‘Tell her you’re prego and she’ll back off. Even if you were hanging out with her man she won’t beat on a pregnant chick.’
‘I can’t let it get around Crestview that I’m pregnant or they’ll kick me out. Hey, why don’t you guys pick up some pizza on the way? I’m starving and the least we can do for Tony is feed him dinner. If Grant picks up the pizza we’ll be square on what he owes me.’
‘Okay. I have to go retrieve him from my brother’s room where he’s firmly planted in front of a video game and then we’ll be on our way.’
‘Men and their toys.’
‘They’re all overgrown little boys. Even my grandpa was playing video games with Rain when he came down for his birthday.’
‘That’s funny. I’ll see ya in a few. Thanks for being my friend.’
‘Are those pregnancy hormones getting to you? You never have to thank me for being your friend. I know you love me. And I love you too.’
‘Bye Sen.’
‘Bye Mol.’
Molli put her phone back into her purse. Tony emerged from the bedroom with a shirt on and two fat joints in his hand.
“Grant’s gonna pick up pizza. I thought that the least we could do for you is feed you.”
“You don’t have to feed me. Thank you though.”
“No problem. You’ve put up with me for long enough to deserve some free food.”
“You’re a sweet girl Molli. It really surprises me that you and Tory were never friends.”
“I may have thought she was stuck up at first and kinda said some mean things about her. I don’t think she ever forgave me for any of that and then she walked up on me and Jude. That pretty much cemented her hatred of me.”
“It takes two to tango. I think that when someone is cheated on, it’s a lot easier for them to blame the person that their significant other was cheating with than to blame the actual cheater. You have ties to the person that you were with. The other person may be a stranger or an acquaintance. It’s easier to be mad at someone you barely know or don’t know at all than to deal with what’s really underneath the anger.”
“You’re pretty damned wise for a drug dealer.”
Tony laughed. “Thank you. I’ve been through a lot in my life. I sure as hell didn’t expect to be dealing drugs though.”
“So what happened that they had to put your mom in a mental hospital?”
“My dad died and she couldn’t deal with it. They’ve got her all doped up on medication. She barely knows who she is most days, let alone who I am.”
“Ah, I’m sorry Tony. I was on a bunch of different medications for a while. I’ve been really depressed and down at a lot of different times since I became a teenager. I haven’t taken any medication for a while now and I’m fine. My parents still think I’m taking it though. They seem to think that some antidepressant is going to be my saving grace. I mean they jokingly call them happy pills right? But it’s not like all your problems are gonna go away if you take some pill. Well, I guess maybe they can sometimes if your problem is physical, but not when it’s emotional. Did they ever try keeping your mom off of medication? Maybe she needs to deal with it in her own way.”
“She couldn’t deal, that’s why they’ve kept her doped up. I don’t know. I guess I trust what her doctors think. Maybe I shouldn’t quite as much as I do.”
“They’ve probably got her best interests at heart, but think about it. Do some research. There are a lot of natural cures that can help with depression and anxiety and a lot of things. Too bad you can’t slip her some weed huh?”
Tony chuckled. “Yeah. You’re pretty wise for a teenager.”
“Hey. Teenagers know everything. Or did you forget that in your advanced age old man?”
Tony laughed, and then got up off the couch when there was a knock at the door. Grant entered carrying a stack of four pizzas, followed by Seneca.
Molli laughed. “Do you really think we need that many?”
“I’m a growing boy. Don’t you ever forget that.”
Molli rolled her eyes. “Tony, this is my best friend Seneca and her boyfriend Grant.”
“Nice to meet you. I’ll get some plates. I don’t have anything to drink besides booze though so ya’ll will have to drink water. The little angel that sits on my shoulder and reminds me to take care of myself kinda abandoned me.”
Seneca held up a plastic bag that contained two bottles of soda. “We came prepared as long as you’ve got cups. Ice would be nice too, if you don’t mind handsome.”
