Page 49 of Absolute Valor

“Doesn’t it bother you? Having to look at her and know she was with him first?”

“No, not really.” She shrugged her shoulders as Lainie joined us. “We all have skeletons in our closets. It’s healthy to take them out every once in awhile, shake the dust off and put them back..”

“Claire is right. You can let them hover over your relationship or you can remind them they’ve been asked to leave.”

“Congratulations, Claire. It’s some feet to have landed Dylan Morgan. When is your baby due?”

“Wow, Portia, the last time I saw you, they were escorting you out of the ER in handcuffs for drug possession. I know you called Dylan to come bail you out, but he told them to keep you. Bitter much?” Claire possessed a level of confidence I wished I could borrow on occasion.

“Just remember who had him first, bitch.” She sneered, a cockiness in her features.

“Nah, you stood in line for an audition and failed miserably. He took one look at me, now I’m the headliner.”

Two days later, after a long and tiring day at work, I had to stop at the pharmacy to pick up a few items. Things with Chase had progressed to a level where being with him completely was all I could think about. Having another baby…not so much. I had an appointment with the gynecologist, but I wanted to be prepared if things progressed further.

Grace had started working on a new molar, and the pediatrician had recommended a teething cookie. As I reached out to grab the box of condoms, I caught the conversation between a couple of girls on the next aisle.

“Unlike some people, I’m not trying to saddle any man with a baby.”

“I heard the baby isn’t even his, some charity case Priscilla found at the shelter.”

“Does she know about you and Chase?”

“Please, girl, you know that isn’t how I play it. Chase comes to me when he needs to stop pretending, and have me do anything he wants, just like his brothers used to.”

The purple box with silver letters told me it was ribbed for my pleasure. A red box beside it claimed to be maximum sized and the thinnest brand available. While all of them promised protection up to eighty-percent, not a single box said anything about protecting my heart, or how they would give me my money back if this encounter went to shit. Where there were warnings of not using this product if you were allergic to latex, I saw no warning of watching your back when past relationships come back into the picture.

I watched as my fingers dropped to my side, leaving the marginal protection of safe sex behind. Sadly, the only one-hundred-percent foolproof way of keeping your heart and your body out of the equation… abstinence.

“Aren’t you Claire’s friend?” I closed my eyes tight, my body jumping in surprise. “You’re Ashley, right. Chase’s…baby momma?” I didn’t care to correct her. Standing before me was the ice queen from the other night, dressed just as provocatively as a girl going to a club instead of the corner pharmacy. “Although, Chase has never mentioned you or this blue eyed beauty here.” Kneeling down slightly, she tried to get Grace to look at her. I would punch the shit out of her if she touched my baby. “Wow, she really does have his eyes. Good thing, huh?” Ginny and this bitch could be best friends, always with an agenda, a prize to be won. Chewing up girls like me and spitting us back out, laughing as they step over the pieces.

“Chase and I have a history.” Her long fingernails, shaped like claws ready to scratch out the eyes of anyone who crossed her, tap against her teeth. “Actually, I’ve been involved with all of the Morgan brothers, some more deeply than others.” Tucking her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes were blank as she traveled back to her memory, a devious smile cracking her face.

“Chase and Austin both gave me jewelry.” Hot pink tips stroked the edge of the pendant she has resting between her cleavage. “Dylan always chose to give me something he and I both needed at the time.”

I’ve avoided looking at the necklace, not wanting to feed into her attempt at making me run off in tears. But the temptation was too great and just like an accident on the side of the road, I dropped my gaze and took a look.

The heart shaped design is highlighted with diamonds on one side of the pattern. Knowing what I do about Chase, it’s worth a fortune. I wonder if he took her somewhere special, spoke soft words as he had her lift her hair so he could wrap the chain around her tiny neck. Did he profess to love her, give her everything she ever dreamed of? Did she thank him with a kiss to the cheek or by making him close his eyes in ecstasy as she pleased his southern region?

“I don’t see a ring on your finger, or any jewelry for that matter.” Her nose crinkled up, as her eyes scanned me up and down. “But I’m sure he takes care of his responsibilities.” Her voice lowered as she motioned to Grace. I’ve been looked down on the majority of my life, accepting the taunts and cruel words tossed at me by the kids at school. I’ve watched as cashiers stood in judgment when we would count pennies to pay for the loaf of bread or gallon of milk to get us by. My Granny used to tell me, “Best to let folks assume you’re stupid, than open your mouth and prove it to ‘em.”

On the opposite side of the aisle from the condoms are the cookies I needed, “Grace, I think we’ll stick to your brand of circus animal crackers and teething rings, cause this mess,” I tilted my head toward Portia, “is not my monkey, and not my zoo.”

Next time I give a second look to a handsome man, he better be on the bottle of a household cleaner or the cover of a trashy novel. Men like Chase, and it appears his brothers as well, jump into bed with girls like Portia, not caring about any scars they leave behind. They’re only concerned with the thirty seconds of pleasure they receive. Not that women like Portia are any different, looking for a man with an empty dick and full wallet.

My Granny didn’t give me much, but she had some solid advice on occasion. “Follow your gut, Audrey. It’s good for more than storing your breakfast.”

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