Page 9 of Blake Marshall Says He Needs Me

Charlie nodded. “Cool.”

“How is she to blame for your brother dying?” Charlie continued.

“Jesus,” Wilder laughed. “Try beating around the bush a little bit, Charlie.”

Charlie shrugged and opened the box of biscuits. “We both heard what Shannon told Missy. I want to hear it from Blake.”

“Shannon told Missy what happened?” I asked. I wondered how Shannon had painted herself. Did she really tell the truth or tell them some bogus story?

Charlie and Wilder exchanged a glance.

“You guys wanted to talk about this, so we’re gonna talk. Tell me what Shannon told Missy.”

“Uh, well,” Charlie started. “She said your brother was on the way to help her, and he got hit by a drunk driver.”

I nodded. “Yeah. That is the condensed story.” In a nutshell, that was my brother’s death. “What movie are we going to watch?”

“Bro,” Charlie laughed. “That’s all we’re gonna get.”

I shrugged. “Not much else to tell.”

Wilder glanced at Charlie and shook his head. “Let it go, man.”

I settled back into the chair and took a bite of my biscuit. “What movie are we watching?”

Chapter Five

Shannon

“Alright, ladies. Tonight is all about weed lasagna, fried chicken, biscuits, and cheesy rom-coms,” Missy cheered. “I need all the girl time I can get before I push this baby out of my whoo-ha.”

I cringed and shook my head. “Can we please not call it whoo-ha?”

“Would you rather me be more clinical?” Missy laughed. “I can’t wait until I push this baby out of my vaginal cavity.”

“Oh, god!” Shelby exclaimed. “How about we just don’t talk about it at all?”

Missy caressed her tummy and flopped onto the couch. “I hope neither of you wanted to sit on the couch because this whale is occupying it all night.”

“You’re not a whale,” I insisted. “You’re growing a human life right now, Missy.”

“I’m with Shannon,” Shelby agreed. “You literally have a human being inside of you right now, Missy. If you really think about it, it’s amazing... and creepy,” she laughed.

Missy shook her head. “Don’t give me those thoughts, Shelby,” she warned. “I am peaceful and happy being an incubator for this little girl until she is ready to pop out.”

“One more week, and she’ll get an eviction notice,” I called, plopping into the recliner and set my work bag next to it.

“Why is your bag next to you?” Shelby asked.

“And what eviction notice?” Missy asked.

I popped up the footrest and leaned back in the chair. “Because I have some doctor stuff to do while we watch rom-coms and eat ourselves silly tonight,” I laughed. “It shouldn’t take me long,” I promised. “And if baby girl doesn’t

Shelby sat on the floor with her back to the couch. “I guess that’s fine since you’re a doctor.”

“Um, thank you?” I chuckled. “My patients will appreciate you letting me work during the last hurrah girl’s night.” Missy was acting like she was never going to be able to have fun after the baby was born.

She would, but it would be a different kind of fun.

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