Ma has homemade lasagna, garlic bread, and a bowl of salad waiting on the counter. We wash our hands in the half-bathroom by the garage before fixing our plates. It appears Dad and Nate already ate, by the missing half of the food. Ma goes behind us getting a plate of her own.
Once we get seated at the dining room table and start to eat, the rest of the family joins us. The three of them, my parents, and my brother are being so weird. It’s kind of creeping me out.
“Have you set a date for the wedding?” Ma questions before taking a bite.
Trey steals a glance at me just as baffled as I am, and I answer for us. “What wedding? We want to take our time. No need to rush.” I hope she isn’t going to argue with me. I know no one loves planning a party like Ma, but she’s not going to win on this. Trey squeezes my hand hopeful that I mean it.
Ma claps her hands together. “Good. We got other priorities right now.”
Her agreeing throws me off and leaves me feeling offended.
“Really? Such as?” I wait for her to explain, but before she can talk the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it,” Nate offers.
I cast a glance in his direction as he rises and see the dark circles under his eyes. I hope he’s not having issues. What if my leaving put too much stress and pressure on him?
He returns with none other than Lewis. Now I am really intrigued.
Lewis trudges into the kitchen to grab a plate.
“Is Audrey running the bar?” I ask, wondering if she’s going to turn up at any minute too. My brother avoids my eyes and our dad clears his throat.
I swallow my bite of garlic bread and chase it with some sweet tea. “What? Is something wrong with Audrey? Y’all are freaking me out.”
Trey continues to eat oblivious that anything is wrong, he’s too busy stuffing his mouth to see I am about to be hit with bad news. He’s still gloating over the fact my parents don’t care if we move into together out of wedlock.
Its Lewis that answers as he sits down with his food. “She’s gone.”
The bite of food I swallowed threatens to make its way back up my throat. “Gone. What? What do you mean she’s gone?” I know I didn’t call and check in on her, but Ma assured me she would look out for her and the bar.
“As in she took off,” my brother clarifies.
“Well, where is she now?” I’m getting annoyed with all this beating around the bush business.
“We don’t know,” Ma pipes in. “But we need to find her and bring her back. She’s making a mistake. Her place is here with us. We’re her family.” She stresses the word family and I snort.
“Yeah, because you made her feel so welcome.” I shake my head.
“That’s enough, Nattie. Audrey is a part of our family. It may have taken me time to accept her, but I do care about her,” Ma argues.
“So why did she take off, what did you all do to her?”
I give them all an evil eye except for Dad, he was always good to Audrey, and went above and beyond to make her feel welcome and wanted.
Bowser, our family dog curls up under my feet, and I sneak him a piece of my bread. I no longer have an appetite.
Chapter 18
Nate
Scrubbing my hands over my face, I admit that I was the reason Audrey left. I pushed her too hard, too soon. Sleeping with her was a mistake. I don’t regret the night we shared, but I should have waited. I should have taken my time with her. She wasn’t ready for what I want to give her.
I fucked up.
After we had sex, she darted to the bathroom, and wouldn’t come back out. I could hear her sobbing on the other side of the door. I tried to give her some privacy. I tried to be the man she needed but her sobs triggered me. I freaked and kicked the door in to get to her.
I only wanted her to stop crying. I couldn’t bear the sound knowing I was the cause of her pain. I simply wanted to make her pain go away, but she only yelled at me, and then she smacked me.