Mick walks over and holds out a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she says, giving him what looks like a very limp handshake.
“Can I get you a drink of water or something?” he asks.
“Sure,” she says. “That would be nice, thank you.”
He turns towards the kitchen and frowns at me when he’s no longer facing Alissa. “Can I talk to you for a sec’, Quin?”
I shrug. “Sure.” Alissa’s already been through enough crap for one day. I don’t want to make a scene in front of her by arguing with Mick, so I follow him. Besides, I still need to apologize about twenty times before I’ll be able to comfortably live with myself again. Might as well get that party started.
He’s reaching into a cabinet above his head when I get to the kitchen.
“You wanted to talk to me?” I ask in a low tone so Alissa won’t hear us.
“Yeah. What’s she doing here? She’s pregnant, right?”
“Very observant of you. Yes, she’s pregnant. And she’s here temporarily until she can get her own place.”
He turns on the water. “What about the father?”
“We’re not sure what the deal is with that yet, but her parents have shut her out and all her other friends have abandoned her. She’s alone.”
He shuts the water off abruptly, looking at me like he doesn’t believe it. “Why?”
I shrug. “I haven’t given her the third degree yet, but if you have one of those really bright lamps I can shine in her face, I could get started right way.”
He frowns at me. “Are you ever not a smartass?”
I act like I’m seriously considering the question. After I few seconds, I answer. “Nope. Never.”
He grins. “Good. I like smartasses.”
With just that one smile he deflates my fighting mood. I put my arm out to stop him from leaving the kitchen. “Mick, just let me apologize before you go out there.”
“For what?”
“For saying that awful thing I said to you last night. It was inexcusable.”
He shrugs, his face going a little dark. “No big deal.”
“No, it was a big deal. It is a big deal. I’m going to have nightmares for a week over it. I’m an asshole. You should know that about me up front. I have a disease called speak-before-think-itis and it’s obviously not in remission right now.”
“I’m over it,” he says, moving into the family room again.
I’m left standing in the kitchen knowing that he is most definitely not over it. And who can blame him? It was heartless and cold. One of my not-so-shining moments for sure.
I’m standing there chewing on my lip and stewing in self-hatred when he pops his head back into the kitchen. “You could make it up to me, if it’s really bothering you.”
Rescue party! Sweetness! “Oh, yeah? How?”
“Dinner. Movie. Tonight. Otherwise, I’m probably going to lie in bed all night thinking about what you said. I might even cry over it. But you could distract me from all that by going out with me and keeping my mind off things.”
“You’re a bastard,” I say without anger.
“Yes or no? I have water to deliver to a parched pregnant girl.”
“Fine. Yes. But I’ll meet you there.” The last thing I need is Jersey attaching himself again. Knowing Mick, he’d invite the little turd along.
“Meet me there? Where?”
“I don’t know where. You tell me.”
“End of your driveway. See you there at seven.” He disappears before I can argue.
I stew in the kitchen for a few minutes until I hear Teagan come in. Putting my own issues on the back burner for now, I join the group so we can all weigh-in on Alissa’s situation.
Everyone finds a chair or a part of the couch before silence falls over the room.
Tick-tock … tick-tock … tick-tock. I can literally feel myself aging. Teagan’s eyes begin to cross, Rebel is staring holes into Alissa’s stomach, and Mick is very interested in the ceiling.
Holy awko taco, I can’t take any more of it. “Sooo … Alissa. You’re pregnant. How far along are you?”
“About seven months,” she says before taking a sip of her water. She keeps the glass up by her face. I think she’s hiding behind it.
“Do you have a doctor?” Mick asks.
“Yes. Kind of. I go to a clinic.”
“Where are you going to have the baby?” I ask. When everyone looks at me like I’m crazy, I explain. “My mom had all that stuff planned out way before the end of her pregnancy.”