Page 34 of Shameless

Jules

Waking up back where I started after my divorce is almost surreal and maybe I should take it as a sign.

The Country Club accommodation was supposed to be temporary anyway, so giving it up to Tiffany wasn’t too much of a sacrifice.

There’s also the added bonus that I’m closer to Lula here and she’s the first thought that crosses my mind the second I wake up. It’s been this way longer than I care to admit, even in the three years she was in New York and wasn’t allowed to come to Star Cove for the summer.

My second thought is my ex-wife Jasmine and that’s way less welcome than Lula.

A knock on my door pulls me out of my reveries and I groan, running a weary hand over my face.

I reluctantly get out of bed, grabbing a pair of athletic shorts on my way to the door.

As if summoned by my own thoughts one second ago, my ex-wife is standing on my doorstep.

Fuck, I would have preferred Lula.

“Is it true?” she asks.

I run a hand through my hair this time, barely stifling a yawn. “Good morning to you too, Jaz.” I can’t contain the eye roll at her lack of manners.

“Cut the shit, Jules,” she glares. “Is it true?”

Jasmine crosses her thin arms over her chest. Her small breasts look way bigger than usual and for a second I wonder if she finally got the boob job she kept asking for when we were married.

Then I remember that she’s pregnant and that makes sense. When she was pregnant with Jenna, she used to complain about everything. The only thing that made her happy was that she “finally had tits” to say it with her own words.

She looks good, her long black hair slung on one shoulder in a shiny, silky curtain, a tight, dark red dress that clings to her slim frame. The only difference from her usual appearance is the tiny baby bump that curves her stomach. The bump is so small that to anyone who doesn’t know about her pregnancy, it would look like she has a little extra weight on her belly.

“I’m waiting, Jules.” She glares. “Is it true or not?”

My sleep riddled mind struggles to catch up with whatever it is she wants and I default to sarcasm. “That depends on what’s the question. Is it true that California is on a major tectonic plate? Yes. Did we land on the moon over fifty years ago? Also, yes.”

In retrospect, I should know that she hates my sarcastic streak and maybe I should have asked her to elaborate rather than antagonize her from the get go. But that’s what she gets for showing to my place unannounced at the crack of dawn.

“Is it true that your father got shot? With Trevor? And some girl?”

Ah, that.

I don’t look her in the eye. “Where did you hear that?”

Jasmine might not be the smartest person I know, but she’s quick witted. Especially when it comes to non verbal cues. “Then it’s true. It’s all over the internet and I saw a news network helicopter and several vans by the marina.”

Great.

Attention from the media will only make everything worse.

“They call it the Twinberry Murders. I read it was really gruesome. Did you see it?”

I grumble, unhappy with her line of questioning. “Yeah. Let’s not do this, Jaz. Is there any other way I can help you?”

My tone must finally register and her dark brown eyes narrow. “If that’s true, I’m here to let you know that if you think you’re seeing Jenna before I get my money, you’re out of your fucking mind. With your father gone, what happens to your racing career and to the money?”

Fuck.

“You got the first installment I promised you, didn’t you?” I bite out.

“That wasbeforethe murders. Our agreement is clear, Jules. If you don’t pay, I have no reason to honor my part of the deal.”

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