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Gianna

“I ’m here to pick up a prescription for Leroy Dobson.”

“And you are?”

“Mr. Wiley, it’s me, Gianna.”

The older man squints at me through his glasses. “Well I’ll be. When did you move home?”

“A few weeks ago. Listen, I gotta get to work soon, and Jelissa said dad’s scripts were ready.”

“It’ll be a few more minutes. Have a seat over there.” He points a boney finger toward the row of blue plastic chairs shoved against the wall. “I’ll call when its ready.”

“Right. Thanks.” Ugh. Jelissa. I plop my bottom into one of the bucket seats and pull my cell out to check my email to see if there is any news from the insurance company.

Not that I am expecting them to work quickly, but the agent said he’d send me some information about a rental until I figure out my car situation.

“I don’t know. Which test should I buy?” I look to my left down the aisle where the drugstore sells pregnancy tests and wish that I hadn’t. Freaking Maxi. Ugh. You’ve got to be kidding me. “It’s been a month, maybe two. I don’t know, Trixie.”

“Dobson,” Mr. Wiley calls out and Maxi looks in my direction as I get up from the chair. I ignore her and grab the bag of my dad’s medications. This day keeps getting better and better.

The moment I turn to leave Maxi is blocking my exit. “Hey, Gianna, right?”

“Yup. That’s me. ”

“I don’t know what you heard, but I’d appreciate it if you did hear anything if you’d keep it to yourself.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if I did its really none of my business.”

“Stud might pretend he likes you, but the guy is all talk. The minute he gets bored he’ll come back to me.”

“I don’t owe you any explanations, but Stud is a grown man, and I’m capable of making my own choices.

You want to scare me off him. I get it. You got feelings for the guy.

It sucks when you want to be with someone, but they don’t give a shit about you.

Because if he did care, Maxi, he wouldn’t have forgotten about you, kept you waiting, and kicked you out of his bed so I could sleep in it.

That’s right. I slept in his arms all night, and I didn’t have to fuck him to get his attention.

And I sure as hell don’t have to fake a pregnancy scare to keep him. ”

I bump my shoulder against hers and this time she gets out of my way. It doesn’t take long to drive to the trailer park. I swore I’d never come back to this place and yet here I am.

Thirteen trailers packed closely together in a bottom right outside of the city limits.

These trailers have been here longer then I’ve been breathing.

Rusted tin cans forgotten in time. The world keeps turning while they stand still.

I drive through the park until I reach lucky number seven.

The sticker on the end has long faded, cracked, and peeled but the outline remains above my former bedroom window.

The truck that broke down when I was fourteen sits unmoved since the day the engine died.

Dad swore he’d get a new job to repair it but never did.

I park next to the heap of junk, grabbing the bag of medication as I exit the car.

Most of the snow and ice from yesterday has turned to slush.

I hope I don’t get mud on the hem of my work pants.

I don’t have time to go back to my brother’s house to change.

The steps creak, the nails sliding up and back down with the boards. Chaser will have to replace them before the old man goes through them. When I get to the door my dad is waiting with a toothless smile that breaks my heart. “Hey, Dad.”

“Gia, it’s great to see you girl. Come on in out of the cold.” He shuffles aside, and I follow him into the living room. He doesn’t get around as fast as he used to. “Sit down here.” He shoves his blankets to the floor.

“I can’t stay. I only stopped by to drop your medication off. Jelissa was held up with the baby.”

His face falls. “Oh. I see.”

Shit . My stomach churns at the smell of old garbage and the piled up dishes. When I look to the entertainment stand, I find all my pageant trophies, crowns, and ribbons on display and my heart crumbles.

“Tell everyone about my Gianna. Prettiest girl in all of Kentucky. Never was a beauty contest you couldn’t win.”

“Dad.” My throat grows tight. Tears burn in the backs of my eyes. “Have you eaten today?”

“Nah. Don’t worry about me. All these medications mess with my appetite.”

I stare at his scrawny appearance. “You should eat. My treat. I’ll take you to the Dairy Bar and get you a hotdog or whatever you want.”

“‘Preciate the offer, sis, but I stick to my liquid diet.”

“Should you be drinking on your pills? What’s all this for anyway?”

“Blood pressure and my ticker don’t work the way it used to. Doc’s got me on shit for my cholesterol too. Says I should eat better but the sooner my body gives out the better off I’ll be.”

“Why do you say that shit?”

“Nobody cares about me. Jelissa takes pity on me but you and Chaser been done with me for a long time. I know I wasn’t a decent father. Was a terrible husband. No one will miss me when I’m gone. I’ve made my peace with it. You should too. Shouldn’t have come back here. Nothing here for ya.”

“Yeah well Chaser, Jelissa, and Erik are here. I’m staying with them so if you need something you can call me, okay?”

“I do all right.”

“Right.”

