Page 36 of Size Queen
“You could say, ‘Hey, Damon, remember those times we didn’t wear a condom? Well, now we’re paying for it! Ta-dah!’ Something like that.”
“Thanks.” I laugh and then sigh. “I don’t know. I just don’t know. He’s the father, but I’m the one carrying this child. It’s my responsibility right now, and mine alone. I need time.”
“That makes sense,” Sabrina agrees. “It might not even matter anyway.”
“What does that mean?” I frown, confused.
“Well, I might know a little more about what’s going on with the Rolling Heads than you at the moment,” says Sabrina. “If you haven’t been talking to Damon, then you don’t know what’s going on.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve been keeping in touch with Kace,” she confesses.
“Oh really?” I ask, amused. “What doesthatmean—‘keep in touch’?”
“Really?” she scoffs. “This coming from the girl who got knocked up by Kace’s best friend. So what—we’ve hooked up a couple of times, big deal.”
“Please stop saying I got ‘knocked up’… however true it may be.”
“Noelle, you have to lighten up a little bit,” she says. “You’re sick, but that doesn’t mean you have to sulk like this.”
I ignore the jab. “How often do you and Kace talk?”
“We don’t talk on the phone, but we text each other like every other day,” she replies. “If we’ve had a long day or just need a quick release, we meet up and get it.”
“Nice.” I chuckle. “So, what has Kace been telling you lately?”
“He says that the police raided their clubhouse the other day,” Sabrina says quietly. “They apparently waited until Damon was gone and pounced when it was just Kace there and a few other guys.”
I gasp. “Holy shit. What for?”
“Probably for any number of reasons.” She laughs.
“I don’t understand,” I say, perplexed. “What did they do to make that happen?”
“Kace says the police went into the clubhouse without a warrant,” says Sabrina. “So I guess they feel pretty sure they’ve got them on a few things. I’m not sure about the full scale, but he did say something about a fire.”
“What?” I ask, feeling more confused.
“They might be in trouble for arson,” she clarifies. “Their rival gang gottheirclubhouse burnt down, and they’re claiming it was them that started it. He said they didn’t start it, but… I don’t know, he was really cryptic about it.”
“I don’t believe it.” I shake my head. “So, that’s what Damon does to someone he doesn’t like? He burns their house down?”
“I don’t know the details, babe,” says Sabrina. “All I know is the cops are looking into the Rolling Heads, and that’s not a good thing.”
“Now Idefinitelycan’t tell him anything,” I say between swigs of water. “He clearly is dangerous, and I won’t expose my child to that level of peril.”
“I don’t think he’s a bad man, Noelle.”
“I don’t, either, but I’m doing what’s best for my baby,” I persist.
“You do whatever you think is best.” Sabrina shrugs. “I know he’s got a dark side, and I understand you don’t want to lose your child to it, but I still think he has a right to know. If you don’t want him to be involved in the child’s life, I’m sure he would be more than fine with that. Don’t most guys want to avoid commitment and kids and all that shit? Don’t be so afraid! Just be honest.”
Later that night,I lie in bed, the sick feelingsfinallysubsiding somewhat. I’m angry that it couldn’t have happened earlier, but I’m grateful that it happened at all.
I look at my phone, tempted to call Damon back. Since my head is still aching and I still haven’t found the right words, I’m taking it slow.
Hey, I text. How are you, mister?