on the basketball team, and had actually married the star player. They had two kids, and Frankie was now the owner of the local gas station/convenience store.
“I’m not pregnant,” Alana said.
“Sure, you’re not.” Danielle gave her a big wink. “If you weren’t, you’d have taken a year to plan the biggest wedding in the whole state of Texas. You can’t fool us, but we’ll play along.”
“But only after you tell us when the baby is due,” Melissa giggled.
“In about two years,” Alana whispered. “I’m really not pregnant.”
“Bullshit!” Rachel Freeman, who’d been Alana’s nemesis in high school, pushed her way through the crowd. “I’ve had my eye on Paxton for three years and was about ready to close the deal. I even learned how to drive a tractor so I could impress him. The only way he would have chosen a big old horse of a woman like you over this”—she swept her hands down over her body—“is if you tricked him with pregnancy.”
Rachel had been a thorn in Alana’s side since they’d been in junior high school. Alana’s dad had told her that the girl had a severe jealousy issue, and he was so right. His advice was for Alana to ignore the girl and eventually karma would catch up to her. But Rachel’s bullying had gone beyond jealousy. She’d told ugly tales about Alana, and then denied saying a word when confronted. She’d tried bronc riding and failed at that, then she’d raised a steer for the county fair and come in behind both Pax and Alana. The days of being able to ignore Rachel came to an end that very evening.
“Like I said, I’m not pregnant.” Alana fought the urge to cross her fingers behind her back. “I don’t have to catch a man—or even three—that way.”
The woman had recently divorced her third husband and had claimed that she was pregnant all three times, but then after the wedding, she suddenly “had a miscarriage.”
Rachel’s hands knotted into fists. “What did you say to me?”
“You heard me,” Alana said with a sweet smile on her face.
Bridget, bless her heart, must’ve overheard or maybe read the expressions of the women around Alana, because she chose that moment to make her way through the maze to hand Alana a glass of what looked like wine. “Hello, all. I’m Bridget, Maverick Callahan’s wife. Alana is going to be my new sister-in-law in a few weeks. Pax tells me that he’s been in love with her since they were barely knee-high to a grasshopper, but it’s only been recently that she’d agree to go out with him. Have you seen her gorgeous ring?”
“So you’re the Irish woman who had Maverick’s baby,” Rachel said. “I got to admit, y’all both”—her eyes shifted from Alana over to Bridget—“were smarter than we were.”
“Come on, Rachel.” Melissa took her by the arm. “I see two empty barstools, and I do believe that Billy Ray is making eyes at you. Let’s go let him buy us a drink.”
Rachel wobbled slightly on the three-inch spike-heeled shoes that she wore with her skintight designer jeans. “Poor old Billy Ray has been in love with me his whole life. Maybe I need a younger man in my life. I believe I’ll make him a happy man tonight.”
“Sorry about that,” Danielle said. “Rachel never has been able to hold her liquor, and we all know that she’s been jealous of you for years.”
“I wish I knew why,” Alana said.
Danielle smiled. “Because she had her eyes set on Paxton all these years. She even flirted with him every chance she got when she was married.”
“But Pax and I didn’t even start dating until this year,” Alana said.
“You sure hid it well when you did.”
“Poor Rachel,” Bridget said. “She was married three times, and all the time wanted to be with someone else. That must’ve been miserable.”
“She’s definitely got some problems that would probably make a therapist pull out his hair.” Danielle lowered her voice. “I don’t think Rachel likes who she is, but we won’t let her ruin our night. I’m going to go get another glass of wine. Can I bring you something?”
“We’re good,” Alana said.
Danielle nodded. “Great seeing you, Alana, and meeting you, Bridget. I’ll see you both at the shower.”
Bridget and Alana disappeared into the crowd. Bridget wiped her brow in mock fear and smiled up at Alana. “Thought for sure there we were goin’ to have to go all superhero on that woman.”