Page 14 of Shameless
Chapter Five
Britney
* * *
Home. With Michael, who seemed so calm, steady and serene. My heart raced, and my skin was all jumpy. I needed to breathe, and in my place, with him here, I was afraid I would get lost.
I grabbed flats because my feet were pounding from the heels earlier and said, “I was thinking you should stay here, but I’m going to go out for an hour.”
His eyebrows went up. “You want me here when you get home?”
“Yes.” I stepped toward, closed my eyes, and pressed my lips to his.
He was wonderful. I was the walking disaster. In that moment, when we were alone, I felt whole, and I hated the second we needed air.
When I let him go, he nodded and said, “I’ll prepare dinner.”
"Wonderful" was too nice a word for him. Accepting that kind of money would make me exactly who my friends said I was. I shivered but then waved and dashed back out the door.
If I hadn't been pregnant, I would've been texting my friends to meet me for a round of cosmopolitans. However, having my little one meant no more drinks for me for a while. So in the elevator, I texted everyone to meet me at a coffee shop where I’d get something herbal. Kelly wrote back first for the address, which I sent to the group chat. She was getting off work soon, so I picked one closer to her, and when I walked in, she was just getting the seat.
I hugged her as a lifeline and said, “Kelly, we need to talk.”
After reading the menu twice, I found a lemongrass, which was the closest to my preferred drink, which was sweet with a touch of lime, and decided to add sugar. Kelly stuck to a regular coffee.
As we were alone, she asked, “Is it true you need a realtor?”
I froze. She was so eager.
I took her hands in mine and said, “When I do, you’re it, of course.”
“I’m so excited.”
Selling homes was probably more lucrative than teaching though I would also want her to teach my infant.
I sat back and said, “Don’t be yet. I don’t know if I should marry Michael.”
Kelly’s eyes widened. “What’s stopping you?”
Me. Michael wasn’t someone who faked things like I did. He was very real and polite, and I was still getting to know him.
Isabel walked up to the table, and the waiter took her order.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Unlike me, Isabella seemed afraid to let her guard down much though, with her polish, she was probably perfect for someone like Michael.
I froze and said, “Nothing important, Isabel.”
The waiter brought us all our drinks.
Once he left, Kelly said, “She’s thinking of telling Michael no.”
Isabel pressed her hand to her heart. “That’s crazy. Look at Hope and Charlie.”
Kelly nodded like they were working together. “Or Avril and Kir. They both lied a little, but it was clear they were in love.”
The drink wasn’t as satisfying as the real thing, for my nerves, but I shook my head and said, “That’s not me and Michael. He was my sexy secret.”
