Page 18 of Confined Space

"Oh, he knows I was pregnant. He told me to abort it. Then he said he wasn't going to pay anything, and if I told anyone he was the father, he would make me sorry." She jolts and steps back. "Never mind." She walks out of the room, and I follow her. Her perfect heart-shaped ass swings as she walks ahead of me down the hall. She enters a bedroom. I see a queen-size bed and then a playpen thing. There is a section folded over it that is like a little changing table. I watch her as she changes not only Archer’s diaper but his clothes into a soft white-and-gray sleeper with little sheep on it. She picks him up again.

"What's your schedule this weekend?"

"I'm off until Monday night. But I don't have a babysitter." She bites the corner of her mouth, and I move across the room toward her.

"I have a baseball game tomorrow at six in the evening. Would you like to come watch? You can bring Archer. My mom will be there to help you with him. Please say yes. It’s only a game. I can pick you both up or have my mom pick you up.”

She continues to bite her lip. The moment I see she's about to deny me, I step into her space and lift her chin. Archer grabs a hold of my shirt, and I reach down to cradle his bottom in my arm. I want her to rest her arm, and I know this is the only way she'll do it.

"I can see you coming up with an excuse to say no. How about you say yes and let my mom spend some time with Archer?" Using my mom and the baby against her is underhanded, but I'm willing to play dirty.

"Okay, but I have an appointment at two. You can pick me up here at, say, five thirty. But this isn't a date. I'm going to spend time with your mom." She cocks her head to the side. Her eyes are bright and her plump lips are quirked up. Oh, she thinks she's got me, but I have her because I'm going to be spending time with her.

"You're on. I'll be here at five." I want every minute I can get with her.

"Fine." She huffs, and I pull away from her, pulling Archer with me and carrying him out to the living room. He fits perfectly in my arms. I'm not nervous at all about holding him. He looks up at me and coos.

I lay him down in his bassinet and make my way to the door, where she follows me. Leaning in, I give her a quick kiss, wanting more but knowing she won't let me.

"Sweet dreams," I say as I step out the door.

"Thank you, Rowdy." My name on her lips makes my chest puff out.

"Lock up."

"I will. Bye." She closes the door, and I hear the locks engage. I step away and see the curtain to Georgia’s apartment fall back into place. My mom will be getting a phone call. I chuckle as I head to my truck and then my mom's place for dinner.

Chapter Six

CORAL

I wake up early the next morning, wishing I'd gotten Rowdy's phone number so I could cancel. If I get this job, they could want me to start right away. I won’t be able to go out with him tonight. Ugh. When he kissed me or was close by, my brain was in a fog. I dreamt about him all night long, and now I’m worried that trusting him could be too much for me.

I try to do some relaxing yoga, but it's difficult with my arm. So I take a long shower instead while Archer is asleep. Afterward, I do my hair and makeup. I flatten my hair around my shoulders, adding a soft curl at the bottom. My bangs are so long. I really need this job, then maybe I can get a trim on top of things for Archer. My money is running out fast, and without getting the deposits from my trust, I’ll be in danger soon of being broke.

As the day progresses, I'm more frustrated and really need to cancel going with Rowdy tonight. I’m not in the right headspace with everything going on. My grandmother's attorney is on vacation for three more weeks, so I can't find out what's going on with my inheritance and why I didn't get the monthly deposit.

Because this is an interview with a local country western bar, I don't dress in slacks but my best pair of shredded jeans, a soft gray V-neck T-shirt that matches my eyes, and my gray peep-toe boots. I'm hoping they won't have a problem with me working with my brace. The hospital doesn't mind, and I know I can waitress.

At promptly one thirty, Georgia knocks on my door. She looks at me and chuckles when I swing it open.

"Kids these days don't know what dressing to impress is." She’s in a pair of tan chino pants rolled at the cuff and a white blouse. I can’t help but chuckle as I look down at myself.

"What? This is perfect for an interview where I'm going." I've been avoiding telling her it's at a bar. I have Fridays and Saturdays off, so it's the perfect second job.

"Where is that again?" She moves past me but stops and turns to look back at me. I feel like I’m being interrogated. She tips her chin down as her eyes bore into mine.

"I'll let you know when I get it. I don't want to jinx it." I turn away from her. My hands tremble slightly. I double-check on Archer to cover my nerves.

"Okay. Do you want to take my car so you're not rushing?"

I love that she offered, but I don’t want her to come back later and hold it over my head like others have done before.

"No, I'm okay." I sling my backpack over my shoulder. "He's all fed, but just in case, there are a couple of packets of pumped milk in the fridge. He's napping now."

"I've got this. Go kill the job interview."

I laugh and head out for the bus stop.

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