“You girls be careful,” she calls out, and I look back just in time to watch her plant a big kiss on his lips. The same mouth that feeds me such beautiful lies. I want to ask her how my pussy tastes considering her husband loves it so much, but I refrain.
My only consolation is seeing him tense and pulling away from her, but it changes nothing. She’s still his wife, and I’m on the outside looking in. No matter what he says I’m all alone.
On the way to my apartment I keep trying to figure out an excuse to get out of going to this party and come up with none. Not any that Rochelle would buy or accept without pitching a shit fit, and I can’t blame her. I’ve been a bad friend lately. No friend at all. I hate all the lying. I hate not being able to share how much I love her father. That she’s going to have a sibling. That we’re connected for life.
I go through the motions. Nod when I think I should as Rochelle chatters about Tanner and how I should give him a chance while I get dressed, careful to keep my back to her.
“Maybe,” I lie. “I guess he’s okay.”
“Okay? The guy runs track. He’s hot.”
“You’re right. I’ll talk to him, okay?”
Rochelle frowns at me. “I don’t know what’s with you, but you gotta relax.” She takes a swig from her bottle of Strawberry Hill. She’s been drinking it since we pulled out of her driveway.
“I think I’m still not over that stomach bug.”
“Oh no. You aren’t canceling.”
“I didn’t say I was.” I slip my black ballerina style flats on, turning to face her hoping the swell of my stomach isn’t all that noticeable.
“Have a drink of this.”
“No thanks.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want to.” I leave her in my bedroom and hope she’ll drop it. “What time does this party start anyway?” I look to Colter and he shrugs.
“You’re pregnant?” Rochelle gapes at me, eyes on my protruding stomach.
“What?”
Her gaze widens. “You won’t drink. You’re gaining weight in your belly. You were sick but only in the mornings. Oh. My God. Alexa.” She grabs my bottle of vitamins I forgot were on the counter and rattles the contents.
“Ro, drop it. Please.”
“Admit it.”
“What?”
“Say it. You’re pregnant.”
“It’s good for my hair and nails is all.”
“Don’t lie to me. You’ve been doing a lot of that lately.” She throws the bottle and the cap falls off. My pills scatter across the tile of the kitchen floor.
“Don’t be like that. You’re a hateful drunk.” I bend to start picking up the vitamins.
“At least I’m not a liar.” She towers over me, venom dripping from her.
I peer up at her with tears streaming down my cheeks. “Yes. Fine. Okay. You caught me. I’m pregnant. My life is a mess. I’m barely holding it together. Are you happy now?”
“Who’s the father?”
“Please don’t ask me that. I don’t want to talk about this right now.” I wipe at my cheeks and stand to face her, abandoning the mess for later.
“Why is this guy you’re seeing such a secret? How old is he, Alexa?”
I look to Colter hoping he’ll I don’t know help me in some way. “I can’t tell you.”
“Oh my God. Is it...is it Colter?”
“No. No way. I’d never do that to you, and he wouldn’t either.”
“Is this why you two whisper behind my back? We’re supposed to be best friends. Best friends don’t keep secrets like this unless they have something to hide.”
“Babe. You know how I feel about you.” Colter goes to hug her, and she takes a step back. “Don’t shut me out, Ro. Alexa, you better tell her the truth right now or I will,” he threatens.
“So you know. You know who Alexa has been seeing for months, but me her best friend. I don’t get to know. Screw you both.” She grabs Colter’s keys off the counter and stomps toward the door while we chase after her. She enters the driver’s side, and Colter hops in the passenger seat. The car starts, and I can’t bear the thought of her mad at me. I can’t let her think that Colter and I ever would go behind her back. I slide into the backseat as she peels out of the driveway then slams on the brakes. “Both of you get out.”
“You don’t even have your license. Just a permit. Trade me places. My dad will kill me if he finds out you were driving my car,” Colter begs her. Rochelle hits the gas and swerves to miss a car parked on the side street.
“Rochelle,” I scream. “Okay. I’ll tell you. Just please stop the car.”
For some reason she speeds up.
“Rochelle. Stop the car.” I go for my seat belt, and Colter tries to reason with her. “You’re not thinking clearly, and you’ve been drinking. Don’t drive mad.”
“You’re both liars,” she screams.
“Colter hasn’t lied to you. He’s not to blame in this. Be mad at me. I’m the one keeping secrets and lying to everyone. I lie to you. Your mom.” I can’t hold back my fat tears as they roll down my cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
“My mom?”
“Ro, please stop the car.”
“Tell me his name. Right now.”
“James.” Her gaze meets mine through the rearview mirror. Time freezes in place.
“James who?” she whispers.
I suck in a deep breath. “I think you know.”
“Ro, look out,” Colter screams, going for the steering wheel. It all happens so fast and yet so slow. Metal clinks. Glass shatters. The seat belt I’m wearing jerks me back in the seat. The car skids across the road. I knock my head against the back-passenger window as the vehicle rolls three or four times down an embankment, I’ve lost count.
I’m shaken, but I think I’ll be okay. My head throbs, and I can’t think clearly. “Ro,
