Page 79 of Together

We take our seats at the table and an awkward silence surrounds us. I sit quietly, absorbing Grace’s snotty comments about Nik. What was that about? The way she called him blue-collar was clearly an insult. I’ve never known Grace to think less of anyone no matter their employment.

“What’s going on here?” Lucy asks, pointing between us. It’s not surprising that she’d notice the tension. We didn’t even greet her or give her a hug, we just sat down. “Neither of you even said hi to me and Ashley looks like she just sucked on a lemon.”

Ignoring Lucy, I focus my attention on miss high and mighty herself. “You know that Nik owns his company, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You called him blue-collar earlier, like that was such a bad thing. He loves being an electrician. Who cares if he wouldn’t be caught dead sitting behind a desk for a living, why is that reason to insult him?”

Grace rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t insulting him, Ashley. You’re just being sensitive.”

She opens her menu, brushing me off.

“You were, too, and I am not.”

Lucy hits the table to gain our attention. “Guys. What’s going on?”

“Ask Grace. She’s the one who’s been a snobby bitch since we got here.”

“Now who’s being insulting?” Grace snaps. “I wasn’t saying anything that wasn’t true.”

“You called Nik my “little blue-collar boyfriend” after making fun of me saying the word whatever.”

“Whatever is a childish word.”

“Whatever!” I emphasize the word by throwing my hands in the air.

Lucy looks at Grace with wide eyes. “Did you really say that?”

“Is it a lie?”

“Sometimes it’s in the tone you use, Grace. Don’t try to get by with technicalities. Besides, Nik is hardly little and he’s not even her boyfriend.”

“Exactly! She’s having a baby with someone she’s not even romantically attached to!”

“I’m right here, you know.”

Lucy gives Grace a hard look. “And that’s her choice, right? We’ve talked about this. Ashley knows what she’s getting herself into. She’s a big girl.”

“I’m sorry, but… what do you mean by ‘we’ve talked about this’?”

Apparently ignoring each other is the game we’re playing today because Grace replies to Lucy as if I hadn’t asked a question.

“Yes, she’s a big girl but that doesn’t mean she’s ready for this. Nik’s certainly not ready.”

“Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He drives a pickup truck, Ashley.”

She didn’t seriously just say what I think she said, did she? “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I repeat because I am too stunned to say anything else. “Grace, you’re starting to let your snobbery show. Besides, what’s wrong with Nik driving a truck? If the truck were made by Mercedes, would that make a difference in your opinion?”

She flips her hair over her shoulder and sits up straight, placing her napkin on her lap. Our waitress must sense the turmoil at the table because no one has stopped over yet. “He’s rough around the edges, and you both know it. He’s not fit to be a father and if you think he is, you’re just as dumb as he is and maybe you’re not fit, either. Who someone decides to have a baby with says a lot about them, you know. I’m doing you a favor, telling you this now before it’s too late.”

I blanch at her comments. She didn’t seriously just say that. By the look on Lucy’s face, she can’t believe it either.

“I have no words for you right now.”

She shrugs but other than that simple movement, she doesn’t show any reaction to the fact that she just shoved a knife right in my heart. My own sister is telling me that I’m not going to be a good mother. That’s what she’s saying. My mouth opens, closes, and opens again but nothing comes out.

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