!” Blue’s eyes widen, but I don’t stop to let her talk. “I was trying to get ready for my appointment with James Black and I needed something on top of the counter, so I climbed up and I almost had it in my hands. Liam came home and startled me. I fell. He caught me.” I am remembering what it felt like to be in his arms. Not that it’s hard since it’s all I think about all the time! Shaking my head, I grit out. “He caught me when I fell and he looked at me like… I don’t know what he looked at me like. But, he kissed me. I was shocked and I kissed him back. Then he kissed me again and I got my head back on straight. He put me down and I ran away. That night I went to the hospital and everyone found out I was pregnant.” I shudder. “I was so scared. When I woke up yesterday morning, Cruz was there and Liam walked in. He was even colder than before. He let me know in no uncertain terms, that I was nothing to him… nothing but an annoyance. He left and never said a word to me other than to snap at me again. We came home this morning and he’s got some skank here practically naked in my kitchen and I lost it on her. In three days, he was with two different women and he kissed me! Yeah, he hates me and he has NO respect for women!”
Both Bradi and Blue are staring at me in utter shock. My outburst was a little out of character. Bradi coughs and I swear she’s trying not to smile. I see her look at Blue out of the corner of her eye. What the hell?!
Bradi says, “Well, Liam texted me when you were asleep and checked on you…”
Blue looks at me too. “He spent the night in your hospital room, Clove. The night they brought you in. He stayed with you.”
I shake my head in denial. No, that’s not possible. Why would he do that? They’re wrong. “No. He didn’t. Cruz was with me. Not Liam.”
Bradi smiles. “No, hunny. LIAM stayed with you. All night. In that tiny chair.”
WHAT?!
“What?” I shake my head again. “No, that doesn’t make sense. Why would he do that?!”
They both smile at me. Blue says, “Because he kissed you. He doesn’t hate you. You tempt him and it scares him.”
They’re crazy! I do not tempt Liam Christianson. I’m nothing like the women he messes with. They’re both insane.
Bradi just laughs at my shock. “Liam doesn’t hate you and you don’t hate him. Go Liam. I can’t believe he kissed you.”
I finally manage to find my voice. My head is fuzzy and my stomach is in knots. “He does hate me.”
Blue can’t help it, she laughs. “Sure he does. He hates you like I hated Jessie.” She winks.
Ok, I’m attracted to him. But oh my God, look at him! He’s perfection personified. Men that look like that are not supposed to really exist. His face, his body… He’s gorgeous. I’m not even remotely on the same plane as he is. I’m young and pretty, but not like the women he flocks to. And now I’m pregnant… yeah right.
I’m not even entertaining those thoughts. “Stop y’all. Just stop. I’m not in his league. I don’t want to be. I hate rock stars. I hate men who treat women like objects. I won’t be another notch in his bedpost. Not that he even wants me to be. So, I’m not even sure why y’all are talking like this. Besides, I’m pregnant! For a real winner too!”
Blue reaches over and takes my left hand while Bradi takes the right one. Bradi says bitingly, “Now you listen to me! You are completely in his league. In fact, of all the bimbos he’s been with, you’re the ONLY one in his league!” She points at me in her ire. “He’s an amazing, complex man. He has demons, but we all do. If you two would stop with the childish antics for five minutes and actually have a fucking conversation instead of a pissing match, you’d both realize what a gem the other is!”
Once again, my mouth refuses to cooperate. Blue pats my hand and smiles. “Bradi is right, Clove. Liam fronts very, very well. He’s used to hiding behind his façade. But I promise you if you take the time to see through it, you’ll be really impressed with what you find. Hell, you hide behind a mask, too. The truth is… I think you two are perfect for each other!”
I start choking! What?!
She chuckles again and stands up to take the dishes to the sink. Bradi pulls me up and swats my bottom as she says, “Go get your shoes on. Girl’s day! We’re going get our nails done and going maternity clothes shopping!”
I panic. “Oh my God, do I need new clothes already?!”
They both laugh at me. Bradi snorts and laughs so hard she has to hold onto the table. “No. You look gorgeous as always. But, we want to take you shopping and since you’re preggers and we are not, we get to spoil you! Besides, as little as you are, once my baby gets bigger, you’re going to need new clothes anyway.”
Blue and I laugh at her. I say, “Your baby, Bradi?”
She waves her hand dismissively. “Blah. Your baby, my baby, whatever. All the same. Auntie Bradi is going to spoil this baby rotten!”
My eyes well with tears again. I have the best friends, I should never have kept this a secret.
As they see me acting like an emotional fool, they both come hug me and it makes me cry harder. They laugh and I join in through my tears. Damn hormones.
Then we head off for our day.
Chapter Nine
Liam
Driving down Evangeline Thruway in Lafayette, I take in the way the place has changed over the past twenty years. The Visitor’s Center is still there and it’s pretty, but it doesn’t really fit in with the surrounding landscape anymore. It’s hidden between both sides of the Thruway and all of the commercial development.
I used to love coming here when we were younger. I crank up the radio and Hunter Hayes is on. I remember him back when he was a tiny five-year-old with a huge accordion playing on the stage with Wayne Toups. He’s certainly gro
wn up and made a name for himself in country music, which yes, I take a secret liking to. I love the new stuff that mixes country and rock. Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, and The Band Perry are some of my favorites. They are smack dab in the middle of the Bayou Stix songs and rock on my playlists.
My turn is coming up across from the airport. Following Kaliste Saloom down I reach my destination as I near University of Louisiana at Lafayette or ULL. As I get out of my truck, I take in my surroundings. The old house has been meticulously maintained, though now I pay someone to keep it up, since Paw is getting up there in age and can’t handle the maintenance anymore. It’s still a gorgeous house, though. It reminds me of Dade’s house. That’s probably why I love Dade’s place so much.
Paw must have heard me pull up because the front door opens and there he stands with his cane. He calls out, “Come on in, Boug. I’m going to sit down. Verna is making some coffee and she made some cocoons earlier.”
Chuckling I head up the steps and into the house. Verna acts as Paw’s nurse/ housekeeper and she’s been here with him for a couple of years now. He’s too damn stubborn to go into a home and I’d never do that to him since he raised me and took me in when I was a child. I help with the bills and pay Verna to take care of him, though he calls her his friend. He’s a stubborn old coot and she has her hands full, but she loves him, so I love her.
He makes his way to the back sitting room and I hear him drop into his favorite recliner. I poke my head into the kitchen and ask Verna if there’s anything I can grab. She points to the tray with the dainty floral cups she prefers and the sugar cubes and liquid creamer and kisses my cheek. No granulated sugar in this house.
After I make myself comfortable in the chair by the old wood burning stove and set everything up, I watch the critters in the yard through the glass back wall. The birds and squirrels are chattering and chirping as they fight over all the birdseed and squirrel food Paw throws out under the oaks for them daily. We don’t talk, just watch in companionable silence.