Grant gave her a dirty look. “I’ll help you Tony.”
“Thanks.”
Seneca sat next to Molli on the couch. “Do you think he was talking about Tory when he said the little angel that sits on his shoulder abandoned him? I’d never abandon a guy that looked like that.”
“Sen, your boyfriend is right in the kitchen and so is Tony. Shut up before you get us all in trouble.”
“Molli is no fun when she’s prego.”
“Shut up Seneca.”
Molli’s pretty friend gave her a pout. “Don’t be mean. I was teasing you.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just upset with my life like usual. Do you know if Jude is home? I don’t want to run into him when I go to your house. He’s been calling me all day, even when I was in class. I think he’s afraid that I found out about him and Tory.”
“He was gone when we left. Why don’t you dump him? That crappy ring he gave you is already turning your finger green and he gave it to you right after he slept with someone else. Tell Ricky’s sexy ass that he needs to make his choice and quick.”
“I don’t want to give Ricky up. I care about him so much.”
“Honey, if he’s not going to make a choice between you and Mellenda, he’s never going to deserve you. I know it hurts to think of letting him go, but you can’t be his woman on the side forever. It’s tearing you up inside.”
“I know. I just wish. . .” She shut up when Tony and Grant came back into the room, giving her friend an ‘I’ll tell you later’ look.
Tony shoved a pile of magazines and video game cases to the floor and put the bottles of soda and three cups filled with ice on the table. Grant delivered a plate to Seneca and then Molli and then sat down beside Seneca on the couch. Tony sat in a beat up easy chair, after shoving a pile of dirty clothes to the floor.
Molli gave him a look and he said “I know I need to clean this place up. I just don’t care that much. Tor was the one who always made sure everything was in its place and that I didn’t run out of shit all the time. Damn I miss that girl.”
“Get another maid,” Grant said.
Seneca smacked in the arm. “Am I your maid?”
“Oh shit, she was his girlfriend? I’m sorry man. I thought you were talking about your maid.” Seneca gave him another dirty look. “Seriously Sen, you know I don’t keep up on all the gossip of who’s dating who. As long as I’ve got you I don’t care about anybody else’s romance problems.”
“You’re such a sweet asshole Grant.”
Grant laughed. “Thanks babe.”
They finished off two of the pizzas and then passed a joint around. They told funny stories. When Grant brought up a story about Tony’s cousin Carl that he had never heard before, he started to cry he was laughing so hard. Molli was feeling pretty groovy herself when her phone rang. She dug it out of her purse and saw that it was Ricky.
“Tony can I go in your bedroom? I need to take this.”
“Sure. If you can remember where it is.”
That got all of them laughing again. Molli wiped tears from her eyes when she pushed the button to answer her phone, shutting Tony’s bedroom door behind her.
“Hello.”
“Molli, how are you?”
“I’m okay Ricky. Hanging out with some friends.”
“I see. I wanted so badly to see you this weekend but Mellenda and I made plans together quite a while ago. I didn’t see any way to get out of them. Can we get
together next weekend?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Great. I miss you Molli. I miss the feeling of having your body curled up next to mine while I sleep, of waking up with you in my arms. Do you think you’ll be able to get permission to leave?”
“My parents pretty much gave me standing permission to leave school every weekend. I don’t think they give a shit what I do.”
“Have you told them about your pregnancy?”
“No. I wanted to wait until. . . I don’t know. I’m afraid they’re going to bring up abortion or adoption, neither of which is a viable option for me. I was hoping that I could wait to tell them until after I turned eighteen so that they couldn’t really say anything.”
“I see. Well, I had better let you go. Mellenda is done in the restroom. She’s always so nosy about who I talk to on the phone.”
Molli sighed. “Goodbye Ricky. I’ll see you next weekend.”
“Goodbye Molli.”
She hung up the phone, used the restroom and went back out to the living room. Tony had sparked the other joint. When Seneca tried to hand it to her, she shook her head.
