“I knew she was lying. I knew it! What the hell? Did she really think that Jeff wouldn’t ask for a paternity test?” Heather asked.
“I know, Heather. Believe me, I’ve been thinking about it ever since Jeff told me. A part of me wants to just drive to Austin and beat the shit out of her. ”
I had to let out a laugh. I could picture Ellie walking right into the hospital room and knocking the shit out of Rebecca.
“So, let me see if I got this straight. Rebecca slept with Jason, while he was still dating Ari. Rebecca got pregnant, but she slept with Jeff one night when they ran into each other at Rebels. Then, Crysti overheard someone talking about the wedding, but she thought Jeff and Ari getting married. ”
“Yep, she called Rebecca, and Rebecca panicked. Her last-ditch attempt to get Jeff back was to tell him the baby was his. I guess she told Jeff that she had thought she would just be able to have the baby and then call him afterward. Her little act of fake contractions today though did her in. She practically tried to have him removed from the hospital. ”
“Wow…what a nutcase. I feel so sorry for that baby. ”
By the time we got into town, heading into the bar, Heather had filled Ellie in on what happened with Josh. My head was spinning from how fast the two of them had talked. Snippets of what they had talked about were replaying in my head.
“Oh no, he didn’t text her that!”
“Oh my god! He told you that?”
I need a fucking beer. I just wanted to forget this day ever happened. My heart was aching for Jeff and Ari. I wanted to kick Josh’s ass for what he did to Heather. I was worried about my father. Shit.
I walked up to the bar and ordered three beers. By the time I walked back to the table and set them down, I knew something was very wrong. I looked at Ellie and Heather. They were both just staring out at the dance floor. Heather looked like she was about to start crying.
“Cookie Jar” by Gym Class Heroes was playing, and I was having a déjà vu moment. Do I want to turn around and look?
No…but I did. I immediately saw Josh and Lynda dancing. Oh fuck. They were all over each other while Josh was kissing her. I’m going to fucking kill him. He already had a beer in one hand, on his way to getting drunk. The way he was grinding into Lynda was enough to piss me off.
I turned back around and saw Ellie looking at me. She mouthed do something to me. What the hell am I supposed to do? Lynda was an adult, and Josh and Heather weren’t together. So, what does Ellie want me to do?
Heather was still staring at Josh and Lynda. Then, she looked over at Ellie and started laughing.
“What in the world could you possibly find funny about this, Heather?” Ellie asked.
Heather shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “I was just thinking that this is the perfect song for that asshole. It’s pretty clear to me that he has moved on, so maybe I need to do the same thing. ” Then, she picked up her beer and started to down it.
I looked at Ellie as I sat down.
“Aren’t they going to want to card Heather and me when they see us drinking these beers?”
“I’ve been coming here for years. They don’t even as for my ID anymore. Country-living, Ellie. ”
“Huh, I’m gonna have to remember that when we have kids,” Ellie said as she took a sip of her beer.
I threw my head back and laughed. Then, I leaned over and gave her a kiss. I love this damn girl.
***
As the night went on, Heather and Josh were both trying to drink each other out of their minds. The two of them were getting wasted and not giving a shit about it. Heather was dancing with every guy who asked, and Josh and Lynda looked like they needed to get a fucking room.
“Gunner, I’m worried about Heather. She’s really getting drunk, and you know she doesn’t drink this much very often. Maybe we should leave now,” Ellie said, watching Heather talk to the DJ.
“Yeah, I’m thinking it’s about time to go as well. I think you’re going to have to drive my truck, sweetheart, since you only drank one beer. There’s no way I’m letting Josh drive with as much as he has had to drink. ”
I watched as Heather walked up to the guy she had been dancing with for the last thirty minutes. She reached out her hand, and then they both started to walk toward the dance floor. She led him right next to Josh and Lynda.
Britney Spear’s “Womanizer” started to play, and I knew that this wasn’t going to end well. I looked at Ellie, who was just staring at Heather with her mouth hanging open. I glanced back out to the dance floor to see Heather and this guy all over each other. I was about to tell Ellie to go get Heather.
Then, she said, “Oh, holy fuck. ”
I looked back and Heather and the guy were kissing, and his hands were all over her. Then, he moved his hands her shirt. I looked over at Josh and saw the look in his eyes. I jumped up and started to walk out toward them when Ellie grabbed my arm.