Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,124

back and the waitress is there as soon as we sit, so we go ahead and order. We have the menu memorized.

“You know they would love to. Hell, Mom keeps telling me I need to settle down and give her some grandkids. She’s going to go nuts over your baby, man.”

“True. I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

“Kinley too. Women just have a knack for that shit. She wouldn’t have offered if she didn’t want to help. She’s slow right now while she gets her studio ready. I say take her up on it.”

The waitress brings our food, and just as I’m about to bite into my cheeseburger, the diner door opens and in walks Misty with Tom fucking Harris. He’s bad fucking news and everyone knows that, including Misty. “Motherfucker!” I say, placing my cheeseburger back on the plate, my appetite suddenly gone.

Aaron looks over his shoulder to follow my stare. “Shit, what’s she doing with that jackass?”

“I have no fucking clue.” I close my eyes, willing them to be a figment of my imagination. I count slowly to ten and then open them---no such luck. Misty and Tom are being seated in a booth on the opposite side of the diner. She sits first and instead of sitting across from her, Tom slides in next to her, throwing his arm around her shoulders.

“Fuck, man, she needs to keep better company.”

No shit! “Yeah, when she’s carrying my baby she damn well needs to. I better not find out her ass is taking anything,” I seethe.

“Is she trying to make you jealous?” Aaron asks.

I shake my head. “No, not once since she told me she was pregnant has she indicated she wants us to be together. I offered, man. She turned me down cold.”

Aaron studies me, trying to see if her rejection bothers me.

It doesn’t.

He’s not going to find any remorse in me for her, only my unborn child she’s carrying. There’s a fucking cigarette behind his ear. She does not need to be around that shit. Without thinking, I’m standing and striding toward them. I reach their booth and Misty’s eyes lock on mine.

“Evan,” she greets me. She’s not being mean or hateful. She greets me as if I’m just some guy she knows.

Indifferent.

“Misty,” I repeat the gesture. I’m trying hard not to lose my shit over her choice of company. I decide to make small talk. Maybe Tom doesn’t know about the baby. “When’s your next appointment? I forgot to ask you earlier.”

Nothing. No change in expression. “I haven’t set it up yet. I’ll text you.”

Tom pulls the unlit cigarette from behind his ear and places it in his mouth. He lets it hang there unlit. “That’s not good for the baby.” I don’t bother to elaborate. I know she knows what I’m talking about.

“It’s not lit,” she replies.

“You can’t smoke around her,” I tell Tom.

He laughs. “Like I’m going to listen to you.”

Placing my hand on the table, I lean down, nose to nose with him. “You will. You see, Tom, Misty here is carrying my baby. Just a few short hours ago, she signed over all rights to me. In that same agreement, she signed she would not put herself in harm’s way, in turn not putting my unborn child in a harmful situation.” I stand back to my full height.

Misty continues to sit there unaffected.

Tom turns to her. “You carrying his kid?” he asks.

What a fucking tool.

“Yeah.”

“He telling the truth? You sign those papers?”

“I did. I didn’t read them. I skimmed to make sure the baby would be his full responsibility and signed.”

Done with this conversation, I reach over and snatch the cigarette out of his mouth. I crush it in my hands, then dust them off on the table. I know there are more where that came from, but I want to get my point across.

“See that you follow the contract. I would hate for you to be in contempt.” I stalk back to Aaron, slide in the booth, and pick up my now cold burger. I have to choke it down.

Aaron motions for the check as I make quick work of my food. He pays the bill and we leave. I feel sick at the thought of what types of situations she’s getting herself into.

Chapter 6

McKinley

I’ve spent the last six weeks working on my studio. I painted each of the four walls a different color. I’ve been picking up props at flea markets and clearance sales. It’s all really starting