Page 23 of Piston

I give everyone a sheepish smile, and they all laugh again as Piston carefully puts a spoonful of peas on my plate, for which I’m grateful.

I have got to be the clumsiest person in the state.

“So, Piston, Nat, when will I get some great grandbabies?” Meredith asks once everyone calms down, just Piston takes a sip of his drink. He coughs, choking on it, and I silently groan.

I fricking knew it.

Maybe I should have dropped the whole bowl….

I feel Piston tense beside me, and I give Meredith a small smile, knowing I can’t divert the question. Holly and Meredith look at me expectantly, while the men wait for my answer.

I really wish Steal was here right now; he’d deal with them for me.

Clearing my throat, I admit, “I’m sorry, Meredith, but great grandbabies are not in the cards from me. You’ll have to wait until Acid meets someone or finally grows some balls and asks Perrie out.”

She furrows her white eyebrows, unease etching her gray eyes. Ignoring my jab at Acid, and she asks, “What do you mean, sweetheart?”

I swallow hard and look down, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone. I look at the date tattooed on my wrist, and admit, “I…uh, I don’t want kids.”

Everyone is silent, and I look up to see them all looking at me in shock while Holly tilts her head knowingly.

She’s the only person at this table aware of my childhood.

I never had a good role model, and being a mom…. I’d fail at it; I know I would. It’s why I panicked when I saw the positive pregnancy test, and then I felt so guilty because I wished it was negative, and to this day, I still feel guilty, like it was my fault I lost it. The truth is, I don’t know if it was Piston’s father slamming me into the car, or something else.

I had a bruise all on the right side of my back for weeks.

Holly senses my unease and clears her throat, changing the subject but unfortunately not diverting the attention from me.“So Nat. I-I feel like we-we haven’t s-s-spoke for-for a-a while. H-How’s C-Cora’s?”

I give her another tight smile, and she frowns in confusion until I state, “I don’t work at Cora’s anymore.”

I side-eye Piston, who’s now glaring at me as Acid asks, “So you're working full time at the other diner then?”

I narrow my eyes at Acid, who just raises a brow.

I get it. He wants to know if I’m living off his brother’s money, but he's trying to ask in a subtle way so I don’t kick him in the crown jewels.

Jackass.

Making eye contact with him, I admit, “No, actually, I quit the diner last month.”

He raises a brow, “Is that so?”

I tilt my head and smile sweetly, admitting, “Yep, and I quit Cora’s then as well.”

His brow hits his hairline, shocked, while Meredith asks, “So you’re staying at home now, then? Which means a baby could be possible, right?”

I give the old woman a sad smile, really wishing they’d move their attention elsewhere. “I finally got a teaching job.”

Their eyes widen, and Canine says, “That’s great, Nat. Which school decided to take on your clumsy ass?”

I give him a mock glare, and he grins before I reply, “Meadows Elementary hired me last month. I teach English first andsecond periods, then I teach art the rest of the day—and I’m not that clumsy, I only walked into their glass door twice!”

He grins, eyeing all the peas still splayed on the table. I stick my tongue out at him.

“Y-You get-get the b-best of-of both,” Holly stammers, and I grin her way, nodding.

I feel Piston place his hand on my knee, and he squeezes, getting my attention.

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