Page 73 of Love Is Ale You Need

“He’s slept with half the town.”

My molars clench together so hard I’m surprised I don’t crack a tooth. “Are you judging his character right now? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? You were doing the same exact thing. While. We. Were. Married.”

His face reddens but he doesn’t say anything because he knows I’m right. He squares his shoulders. “Well, I don’t want him anywhere near my daughter.”

“She’s only your daughter when it’s convenient for you. You’re not there for school plays, when she falls and scrapes her knee, or when she gets a perfect grade on a school project. None of it.”

“I’m not there for any of it because I have a job, Rylee. A real job.”

I fling my arms in the air. “I have one of those two. On top of raising Abby, our daughter.”

“Well, maybe you should just be more considerate of the company you keep while you’re raising our daughter.”

I laugh. I don’t even think he realizes what he just said.

“You are starting to draw a crowd. Take the conversation outside.” Jake’s deep voice sounds from over my shoulder.

“No need Jake. This conversation is over.” I sidestep Kyle, but he stops me with his arm.

“Wait. You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?” When I don’t say anything, he throws his hands in the air. “What the hell Rylee? I thought you were better than that.”

“What the fuck do you know? But to answer your question, yes. I’ve slept with him. In fact,” I splay my hand over my stomach, “I’m pregnant. With his child. So, what do you have to say about that?”

His mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water, then he shakes his head. “You made your bed. I guess now you gotta lie in it.”

“I do. Matter of fact, I’m going to lie in it tonight over and over again.”

Kyle spins on his heel but his head turns toward Chad, and he jerks his chin before he storms out the door.

If I wasn’t paying attention, I would have missed it. If those two became friends, they can have each other. Two pieces of trash in a pod. When he’s out of sight, I unclench my fists. He has no right to dictate any part of my life.

After arriving home from work and in a shit mood because of Kyle, I decided to call the only other person who can make my mood even shittier… my mother.

I remove my phone out of my pocket, pull up her number, and hit call. It rings a half dozen times before she picks up. Water splashing sounds through the earpiece tells me she’s lounging at some poolside cabana, sipping mimosas, all on husband number four’s dime. At this point, I can’t even keep track of their names anymore.

“It’s so nice to hear from my daughter.”

I pinch my eyes shut. The sound of her voice grates on my every nerve. I fight to keep my tone as neutral as possible. The faster I can get through this, the faster I can be done. “So, I wanted to give you our monthly we’re not dead phone call. I’m doing good. Abby is doing good and you’re going to be a grandma.”

“But I’m already a grandma.”

“Congrats. You’re going to be a grandma again. Yay.” I shake my fist in the air like a cheerleader with a pom pom.

“You’re pregnant?” she screeches.

“Yep.”

“When’s the wedding?”

“No wedding. Just a baby.”

“He gets you knocked up and he can’t even put a ring on your finger.”

Not for the lack of trying on his part. “Nope.”

“You need a man who will take care of you.”

And be like you on husband number four, while you’re sleeping with future husband number five. No thanks. “I’m quite alright, actually.”

---