Page 10 of Ball Buster

“I know but it’s time you stopped worrying about me and started taking care of you. You always put me first and that’s one of the things I adore about you is how selfless you are. But Mills, you’re married and having a baby.”

“It doesn’t mean I can’t be there for my bestest friend in the whole world when she needs me.”

“You’re always here for me. It’s just right now I think you and Tim need some time before the baby comes and I think I might stay.”

“What do you mean stay? Like as in you aren’t coming back?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. Of course, I’ll come when the baby arrives and be there every step of the way. I want to give this a shot though. See where it takes me. I have a place of my own. Half of a business that has some great potential.”

“I get it. It’s just well it’s always been you and me.”

“And now you’ll be you and Tim and the baby.”

“Why do I feel as though we’re breaking up?” She sniffles.

“Never. But we’re starting our own paths.”

“When did you get so wise?” She laughs.

“I wouldn’t go that far. Anyway, I’ll call you tomorrow night and tell you about it all.”

“You better or Momma and me will load up and come drag you back.” I smile at the thought. They’d do it to.

We end our call after I promise for the millionth time to check in tomorrow.

First things first I need clean sheets. I go through the cabinets in search of cleaning and laundry supplies and find that there aren’t any. This means I’ll need to take a trip into town and pray there’s a store open. I grab my mini notebook from my bag along with a pen and write out a list of what I need including some groceries. I know I can’t afford to eat out three times a day, so I’ll need to be careful. I have enough money in my bank account to last me a month at best. I don’t know what Les’s finances were like, but I’m not expecting there to be much if anything. I’m praying he didn’t leave me any debt to contend with. I’ll find out Wednesday when I see his lawyer.

I gather my list and go to get in my car when someone pulls into the driveway. I continue to my car pretending I’m not trying to get a good look at whoever is going to visit Solo.

Again, I don’t know why I care only that I do.

The first thing I notice is they drive a Denali and it’s a woman. Big blonde hair.

I open my car door at the same time she whips out of her ride, eyes on me. She’s not Jeannie from the Pizza Palace. Dressed in a denim mini skirt and black tube top with gold chunky bracelets she draws attention. Pretty with tattoos and big boobs. Exactly the kind of woman I’d imagine him being attracted to.

His door opens and she turns her attention his direction, forgetting all about me. I don’t think Solo notices me getting into my car.

She struts toward him, her bracelets clinking together with the movement. I buckle my seat belt and start my car glancing up in time to see his hands on her ass and his gaze meeting mine as a sexy smirk plays at his lips.

I scrunch my nose and as though he sees me doing the action, he grins wider, giving me a flash of his pearly whites before the two of them disappear inside.

Chapter five

Vada

I find the grocery store and one of the first things I see as soon as I walk through the door is a strawberry shortcake that has my mouth watering. I balk at the fifteen-dollar price tag but put one in my cart even though I could probably make it cheaper and better myself. Since I no longer need to worry about purchasing a new phone, I can splurge a little for dessert. My mind keeps flashing to Solo and that stupid smug look he gave me when I was preparing to back out of the driveway.

No matter how deep he tries to dig his way under my skin I’m not giving in and letting him win. I’m here to stay. I’m not some silly girl he can simply run over. If being attached at the hip to Millie all these years taught me anything it’s to stand up for myself and not take shit from anyone. Family or not.

I move through the store going down my list tossing items in my cart, but my stupid brain keeps going to that image of him with her. His hands on her ass and that smirk are seared to my mind. Stupid jerk. Along with the shit he dished at the restaurant I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s a cocky asshole. He probably got the name Solo because he’s a dickhead that no one can stand to be around unless it’s to get off. I’m sure he’s probably mastered sex. He’s got that look like he knows exactly how to put it down in the bedroom. Don’t ask me why I think that. I just do. This is a topic I shouldn’t be harping on. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been laid in a while.

I glance around the grocery store checking out the other customers. Not that I’m seriously entertaining the idea of picking up some rando to take back to my recently deceased father’s trailer to get busy with. One night stands aren’t exactly my style. Plus, this is a smaller town, and I don’t want to bump into a person I want to use and forget all the time.

Unlike Solo apparently, I’m on my own. Isn’t that ironic. I snort to myself and grab a romance novel from the small rack of books by the greeting cards. I don’t know if there’s any cable at the trailer. I didn’t think to check, but at least after I get the sheets and towels washed, I can take shower and read some good smut until I pass out. I could always stream something to watch on my phone but that would eat up all of my data. I’m too tight on money to pay for the unlimited plan even though it is technically like a ten-dollar difference. That ten dollars I save ads up.

When I arrive back home the blonde is gone and so is Solo. I guess their romp didn’t last long. Something about that makes me happy. I do a quick unload of my supplies and get the bedding thrown in the washer. It isn’t ideal. I don’t exactly feel comfortable using the belongings of a man I never really knew but beggars can’t be choosers.

I munch on my leftovers from earlier and debate trying out Solo’s porch swing while waiting for the washer to cycle through. He might find the act a bit invasive, and I don’t want to embarrass myself any further. I could go out and sit by the fire pit though. It’s set up as though it is a shared space.

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