Page 94 of Something True


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Well, that was an image I didn't need.

I waved away the money. "That's alright. It's my turn to treat." True, I was seriously short on funds, but I couldn’t let them pay foreverything.

But Anthony was insistent. He thrust the money closer. "Take it, or I'll hear about it later."

"From who?" I asked.

"Luna. Who else? You wouldn't believe it to look at her, but she can be pretty scary sometimes."

Somehow, I just couldn't see it.

But Steve was saying, "Yeah, especially after the phone thing." He looked to me and said, "You wanna know what I think?"

"What?" I asked.

"I think they wanted to get rid of us."

I recalled something that the brothers had told me when they first showed up. "Well, youweretrying to make Jake…" I paused. "…how'd you put it?"

Steve was grinning again. "Pop." He looked to Anthony and said, "Funny to think Luna popped first."

I had to ask, "But why would you even do that? Don’t you like him?"

"Jake?" Steve said. "Sure. But that don't mean we're not gonna give him shit once in a while."

I felt my gaze narrow. "Are you doing that to me?"

"What do you mean?" Steve asked.

"Well, you keep asking me if I’m pregnant."

"So?"

"So, are you waiting formeto pop?'

The two brothers exchanged a look, but neither one replied.

I looked from one to the other. "Oh, my God. You are. Aren't you?"

Steve looked to Anthony and said, "If she popsnow, does it count?"

Anthony shook his head. "Hell no. She's gotta pop right when you're asking her."

Steve said, "Hey Melody."

"Don’t even—"

"Are you pregnant?"

"Oh, for God's sake," I muttered, turning to head for the door. By the time I reached it, he'd asked me that same question three more times.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or to kill him.

But on the upside, all the teasing made the house feel a little less empty while I waited for Joel to return.

In spite of all our troubles, I was dying to see him, or heck, even a phone call would've been nice.

So far, I hadn't heard from him, not that I'd expected to. But then, as if by magic, just as I was pulling into a grocery store parking spot, I got my wish.