Page 15 of The Jackpot Screwer
Watching another couple be all in love and shit was not what I’d call a good night out. My heart felt heavy and aside from the baby in my tummy, it felt kind of empty – pretty much like the rest of me. I missed Carter and just wanted to be at home wallowing in my sadness.
Alaska and Jennifer were good friends though, and not turning up would’ve been just rude. Hence, why I was sitting at a high table in Stars & Stripes with a glass of coke looking like the cheese had fallen off my cracker.
“Your mom and dad are going to notice if you don’t smile.” Ellie nudged me with her elbow as her mouth chased after the straw in her drink. “I’m guessing you still haven’t told them.”
“Nope.” I kept my gaze fixed firmly ahead. “It’s not the right time.”
I could feel Ellie’s eyes on me and knew she was staring me down. Well, that game didn’t work unless you were both looking at each other, so that spoiled her fun.
“When will that be?” she finally asked. “When you’re pushing a stroller around? Or when your mom wants to know why you can’t fit into those tiny denim shorts that you always insist on wearing on Saturdays whatever the weather?”
“Do not,” I bit out. “I only wear them during the summer.”
“Bullshit.” Ellie put her glass down on the table, if a little forcefully. “You wore them to the Christmas Fete and your legs were almost as blue as your hair is now.”
“Ellie,” I sighed. “You’re getting on my last nerve. Where the hell is your boyfriend to take you away from me so he can fuck you around the back somewhere?”
“He and his dad are talking to Jason Miller. And just so you know, we would not ‘fuck around the back somewhere’ at someone else’s engagement party.”
I snorted because I truly doubted that. They were damn insatiable for each other.
“Where’s your boyfriend, anyway?”
My head snapped around to face Ellie. “Well, that’s just plain nasty,” I replied, giving her the stink eye.
She laughed and pulled me into her side for a hug. “Got you to actually look at me though, didn’t I?”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “I guess. Where is your brother anyway?”
Ellie shrugged. “No idea. He is coming though because he bought himself a new shirt especially for the occasion.”
“That man has more shirts than there are days in a year, I’m sure of it.” The idea of Carter’s shirts made me smile. He kept them in color order in his closet and never wore the same one twice in one month.
“Seriously though,” Ellie ventured. “When are you going to tell your mom and dad?”
A pain thudded in my temples and I wished that I could just run and hide for the next seven months. My pregnancy wasn’t something I wanted to face with my mom and dad. Once I did it would be real and just another problem to add to their worries.
“I have no idea,” I replied. “They’re going to counselling and have enough shit to deal with.”
Ellie opened her mouth and took a deep breath, no doubt ready to give me another of her pearls of wisdom, but I cut her off.
“I know that you think they’ll be great about it and welcome a grandchild, but I can’t be sure about that, El. As much as my mom will probably be as happy as a hog in mud about a grandbaby, it’s hardly what she would have wanted for me; twenty-four and unmarried with a bun in the oven. Carter may also find himself on my dad’s shit list.”
Ellie nodded and exhaled. “You know best and I’m sorry I keep trying to tell you what to do. It’s your decision.”
She pulled me in for a hug and squeezed me tight and I felt my body finally relax.
“Thank you,” I whispered, looking over her shoulder and seeing Carter walking toward us. “Oh shit, your brother looks hot.”
Ellie let me go and turned. “Well, if you like that kind of thing.”
“I really do,” I groaned.
Moving purposefully toward us, Carter looked so damn yummy I was pretty sure there was drool on my chin. He was wearing grey dress pants and a purple dress shirt which clung to his muscular arms and chest. It was tucked into the pants and showed off his narrow waist and slim hips to perfection. Even his hair looked hot, swept back with a piece hanging sexily in front of his hazel eyes.
“Ladies.” He kissed us both on the cheek. “Looking lovely.”
Ellie frowned and felt Carter’s forehead. “You ill or high?”
