Page 46 of Sin Wagon
The journey to the airport is quiet as we retreat into our own thoughts. I glance at Jonas, seeing the strain etched into his features. This ordeal has taken a toll on him, but there’s a flicker of resolve in his eyes. As we board the plane, I catch Jonas’ eye. He nods a silent promise that we’ll face this together. We take our seats, and the sound of the engines becomes a soothing background to my racing thoughts.
I close my eyes, trying to find some semblance of peace. But all I see is Delilah, her face a beacon of hope in this storm.
“Hold on, Delilah,” I whisper to myself. “I’ll be back for you soon. Just hold on.”
DELILAH
It’s been two weeks since we returned to Vegas, and not much has changed except for one significant decision I made two days ago. I decided to quit the coffee shop. The employees’ shitty attitudes and the unreliable hours had worn me down, each day chipping away at my patience and resolve. My feet were on fire after every shift and I could barely fit into my Crocs, the swelling was so bad.
I was standing behind the counter, gripping the edge until my knuckles turned white. “I can’t do this anymore,” I muttered under my breath. The words tasted of both fear and liberation. I took a deep breath, walked into the manager’s office, and quit on the spot.
Now, my only income is from my marketing work. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
What if I fail? What if this is a mistake?
But there’s no turning back now. I’m determined to make it work, not just for me, but for the little life growing inside me. I’ve reached out to all my past clients for reviews, hoping their kind words will attract new business. One of my old regulars from Hidden Gems offered to spruce up my website. She didn’t even ask for money; she just wants to see me thrive as a new mom. Her generosity brought tears to my eyes.
“Maybe this will work out,” I whisper to myself in the quiet of our apartment. “Maybe this is the fresh start I need.”
As I stare at my laptop screen, waiting for emails to come in, anxiety and hope swirl within me. This is it. This is my chance to prove to myself that I can do this, that I can provide a stable life for my child. No more shitty coffee shop jobs. No more stripping. Just me, my laptop, and the future I’m building one keystroke at a time.
Now, if only this newfound determination to manifest a better future for me and Little Boba could include Wells. I haven’t heard a single word from him. I can’t believe I was so naive to think we could make it work. The silence is deafening, each passing day adding to the weight of disappointment settling in my chest.
Don’t get me wrong, I was hoping for something to bloom between us beyond just mind-blowing sex. I want more than just a surface-level connection. I long for a deep bond and a solid foundation for a healthy co-parenting relationship that would benefit our child. But it’s abundantly clear that everything Jonas said at dinner that night was true, at least when it came to Wells. I know he didn’t con me into sleeping with him that night all those months ago. I made that choice on my own, without any outside influence. However, it’s apparent I was just an easy lay,a box to check off on his ‘fuck it’ list. If I wasn’t, he would have found a way to be here. He would have chased me down, like he claimed he did when I’d given him the wrong number.
The only good thing that came out of that trip to Florida was finally finding out who my dad is. And Rhonda is a dream. We’ve texted a few times here and there, nothing too meaningful, but she’s always so kind, so reassuring.
I’m also at fault for not making an effort to reach out to them. But what do I say? ‘Hey, it’s me. The granddaughter you just met. Do you wanna Facetime and see my baby bump?’
The door opens and I spin around on the couch, wondering why Derek is home early. He had a meeting with the head boss today and he was nervous. His being home at this hour is not a good sign.
He enters the room, closes the door behind him, and makes a beeline for the kitchen. Moments later, he reemerges with a cold beer in hand.
“Bad news?” I ask as he flops onto the couch next to me and pulls my feet into his lap.
“Fired,” he sighs.
“Why did they let you work since we’ve been back, if they were gonna let you go?” I ask, wanting to make sense of why they didn’t just fire him on his first shift back.
“They had Violet take my spot. Apparently, the last two weeks were for her to just make sure she was comfortable. Explains all the questions. I just thought she got more annoying while we were gone.” He takes a long chug of his beer.
“I’m sorry.” I flash him a pout. “You got fired for supporting me at the shitshow of a wedding.”
“Don’t be sorry, babe. I’d have it no other way. You needed me, and that’s that. Plus, after everything that came out in Florida, I would have been angry to miss witnessing that tea spill in person.”
“I hate you.” I laugh.
“How often do I get to witness my best bitch finding out her one-night stand baby daddy is her uncle? And we finally found out who your missing father is.”
“Step uncle,” I correct. We’re not blood. Our only relation is through marriage and I’m holding onto that.
“Tomato. Ta-mah-toe.”
“Seriously, Derek. What are we gonna do? I left the coffee shop of horrors and you’re now unemployed. How are we gonna pay our rent?”
“I’ve been applying at places just in case. Since I knew the meeting was coming up, I posted my resume on a few hospitality sites. It’ll all work out, babe. I promise. Don’t panic.”
My phone rings loudly, and I quickly snatch it from the arm of the couch, hoping to see “Chicago” displayed on the screen.
