Free The Love Handles Club (Love in the City Short) by Liv Morris

Kelly and the time bomb she was carrying. I raised my head just in time to see them whispering angrily at Joe.
    Just as we thought, he’d not said a word about the baby. What a bastard. Jensen was smart to keep the baby’s existence a secret. But I still didn’t get it. How could Joe deny his own child? It was unfathomable to me. Evil , actually.
    I pulled a chair out for Ke lly then Jensen sat between us, likely a good idea. I already wanted to give her a hug, hold her for a second, and let her know that I was here for her and that everything would be okay. I had to say it silently instead. She glanced over at me after we were all seated. I mouthed the words, “I love you” and she smiled weakly but seemed resolved. I think seeing all the feathers getting ruffled when she walked in signaled to her that we did indeed have Joe by the balls today.
    “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Jensen started. “I’m Vince Jensen with Tho mas and Martin law offices, the representative council for Kelly Parker Jefferies who is seated beside me. Also joining us is Bradley Dawson, a lifelong friend of Kelly’s. Lastly, I’d like to mention another person here on our side of the table today, Joe Jeffries’ and Kelly’s unborn child.”
    I closely watched Joe as Jensen spoke each word. When my name came up, Joe fumed and moved in his seat. His lawyers had to hold him back as he tried to get up. I heard them tell Joe to calm down, pull himself together. He was creating quite a scene and then when the baby was mentioned, the baby he failed to tell his legal team about, his attorney once again spoke quietly to him. I could tell they were pissed. Likely felt deceived, as they should. Their well-laid plans now tumbled on the ground all around them. I quickly glanced at Kelly and winked. I felt victory in the air.
    “What the hell is he doing here, Kelly?” Joe screamed as soon as Jensen finished his introduction. “Are you sleeping with him? I knew it. Leave me and run back to Dallas and him. Does he know what a whore you are?”
    I was out of my chair instantly ready to fly across the table and pounce on Joe. Who did he think he was to call Kelly that? I wanted to pummel his face in, make him take back and regret every damn word he said. Jensen restrained me and told me to sit down or leave the room. I knew he was right but it took all my strength to control my anger. How dare he speak of Kelly like that? This time when I turned to her she was the one doing the encouraging.
    “Bradley, please. Do what Jensen says.” Her voice was shaky. I knew she was upset no matter what she was trying to tell me. “Please, it’s al l right.”
    “It’s not al l right,” I answered back a little too loud. “But I’ll keep my shit together for now. If there’s anymore name calling though, all bets are off.”
    One of Joe’s attorneys stood up and cleared his throat. “Would you mind if we had a few minutes with our client? A quick five. We have a comfortable lounge I can have Mindy escort you to.”
    “Certainly,” Jensen replied.
    The attorney who spoke came around to our side and shook Jensen’s hand. “Matt Byers. I believe we spoke on the phone yesterday. As you can imagine we didn’t know about the child. I’d like to speak to my client if you don’t mind.”
    “No problems,” Jensen again agreed. I was surprised to see such a change in the attorney’s demeanor. He appeared so assured and ready for battle at first glance, but now he seemed ready to retreat.
    Byers leaned over the table, and pushed a couple buttons on the phone in front of him. He spoke to Mindy, who I assume was the receptionist who ’d escorted us to the conference room. I guessed correctly when the room’s doors opened and Mindy appeared. Once again we followed her to a swanky lounge with a couple couches and a desk. After she left, Jensen was the first to speak.
    “We need to keep our voices down in here. No strategy talk at all. I don’t trust them. Who