“So was it boyfriend number one or boyfriend number two Mol? Or was it your creepy married lover?”
“Ugh, Seneca. It was Ricky.”
“So is his hot ass dumping Mellenda and coming down to steal you away?”
“No. He is picking me up next weekend though.”
“Good. It must be so nice to have a man that has his own place. It gets tiring doing it in the backseat of a car.”
Molli laughed. “You do it under your parents’ nose all the time girl.”
Seneca smiled. “I know. It sounded good. I think I’m stoned.”
Molli laughed. Everyone started telling funny stories again. It was almost midnight by the time they stopped. The rest of the pizza was gone. Grant looked like he wanted to drop and Seneca’s head was drooping where it rested on his shoulder.
Molli looked at Tony, who was yawning. “I guess we’d better head out. Grant where are your car keys? I’ll drive.”
“In my pants. I think.”
“I’ve got a spare bedroom if ya’ll want to stay the night,” Tony said. “Seneca and Grant can sleep in there and you can sleep in my bed Molli.”
Seneca looked up and smiled.
“Not like that. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“I can sleep on the couch. Do you guys want to stay here tonight?”
“Sounds good to me,” Grant said. “What do you think Sen?”
Seneca smiled again. Molli thought that she was probably trying to come up with a way to catch Tony naked.
“Great.”
“Okay. I am going to shower and then I’m headed to bed. Feel free to play any video games or watch any movies you want. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen besides the booze, though I don’t think there’s a lot left in there. I really need to go to the store.” Tony chuckled.
“Thank you Tony. I had fun tonight.” Molli smiled at him.
“Who would have thought that you’d showed up on my doorstep to seduce me?”
Molli and Seneca both laughed. Grant rolled his eyes. Seneca took his hand and whispered something into his ear. He grinned. Molli was afraid she was going to get to hear them having sex.
They went into the second bedroom and closed the door behind them. Tony returned a few minutes later with two blankets and a pillow. He’d removed his shirt and she had to admit that his chest was admirable again.
“You really don’t have to sleep on the couch Molli. I think I can survive another night out here. I’ve passed out out here half the time the last few days anyway, when I’ve been sleeping.”
“You really are messed up over Tory aren’t you? Just call her Tony. You’re going to drive yourself crazy if you don’t.”
“Like you’re driving yourself crazy not thinking that you’re good enough for the guy that you really want? If he doesn’t see you for the beautiful, sweet, smart girl that you are, that’s his problem.”
“You are too sweet Tony. I’ll be fine on the couch. You won’t call Tory because you’re too chicken and I’ll probably moon over Ricky until he marries Mellenda.”
“Let’s hope not. Goodnight Molli. Sweet dreams.”
“You too.”
She let herself check out his ass as he went to back to his bedroom.
When she heard the shower start, she slipped off her skirt and wondered if she could talk Grant out of his t-shirt to sleep in, but she could hear the sounds of sex from the bedroom and she didn’t want to interrupt.
She had fallen asleep watching a movie when she awoke to the sound of footsteps. She half sat up, not remembering where she was and saw a tan naked butt by the light of the refrigerator door. Tony looked at her and said “Shit. I forgot ya’ll were here.”
“It’s a good thing Seneca is asleep or you’d never stop her from coming out here.”
She heard her friend’s voice from the bedroom. “Why is it a good thing that Seneca is asleep? ‘Cause Seneca’s not asleep. What are you two doing out there?”
“Nothing.”
“Yeah right. Put your clothes back on Molli. I’m coming out there. Tony, you can keep yours off.”
“Seneca!”
Molli laughed. “Calm down Grant. Go back to sleep or back to having sex again guys, nothing is going on out here.”
She winked at Tony, who had closed the fridge. He covered his privates with one hand and headed back towards the bedroom. His ass was even nicer when it was bare she thought. She wondered if he went to a tanning bed or tanned nude since he didn’t have any tan lines.
