Page 80 of Mister Cowboy
“More like free spirits. We moved around lot and never had enough money for things like cable.”
“He spent freshman year glued to the common room television watching Cartoon Network,” January added, letting her eyes wander to Nadia.
She sat across the room, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the table, her high-pitched giggle traveled through the noisy restaurant, and even from afar January could tell Nadia was flashing a generous amount of cleavage over the top of her tight, neon-pink dress. Where was Brecken?
“Jan, are you listening?”
“Hmm?” she asked, turning to Michael.
“I said you need to stop staring.”
When she was about to tell him that Nadia had staked a claim on Brecken and that she should be with him and not his stunt double, their waiter stopped by to drop off the check.
“I wonder where Brecken is,” January muttered, feeling almost bad for him. Almost. “Why is she on a date with someone else?”
Michael placed his napkin on the table and gave her a soft smile. “Ready to go?”
She glanced back at the couple across the restaurant, and stiffened as her eyes collided with Nadia’s. The smirk on her face was gleeful and mocking.
“One minute.” She wiped her mouth with the napkin in her lap. Smiling sweetly at Michael, she stood. She could hear his desperate pleas as she turned and walked toward Nadia.
Nadia’s eyes widened in surprise as she approached her table.
“What in the hell are you doing here? Where’s Brecken? Shouldn’t the two of you be at home putting together a crib and picking out baby names?” She narrowed her eyes and glanced at Nadia’s date. Looking closer at the Brecken knock-off, January saw the panic in his eyes. “Oh, she didn’t tell you? She’s knocked up with her boss’s baby,” January said sweetly, watching the struggle in his eyes.
He stood and backed away slowly. “I think I should go,” he said before turning and practically running out of the restaurant.
When he was out of sight, Nadia stood, going toe to toe with her. She was shorter and smaller, but she had the sort of inflated ego and wild look in her eye that told January her size had never stopped her from a fight. “Where’s Brecken?” January asked again.
A tug on her arm tried to get her attention, but she ignored it. “We need to go. Now,” Michael said in a tone that left no room to argue, steering her away from Nadia’s glower and out the front door of the restaurant.
“All right, all right,” she said, pulling her arm free once they were outside.
“What the hell, Jan?” Michael asked, looking at her with a disbelieving scowl that sent a shock through her system like ice water over her head. “What were you gonna do, throw down with a pregnant woman?”
Michael reached for Carrie’s hand and they stood united across from her. “Look, I know you’re hurting, but this isn’t like you. You’re off the rails.”
“Maybe,” January conceded. “Maybe I’m out of control, but it feels great. For the first time in a week I don’t want to cry or hole up in my room. I want to scream.”
“You were about to scream at the wrong person.”
She deflated a bit at the concern etched in Michael’s eyes. He let out a breath and ran a palm over his chin with his free hand. “Come on, let’s go home.”
Following behind like a misbehaving child, January let her rage consume her. She hadn’t sat politely and bit her tongue like she’d been taught. She wanted more of this January. It shielded her from feeling the hurt and betrayal that loomed under the surface.
It had felt good, but the nagging pit in her stomach grew larger with every step toward home as if to remind her this isn’t who she was.
43
January
“I’d never wantedto slap someone so much in my entire life.” January paused as she realized she was gripping the cuddly teddy bear in her hands and placed him back on the changing table before she ripped off his cute little head. Her anger was off the charts, but Mr. Teddy didn’t need to suffer her wrath. No. She was saving all that for Nadia. It had been days since she’d confronted her at the restaurant, but despite feeling slightly embarrassed by her actions, her rage hadn’t subsided.
Sylvie looked up from the white crib bedding she was folding into neat squares. “Pregnancy makes women crazy. I wouldn’t recommend getting in a brawl with one—we’re filled with hormones, always hungry or tired, and the end of our life as we know it flashes before our eyes at every turn. I’m fairly certain I could take on Wonder Woman right now.” She crossed her arms at the wrist and flashed her best super hero pose.
January smiled. “YouareWonder Woman,” she said, looking around the nursery. “This room is incredible.”
The room was awash in muted colors, making the space feel new and serene. The walls were painted a light gray with the exception of one large wall that had been painted into a giant world map. The white ornate crib sat in the middle of the far wall, and above it, they had hung a sign that read:Love is the True North that always leads us home.The words made her chest ache. Sylvie and Martin had done it. They’d found each other, made a life together, and were bringing a baby into the world that would be surrounded with more love than most people could ever imagine.
