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“Yeah, that’s what Mom use to say,” she replied with a sad smile on her face.
I pulled into the driveway of her three-story home. It was massive for just one person, but she’d explained she bought it with her future family in mind. The thought of my living here and having a family with her, however, wasn’t appealing. I liked my farmhouse and land. But if I listed out the pros and cons of settling down with her, the pros side would win.
“I’d invite you inside, but, well, she’s in there. Probably eating all my food and lying in the living room, watching television like she owns the place.”
I should feel disappointment that there would be no sex with her tonight, but I was more relieved than anything. I leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips. She smelled expensive, and I liked that. Her lips were a little hard from the filler she’d just had injected into them, but her minty breath was nice.
“Good night,” I said as I ended the kiss.
“Good night, Liam. Thanks for tonight.”
I nodded my head. “My pleasure.”
I waited until she made it to the door. I should have probably walked her to it, but I wasn’t thinking. I’d been ready for her to get out so I could go home and enjoy a quiet evening on my front porch with Ozzy—my Great Dane—and a beer.
4
Liberty
Shawn glanced down at my chest, then cleared his throat. I tugged at the Abernathy’s tank top that was part of our work uniform, feeling self-conscious. I knew what he was thinking. I’d noticed it, too, in the mirror when I got dressed earlier today. My boobs were bigger. I hadn’t known that happened with pregnancy. There was a lot I didn’t know. I needed to see a doctor, and as soon as my Medicaid was approved, I would.
“You, uh,” he said, running his hand through his wavy brown hair, “look good tonight, Lib.”
I had to see if I could get a bigger-sized tank top.
“Thanks,” I replied tightly.
He was a complete man-whore. When he had first started working here, he asked me out regularly. Even though he knew I had a boyfriend. Eventually he stopped and we’d found a comfortable working relationship. Then, when he found out we broke up, it resumed. I had finally gotten to a place where I didn’t dread seeing him, and now, I had to deal with his propositions all over again.
“Looks like sorority girls just sat down there. Your favorite,” I told him. “You take that end. I’ll stay on this end.”
He glanced down there, then back at me. “Was that a jab?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Not at all. Just pointing out the obvious.”
He took a step toward me and glanced back at my chest again. “If you gave me a chance, Lib, I could change your mind about me.”
Yeah, well, buddy, I am three years older than you and pregnant. Not happening.
I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. “Go see what the sorority girls want to drink.”
He sighed and gave me one last look before he left me to deal with the customers we already had. I finished refilling two of their drinks and was about to go get a case of beer when Virginia walked in from the back office. I wanted to groan in frustration. She always sent me home when there were two of us on a night like this. Which sucked because I needed the money.
Her husband, Tom Abernathy—whose father had opened the bar fifty years ago—would not send me home. If he were here and anyone was leaving, it would be Shawn. I was the harder worker. But Virginia liked Shawn’s looks even though she was thirty years older than he was.
“Liberty, you can go. Tonight is going to be slow.”
I started to beg her to let me stay, but her eyes dropped to my chest, and I changed my mind. I didn’t want her asking questions about my overflowing cleavage. The last thing I needed was for her to know I was pregnant. I knew they couldn’t legally fire me for being pregnant, but I had worked here long enough to know Virginia could find loopholes when she wanted something. She could cut my hours drastically or put me in the back, doing something that I didn’t get tips from. They liked their servers and bartenders to be young and attractive. She would have my pay cut until I had to quit.
“Okay,” I replied, quickly turning away from her and handling the customers I had left before going to get my purse.
Two of our regulars closed their tabs and tipped me. I wiped down the area and went to let Shawn know I was being sent home. He groaned and bitched about him not getting to leave. I thought about asking him to tell Virginia he wanted to switch, but then I thought about my boobs and changed my mind.
She was busy talking to one of the servers when I went and grabbed my purse and headed for the door.
It was already dark on my walk to the bus stop. The two-mile trek wasn’t convenient, but for now, it was all I had. Spending money on an Uber every time I went to and from work would eat into my savings. After one week at Sissy’s, I knew I had to save quickly and get out fast. If she let me stay a month it would be a miracle. It was clear she was already changing her mind.
The bus ride took thirty minutes when a car ride would have been more like ten. My eyes felt heavy by the time it stopped and I got out. Thankfully, the walk to her house was just under a mile. I made my way down the sidewalk and fought against the sudden fatigue. I’d been dealing with that lately too. Exhaustion coming out of nowhere.
