Page 47 of Spike's Perdition
“I do not,” I pout, taking the napkin anyway.
“Yes, you do,” Eric agrees, opening his container. “You look like a starved little puppy that hasn’t eaten all day.”
Megan laughs, and I scowl at both of them. This is what I needed tonight. A distraction from the shitshow that has become my life. I still don’t know how I got myself into this situation.
You decided to be wild and have a one-night stand with a sexy biker.
After a few bites, the pasta settles like a lead balloon in the pit of my stomach. I move the food around in the container but can’t take another bite, so I push away from the table and go into the kitchen. I grab a bottle of wine, a couple of glasses, and a ginger ale.
The fork Megan’s holding hovers in front of her mouth when she sees what I’m doing. “Uh oh, what happened?”
“Nothing,” I dismiss, uncorking the wine.
“Bullshit, heifer,” Eric scolds. “Don’t think we didn’t notice that you only took a few bites before you stopped eating.”
“You sounded off when you called me earlier asking me to come over,” Megan adds. “Why do you think I asked Eric to come over too?”
“I figured Eric wanted to see me and the basketball I’m growing.” I hand them each a glass of wine before settling back in my chair with my ginger ale.
Eric shakes his head. “You know I’m always up for seeing my girlies. And by the way, you’re rocking the shit out of the ‘bun in the oven’ look.”
I spit my drink across the table. “Are you serious right now? Bun in the oven?”
“It’s better than harboring a future fugitive.” Eric holds up his hands in surrender when Megan glares at him. “What? Too soon?”
I laugh humorlessly. “You’re not too far off.” Tears well in my eyes, and I don’t even try to fight them.
“Whoa, Ivory. I-I-I’m sorry,” Eric stammers. “I was joking. I didn’t mean anything by it. You know my big mouth can’t help what comes out of it.” Megan opens her mouth to speak, but Eric cuts her off. “I heard it when I said it, heifer.”
A giggle escapes before I can stop myself. Hormones are a bitch, I don’t care what anyone says.
“I’m okay.” I sigh. “My emotions are all over the place. I’m sorry for overreacting.”
“No, I was a dick,” Eric says. “I’m sorry. Forgive me?”
He drops to one knee and presents me with a giant chunk of garlic bread.
“My hero!” I yell and snatch the carby goodness from him.
He stands and side hugs me before returning to his chair.
“How’d your appointment with Dr. Wilde go?” Megan asks casually.
Chills wrack my body as the memory from today’s conversation about the baby slams into me. For a brief moment, I let myself forget.
How could I do that? What kind of mother am I going to be?
Eric grabs my hand and squeezes. “The best damn mother ever.”
“Did I say that out loud?” I ask, and they both nod. “Great, I can’t even keep my thoughts in my head.”
“Ivory, what’s going on?” Megan furrows her brows.
I spill my guts and tell them everything that’s going on with the baby.
“You know me and Megan will be there for anything you need,” Eric assures. “You won’t be alone, and I’m sure the baby will be fine.”
“It’s a boy,” I purr.