She realized that she had to pee and uncovered herself, getting up off of the couch. She stretched and went to Tony’s bedroom, knocking lightly on the door.
“Come in.”
She opened the door. He quickly covered himself with a sheet.
“So you sleep naked huh?”
“Most of the time. Not usually while people are around though. I was too stoned to remember when I went to bed I guess.”
“I didn’t mind the show.”
“Did you come in here to try to seduce me again?”
She laughed. “I came in here because I have to pee silly. Can I borrow one of your t-shirts to sleep in?”
“Um.”
“You are so worried about Tory finding out about this aren’t you? She’ll never find out. And it’s not like anything happened.”
“You know how rumors spread around this damned town. Everybody knew I was in love with Tory before I realized I was in love with Tory.”
“Men are transparent. Women can tell the difference between love and lust in a man’s eyes. The look you have in your eyes right now-that’s lust.”
She winked at him and opened the door to the bathroom. She could hear him laughing. She was having fun flirting with him, even if nothing would ever happen between the two of them.
She used the restroom, and washed her hands. When she came back out Tony had put on a pair of drawstring pajama bottoms and was rummaging around in his dresser. He turned to her and handed her a t-shirt.
“Thank you. I’d ask if I should change in here but I don’t think you’d appreciate the gesture.”
“Um, my libido would appreciate the gesture. My brain and my heart would kick its ass though.”
She smiled. “Goodnight Tony.”
“Goodnight Molli.”
She went back out to the living room and changed her shirt and then removed her bra. She lay back down and was asleep soon after.
When she awoke the next morning she could smell food cooking. It almost instantly made her nauseous and she rushed for the bathroom. She emptied the contents of her stomach and flushed the toilet. She wasn’t sure how long she was going to be able to hide her pregnancy if morning sickness started hitting her like it just had. She’d been lucky so far because Mellenda always left their room in the mornings much earlier than she did, but the nausea had hit her so har
d this morning that she was afraid of what would happen if Mellenda left later than usual.
She could play it off for a day or two, but Mellenda wasn’t dumb. She’d been extremely lucky that she’d gotten back to their room before her roommate had and cleared Tory’s destructive path. She knew Mellenda would have insisted on reporting it. She couldn’t believe that she’d been dumb enough to leave the pregnancy test right there in the trash anyway, she had just been so excited about seeing Ricky. She sighed as she thought of Ricky. She wished she could see him this weekend instead of next.
There was a knock on the door. She sprayed some air freshener and said “Just a minute.”
“It’s me Mol. Are you okay?”
Molli opened the door. “Morning sickness. Tony didn’t happen to notice that I practically broke a speed record trying to get to his bathroom did he?”
“Both the guys did, but Grant already knows you’re knocked up.”
“Sen, do you have to tell him everything?”
“Well, yeah. We’ll tell Tony that you’re sick.”
“I can’t do that because I’m suddenly starving. I don’t want him to think that I’m going to puke all over his kitchen if I eat.”
“It’s not very fun being pregnant is it?”
“Not really. It would be if I was sure it was Ricky’s and he would dump Mellenda.”
“He’ll dump her. He’s gonna make a really good dad.” Seneca squeezed Molli’s hand.
“Thank you Sen. What’s Tony cooking?”
“Eggs, sausage, biscuits, and hash browns. He made Grant go to the store because he didn’t have any food in the house.”
“Sounds good. Nice and greasy should sit well in my stomach.”
“You’re not gonna puke again are you?”
“I’ll be fine Sen. Is there juice?”
“Yes, my man knows that I have to have orange juice in the morning. So are you gonna tell Tony that you’re pregnant or am I?”
“Do I have to tell him?”
“You brought it up.”
“I’ll tell him.”
“Okay. Let’s go. I’m starving too.”
When they got out to the kitchen, Tony gave her a concerned look. “You okay Molli?”
Before she could respond, Seneca blurted out “She’s fine. She’s pregnant.”
Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set Page 161
