Page 41 of Mara
Jinx shook his head at me, which I ignored and turned back to Trapp to talk about his latest tattoo work. I never imagined I would get a tattoo, but maybe it would be fun. I certainly needed something different in my life.
“I may take you up on your offer, Trapp,” I said sweetly, imagining the piece on my body.
“Could you do a floral sleeve on me? I love flowers.”
Gianna huffed, and Jinx snorted.
Trapp looked excited, but also sad. “Absolutely, Mara…but I can’t actually work on human skin yet. You’d have to get it from Jinx. I am still working on fake skin for another year. I can show you my portfolio. Here…look.”
A phone was being shoved in front of my face before I could respond to anything going on around me.
“I’ll pencil you in, Nirvana.”
Gianna looked between Jinx and me, then started to sign.
Who the fuck is Nirvana, Mara?
I tried to center myself. The noise all around me was overwhelming, and I felt like multiple people were talking to me at once. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
I could only hear snippets of conversation. Jinx and Gigi arguing about stupid shit, Trapp singing out loud to the music, and the overall low hum of the restaurant itself.
“Listen, I have an announcement.” Gigi must have gotten tired waiting for my response to her question.
That caught my attention, and I opened my eyes, looking over to Gianna, who had everyone’s attention.
Right before she spoke, the servers came over with our food, and my sister deflated like a balloon in front of me. I felt bad for her. She had planned all this just to share whatever news she had, but she kept getting interrupted.
“Of course…thanks.” She accepted the food and watched everyone dig into their plates, their attention completely off of her now.
Gigi was never good with attention not being solely on her. She couldn’t handle when our school friends chose me over her, or when someone just didn’t like her.
I couldn’t give a fuck who loved or hated me. I spent most of my days dodging random objects from being chucked at my head.
The waiter walked over to us once more, offering complimentary wine, and we all took it…except Gianna. I frowned. Was she seriously going to be rude just because she wasn’t getting any attention?
“Babe. Since when do you deny wine?” Jinx teased, drinking down hers and his own before making the server pour more. Gianna smiled and shook her head.
“I…can’t, Jinx.”
I was hyper-focused on their whispered tones, ignoring the world around me.
“You’re acting fucking weird, Gianna. What the hell is wrong? You demanded we all come here. Well, why?” Jinx said.
Gianna bit her lip and shoved a forkful of food in her mouth. Jinx gave her a look, and she sighed.
“Okay. I…I’m nervous to tell you. I don’t know how you’ll take it.”
Jinx looked genuinely scared now, and under normal circumstances, I would have laughed. I busied myself shoving the wine glass to my lips and pretending to drink while watching her mouth.
“Jenkins Charlie Kent, you are going to be a father. I am pregnant.”
My glass fell from my hands and shattered at my feet. Jinx choked on the food, and Trapp continued to sing music, oblivious to the world.
Pregnant…
My sister was not getting married. She was bringing a baby into this fucked up world with the man I had balls deep inside me while bound to my fucking shower rail. This was far worse than I had imagined.
I forced a smile and congratulated my sister on her baby…and Jinx.
