Free Ask Me Something (The Something Series Book 2) by Aubrey Bondurant

headed
back to the table.
    “Where were you?
Your food is getting cold,” Addison commented, already shoveling down some oysters.
    I took a moment
to deal with her friend Leslie first. Considering the woman had at least thirty
pounds on me, it was unbelievable that she would say something about the size
of my ass. “Hey, Leslie, Addison didn’t tell me. When are you due?”
    Addison’s eyes
got big, and Ryan almost spit out his drink.
    “I’m not
pregnant,” Leslie stuttered, instantly horrified.
    “But I thought
you were having a baby, or was I wrong?”
    She appeared
relieved, thinking I had the timing wrong. “That was last year. Chelsea is
almost a year old now.”
    “I guess it’s
true what they say, then. Some women never lose that baby weight.” I got some
satisfaction watching her about choke on her food and faced my sister who was
glaring at me.
    “That was cruel.
You have no idea how hard—” Addison started to say.
    I cut her off.
“You’re right. I don’t have any idea. After all, I’m clearly not cut out to be
a mother. I think I’m better than everyone in this town, and I’m evidently the
worst aunt in the world to your kids, too? You have to shove the baby on me.”
She paled considerably.
    Ryan spoke up
and looked between the two of us. “What’s this about? Addy?”
    At least my
sister had the decency to look embarrassed.
    “You know what?
I’m probably going to skip the fried food. Evidently, I’ve gained a few pounds
since summer and my ass looks kind of big in these pants. Right, Leslie? But
it’s okay; I’ll be the cruel one.”
    She and my
sister exchanged looks but neither knew what to do.
    I wouldn’t give
them the opportunity to try to figure it out. “Ryan, it was nice to see you
again. You tell my nieces and nephews we’ll have to take a rain check on our
movie day tomorrow. According to your wife, she has to force them into spending
time with me, and I’d hate to do that to them.”
    My voice almost
cracked on the last word, but I kept my composure and left a stunned Ryan,
flushed Leslie, and pale Addison with the aftermath of Sasha-B-Fierce.
    ***
    Home was only
ten minutes away. My parents were in the living room watching television when I
came through the door.
    “Oh, you’re back
early. Everything all right?” my mother asked.
    Plastering a
smile on my face, I went over to give them both kisses on the cheek. “Yes,
everything’s fine, but I have to leave tonight. I was hoping to get through the
week without a client crisis, but turns out I have to be in Charlotte in the
morning. So I’m driving over now.”
    My mom looked
disappointed and then inadvertently made me feel guilty. “I thought you were
spending tomorrow with the kids. Kylie will be especially disappointed. She
loves spending time with her Aunt Sasha.”
    “According to
Addison, she doesn’t. I don’t want to get into it. I’m just going to get my
stuff. I’ll be back down.” The very last thing I wanted to do was force my
nieces and nephews to spend time with me. I was barely in their lives. To
expect them to be excited about a seeing someone they hardly knew was selfish
on my part and I didn’t blame them for their lack of enthusiasm.
    A few minutes
later, I was ready to go, suitcase in hand.
    “It’s awfully
late to be driving,” my dad commented. The policeman in him was always worried
about my safety.
    I squeezed his
hand. “I’ll be in before midnight and send you guys a text when I arrive.”
    It was tempting
to stay the night with them instead, but I knew my sister would be over with
the kids in the morning, and I’d be trapped. No way would I make this easy on
her.
    My mom got up
and moved towards the kitchen. “I wish you didn’t have to work so much, but we
understand. Let me pack up some pie and stuff to take with you.”
    It was futile to
argue and, hell, maybe I would need some pumpkin pie for the road. I hadn’t
touched my dinner.

CHAPTER
SIX
    The city