“It was nice of you to stop by, Gia. Don’t come back. You always were meant for better people. A better life than this.” His words punch me straight in the gut. They shouldn’t hurt me, but they do. I don’t let my tears fall till my feet hit the last step.

“Gia?” My head snaps up at the sound of my name, and I quickly wipe around my eyes. “Thought that was you.”

“Jesse. Hey. Funny running into you again.”

“I’m next door at my grandma’s place. Well its mine now. Inherited the trailer when she passed away.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Eh, she was a hateful old bitch.” He chuckles, and I grimace because he’s not wrong. “How’s he doing today? I check in on him when he isn’t being a stubborn old bastard.”

“You do?”

His blue eyes darken. “Well yeah. Never stopped thinking about you. If I could go back, I’d change it all but the way I felt about you. ”

“That’s sweet, but that was a long time ago. I’m not the girl you knew.”

Jesse takes a step closer and wraps a lock of my hair around his finger. “I know that, but I want to get to know the new you.”

“Aren’t you with Donna?”

“Nah. That was business. She wants me to do a remodel on her bathroom. She’s married to Vic. He took over his old man’s used car lot. Girl like her was always attracted to money.”

“I need to get to work.”

“Just think about it. We were good together.”

“Yeah we were until we weren’t. How old is your daughter now?”

“I don’t have a kid.” He shakes his head, and his nostrils flare out wide. “Always believing the worst of me. Only ever loved you. Never cheated. I was faithful, but the moment they locked me up you cut me off.”

“That’s not true and you know it. I was sixteen.”

He grabs my upper left arm and squeezes. “You lost faith in me. I know I fucked up, but I’m here now and you’re back. Doesn’t that mean something to you?”

“Let go of my arm.”

Jesse has this wild look in his eyes that screams danger. “We aren’t over, Gia. Not by a long shot.”

My father opens the door to his trailer. “You okay, Gianna?”

“I’m fine, Dad. Jesse here was simply welcoming me home.” I jerk my arm out of his hold and get in the car without another word .

I turn the key, and nothing happens. “Are you kidding me.” I try it again and nothing. It’s like the battery has completely died.

Jesse taps on the driver’s side window. “Need a ride?”

I glance at the time on my cell phone. I need to be at work in fifteen minutes. Antonio wouldn’t fire me if I was late, but I don’t have time to sit around figuring out what’s wrong with Jelissa’s car either.

**

“Thanks for the lift,” I tell Jesse as I exit the passenger side of his car.

“Anytime. You need a ride home?”

“I got her covered,” Stud announces seeming to have appeared out of thin air. Before Jesse or I for that matter can respond, Stud is yanking me away and closing the passenger door .

“Excuse you,” I snap and try to get loose. I’ve had about enough of men thinking they can manhandle me today. “Hands off.” Stud lets go but he doesn’t give me any space.

“Why’s this dipshit giving you a ride? Told you I’d pick you up.”

“I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Another car door slams, and I glance over to see Jesse approaching Stud and me. Ugh. What is it with dudes and macho pissing contests?

“What’s your problem, man?”

“Move along, Lancaster. This doesn’t concern you.”

“Gianna is my business.”

Oh God they are doing that whole bumping of their chests thing.

“Both of you cut it out. I gotta go clock in. Jesse, I appreciate the ride, and I get that you think you still care about me. We were kids and life goes on. I want nothing but the best for you, truly. It’s just not going to be with me.”

He stares at his shoes then flashes me his panty dropping smile that is pure Jesse—heartbreaking and beautiful. “See you around, Gia.” He climbs in his car and takes off.

“As for you.” I poke Stud in the chest, and he grabs my wrist and pulls me into him. A thrill shoots through me as he gazes down at me wearing a big cheesy grin. “I like you, but I don’t know that I’m cut out for your lifestyle. The club. The girls. I don’t do drama and I don’t share my man.”

Tucking his thumb under my chin he forces me to meet his gaze. “There’s something between us. I want to know where it’ll takes us, and I think you do too. You just put down your claim for me to your ex. ”

“No. I was letting him know there wasn’t a chance I’d ever want him back, so he’d leave me alone.”

“Where’s Jelissa’s car?”

“At my dad’s place. It wouldn’t start, and Jesse offered me a ride.”

He snorts. “That’s convenient.”

“You think he messed with her car. That’s dumb.”

“I’ll take a look at it. Tonight no taking rides from your ex.”

I nod. “Okay.”

“I’ll be here about ten thirty.”

“Later.” I start to move off when he pulls me back.

“Forgetting something again, babe.” Stud’s mouth comes down on mine and my leg lifts midway like in the movies.

I definitely love the way this man kisses me, but in the back of my mind I hear the warning bells.

They’re being rang by Maxi. I know I should tell him about our little run in at the pharmacy, but I’ve had enough drama for today, and my shift hasn’t even started.