Page 50 of Rigid

“Scared? No, I don’t think so. I’d probably just move in. I’d have nothing to lose. If it didn’t work out, I’d move out.”

“Okay. Now you’re pregnant. He asks you to move in, and you’re all flipping out over it. The difference is the baby. Act like you’re not pregnant. Move in, settle into place, and before you know it, you’ll be in love. Problem solved. But the lack of love doesn’t change a thing. He cares enough about you to take care of the baby, and not to cheat on you. You’re far better off than most women who are in love.”

As much as I hadn’t liked my friendships with girls in the past, I sure liked being friends with Lex. Being without a mother for so long, I’d forgotten how important the interaction with another girl could be. Throughout our friendship, her advice was well thought out and worthy of my consideration.

I sat up and smiled. “We can be pregnant together.”

She rubbed her belly. “We don’t have a choice.”

I relaxed into the lounge, put on my sunglasses, and gazed out at the horizon. “You’re right, we don’t.”

As I watched the waves repeatedly crash into the shore, I began to wonder if I would change things even if I could.

In no time, I decided I wouldn’t.

It was at that moment that I realized I was ready to begin my journey to fall in love with Grayson Edward Wallace.

SIXTEEN

Smokey

P-Nut and I had ridden to San Diego and were rolling along the Mission Valley Freeway in slow-moving traffic.

“Exit 3B to Friars,” I shouted.

With his helmet all but off his head, and the loose fitting strap dangling below his chin, he gave me a look through the yellow lenses of his glasses. “Where the fuck we going?”

“There’s a fucking mall there,” I shouted. “I need to get Eddie’s gift.”

He gave a nod, and within a few minutes, we got off the exit and rode to the mall. After following me into the parking garage, he looked at the various parked cars, which were all expensive imports, and then at me.

He tossed his helmet onto the concrete beside his bike and then looked up as a $250,000 Bentley Coupe passed by us.

“You sure we’re in the right place, Brother?”

I nodded. “We’re going to Tiffany & Company. I need to get Eddie a ring.”

He spit out a laugh and raised his leg over his seat. “Oh, hell yes. I’m gonna like this.”

“You need to behave,” I warned.

He straightened his kutte. “If there’s a hot bitch in there, I’m gonna try and fuck her.”

I climbed off my bike. “Damn it, Nut. Just. Just try and act accordingly.”

He flashed a cheesy grin. “Always do.”

We sauntered toward a plexiglass enclosed map that was on display in the courtyard, and studied it.

“Right around the corner.” He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “By Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus. Yeah, this’ll be fun.”

“C’mon, Romeo,” I said with a roll of my eyes.

Dressed in jeans, boots, and our kuttes, we walked to the store amidst several stares and a few dropped jaws. Upon reaching it, I turned toward P-Nut.

“I meant what I said.”

“Best behavior.” He gave a nod. “But I’m on the prowl.”