Chapter 16
1203 Words
I grabbed my keys and made my way to the grocery store. I had no plans on eating healthy. All I wanted was junk food and lots of ice cream.
I grabbed 4 cartons of ice cream, a few bags of chips, some pizza rolls and other frozen junk food.
Standing in line, I realized Clay was standing in front of me with a cart full of beer and whisky.
“Looks like you have a better night ahead of you than me.”
Clay turned and looked at me and then down to my cart.
He gave me a small smirk. “I don’t know if it looks like you're having a party.”
“Yeah, a party of one.”
He didn’t respond because it was his turn to check out.
“See ya later Marie.”
“Bye Clay.”
I was loading my bags into the jeep when Clay pulled up next to me. “So I was thinking maybe my party of one and your party of one could hang out? I honestly don’t feel like being alone.”
I wanted to be alone but I knew he needed a friend. “Sure. I live above the bakery. Do you want to follow me?”
“Yeah sounds good.”
Clay helped me with the groceries and, since I now had company, I ordered pizza and wings.
“Rough day?” He asked, pouring himself a glass of whisky.
“You could say that….I just found out I was the other woman.”
He slid the glass to me and poured a second glass.
“I can relate to that feeling, but I did to myself.”
“I heard she got engaged today.”
“Yeah, I really thought she was going to give us a try but….”
“But she ran back to Colton.”
“Yeah, and honestly, none of my friends can stand her and the situation. Which is why I was planning on having a party of one.”
“What is the appeal? I mean she is a bitch.”
He choked a bit on his drink. “She wasn’t always like that…. Honestly, you remind me a lot of her. But something changed with her, but that didn’t stop me from loving her.”
“I guess.”
“So your boyfriend had another girlfriend?”
“Better he has a fiancé and is getting married in 3 months.”
“Dang. I guess we have a lot in common.”
“Terrible taste?”
We both looked at each other and burst out laughing.
The rest of the night went on with us drinking way too much and laughing to the point where I was crying. I laughed so hard.
By 10 we realized we had been drinking for 5 hours and too drunk. Clay crashed on the couch as I crawled into bed.
The following morning, I woke up without a headache but I felt like crap. I walked to the kitchen and downed a bottle of water. Looking over, I found Clay starting to wake up. I grabbed another water and some Tylenol.
“Here,” I said, handing the bottle to him.
“Thanks.”
“Thanks for last night. I thought I wanted to be alone but I really needed a friend.” I said, feeling myself blush.
“I needed a friend too. How about we go to Momma’s dinner and get breakfast. Lots of grease always helps with a hang over.”
I was in better shape so I chose to drive us to dinner. As we walked in, the first thing I saw was the Allen family. Susan, Charlie, Evan, Issac, Hunter, Colton, Abby and Becca are all seated in the center of the restaurant.
“Marie!” Susan said, waving at me like crazy.
I waved back and looked up at Clay. “Can we find a seat in the back?”
“You bet.”
We made our way to the far end of the dinner. We sat in a booth and I noticed across from us a little girl, maybe about 4, sitting at the table coloring.
She was super cute with curly brown hair and big blue eyes.
Clay and ordered a ridiculous amount of food.
As we waited for our food we talked and found ourselves laughing hard and loudly.
“We should probably calm down…people are staring at us.” I whispered.
“Let them.” He said, winking at me.
It was at that moment that I heard the little girl in a booth over. “But Mommy, I’m hungry now.”
“I know, honey, but mommy only gets one meal for free and we need it to be for lunch and dinner.”
The woman talking to the little girl was our waitress. I looked at Clay and knew he heard the same thing I had heard.
He leaned towards me. “That’s Emily. She got pregnant in high school and her family disowned her. I heard that baby daddy is a tool.”
“We can’t let a little girl go hungry.”
He smiled at me and stood up and walked to Emily, our waitress. After a few words, he walked over to the little girl with Emily right behind him.
“Hi. I’m Clay. A friend of your mom’s.”
The little girl looked up at him with curious eyes and over to her Mom, who nodded her head.
“I’m Bella.”
“Bella..What a pretty name. My friend Marie and I ordered way too much food and we were wondering if you would like to join us and help us eat it all?”
“Yes please.” She said with a huge smile.
He put out his hand and she took it as he walked her to our table.
“Hi Bella. I’m Marie.” I said as she sat next to me in the booth.
“Hi… You are really pretty.”
“So are you.”
Emily brought us our food and Bella’s eyes were huge. For a little girl, she ate a lot of food. She was right. She was really hungry.
She was such a smart little girl and so funny. I think I enjoyed her more than anything.
After breakfast, we had all of the left over boxed up for Bella.
“Thank you both so much.” Emily said with tears in her eyes.
“No need to thank us. She is an amazing little girl.”
Clay paid the bill and as we got ready to leave, I pulled out all of the cash I had and put it on the table as a tip.
Clay smiled at me and did the same. As we were walking out, Emily came running out after us.
“Clay!”
“Did I forget to pay something?” He asked, acting dumb.
“No, you left too much of a tip.”
He laughed. “No we didn’t.” He said as he got into my jeep.
I smiled over at her and noticed the entire Allen family watching us from the window.
- Writer
