Page 30 of Cougar

“Bonnie,” they all say in unison.

“Yes! She was fucking awful to me. I’ve been stressed about the whole thing since it happened.”

“God, I have never liked that bitch. Ever since I met her years ago, she’s presented this façade that she cares, but something about her has always bothered me.”

“It’s probably because she doesn’t really give a shit. She just wants to be in everyone’s business and stir the pot whenever she can. It’s as if she doesn’t have cable but is addicted to those housewife shows. She just uses the town so she can be living in it.” Bri says.

It’s clear the both of them don’t like her, and each has their own reasons. I look over at Ashlynn. “What about you?”

“Hmm? What about me?”

“What’s your opinion on Bonnie?”

“Oh, she’s a total bitch. I was prepared to not like her because no one else does. You know, friends supporting friends and shit. Anyway, she’s made it easy to dislike her. She really does try to get into everyone’s shit, and she does nothing to make anyone’s situation better. Only worse.”

“I feel like all of this checks out with how she was speaking to me. But what’s been bothering me is the fact that she knows I’m having a boy. We didn’t tell anyone outside of this family of ours. How did she find out?”

They all look back and forth at each other, and I can tell they’re as stumped as I am. Nothing about the way she’s acted toward me makes sense. I’ve done nothing to her. The two times I’ve seen her, I’ve been minding my business, and she’s approached me.

I start to freak out again. I get up from my chair and start pacing. She knows about my son. She shouldn’t know about my son. She was there at the doctor’s office. Did she get in and look at the files? Does she work there? How would she know about the timeline and that John isn’t the biological father? Did Kline find out about me and somehow know her?

No. That shit isn’t possible. He has no idea about the baby or where I am. The man has never been out of the state of Washington. My nerves are making me more and more paranoid.

I rub my hands through my hair. “How does she know? She shouldn’t know. No one else should know. How does this random bitch know?” I fire off question after question. They think they’re all in regards to Bonnie knowing the baby is a boy, but it’s shifted for me to the truth about John. How does she fucking know?

“Hey, hey,” I hear El say as she stops my pacing and wraps me in her arms. This woman is little, but I feel completely wrapped up and safe when she holds me. I don’t know how she manages it, but I know I’m not the only one. “I know it’s hard, but you have to calm down. Stressing out isn’t good for the baby or your body. Believe me. I know it’s easier said than done. I need you to sit down and take deep breaths, okay?” She leads me back to my chair, and once I’m sitting, she walks me through a few deep breaths until I’ve calmed down. “Better?”

I nod and look at all of them, “Sorry about that.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. The only one that does is Bonnie for being such a terrible fucking person.”

“I…. I don’t understand why she did what she did and how she knows what she knows. That’s what rattles me.”

“Maybe she’s sleeping with someone in the club?” Ashlynn says. My mouth drops open, and I notice that Bri and El both have looks of disgust on their faces. “What? She could be. There are a few guys here who aren’t tied down in any way. Maybe she gets them so pussy drunk, they blab?”

“I’m gonna throw up,” El says as she brings her hand up to her mouth.

“I don’t think that’s it. None of the guys here are that desperate,” Bri chimes in.

“Hey,” she says as she throws up her hands, “I’m simply saying it’s what could be happening. The woman seems to have ways to get what she wants.” Ashlynn defends her words.

“I wondered if she was a jilted lover of one of the guys, so I get it.”

“Thank you!” Ashlynn smiles and throws up a fist bump. I bump mine with hers and chuckle at the motion. I haven’t fist-bumped someone in a long while. And once again, I’m taken out of the shit in my head from the smallest gesture.

“Okay. We need to change the subject. I’m going to assume the guys are going to deal with this shit one way or another. If she comes up to you again, fucking slap her. You have my permission.” El winks. This gets a laugh out of all of us, and we agree to start talking about something else. I wanted to be a jerk and bring up the Willie thing, but the backdoor flies open before I can get a word out.

“El. Do you know where—oh! You’re here. Good. I need you to come with me.” Gears is panting.

We all shoot up from our seats, and since he looked at me, I only assume the worse. “What happened? Is my dad okay?”

He shakes his head, and I feel tears fill my eyes.

“He’s losing his fucking shit. Sever said to get you. Your mom isn’t answering.”

“Let’s go,” I’m walking out the door before he’s finished talking, and the girls are all hot on my tail.

“I have to warn you ladies. It isn’t pretty.”

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