The Perfect Dress(42)

“You got it,” Jody said. “Holy shit!”

Paula looked up to see a new white double-cab truck pulling in behind her car and Lyle getting out of the driver’s seat. She slung open her door, anger replacing hurt, and went to Jody’s side.

Jody exploded out of the car, meeting Lyle halfway from his truck. “How dare you even show your face on this property.”

“Hey!” He held up both palms.

He was dressed in a fancy western shirt with pearl snaps, creased jeans, and if his boots didn’t cost five hundred dollars, Paula would eat that big silver belt buckle. “I just came to get your signature on the title to the motorcycle. It’s in both our names, and I’m selling it.”

“Why?” Jody asked.

He handed her a piece of paper. “I’ve got this truck and don’t need it. Besides, I’m going to be a father and my image has changed.”

Jody ripped it in half and handed it back to him. “You can wipe your sorry butt on that. I’m not helping you with anything.”

All of the emotions that Paula had felt at her mother’s house were suddenly transferred to Lyle. How dare he show up looking like a fancy rancher in his new truck and ask her friend to sign any damn thing?

“You best get your sorry ass out of here,” Paula growled.

Mitzi joined them. “Or else you could get blood on your fancy new truck seats.”

“So you have to have your fat friends take up for you these days, do you?” Lyle sneered.

Jody took several steps forward. “I can fight my own battles. I’m not signing any papers, so leave.”

“Come on, Jody. You know things weren’t good with us for a while, and I can’t sell the cycle without both our names on the title. Thank God your name isn’t on the property,” he said.

“And what does that mean?” she fired back at him.

Lyle crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her. “It means that I’m working on a deal with Quincy Roberts. When he buys the land, I’m going to use the money for a down payment to have a house built on the ranch. Kennedy deserves something better than a trailer house. Her dad gave us an acre of land for a wedding present.”

“And whose name is that in?” Jody asked. “Is your new bimbo going to work her ass off to pay for it like I did ours?”

“Don’t call her names. She’s my wife.” If looks could kill, Jody would have been nothing but a greasy spot on the grass.

You never were the wife, her mother’s voice taunted her.

“I’ll always have a special place for you in my heart.” He held out his arms as if he would hug her.

She glared at him. “You can light a match, stick it up your rear end, and burn that special place and that damned motorcycle at the same time.”

Paula and Mitzi both giggled.

Lyle shot them a dirty look and stepped closer to Jody.

Paula took a step forward, her hands clenched into fists. “I think it’s time you left.”

“Me, too,” Jody said.

“You always did like your friends more than you loved me,” he growled. “That’s what was the matter with our relationship.”

“Bullshit!” Jody said. “You not being able to keep your jeans zipped was what destroyed us and you know it. Get out of here and don’t come back.”

She turned around and stormed into the house, leaving him standing there. He jumped into his truck, slung gravel against the house, and disappeared in a cloud of gray dust.

“Are you okay?” Paula and Mitzi asked at the same time when they made it inside.

“I’ll be fine when I cool off,” Jody said. “The bastard had no right comin’ up here in his fancy clothes and new truck to ask me to sign so he could sell his motorcycle. Who does he think he is?” Jody said in a rush before she took a deep breath. “Special place in his heart, my ass—he was just butterin’ me up so I’d sign the title.”

“You keep that attitude,” Mitzi said. “If you ever have a doubt about any of that shit being your fault, just remember the way you feel right now.”

“I promise I will.” Jody took a beer from the refrigerator, twisted the cap off, and took a long gulp. “Too bad you can’t have one of these, Paula.”

“Honey, I’d rather have a double shot of Jack Daniel’s on the rocks,” Paula laughed. “But you deserve that after the way you stood up to him.”

“And you deserve a whole bottle of whiskey after what you endured tonight.” Mitzi pulled the tabs on two cans of root beer and handed one to Paula. Then she raised her can in a toast. “To friendship.”

“Amen.” Jody touched her bottle to Mitzi’s can.

“Halle-damn-lujah!” Paula raised hers to join them.





Chapter Eleven


Mitzi sat up straight in bed that Friday morning when the alarm went off. Until she slapped the alarm clock, she wasn’t sure if she was awake or still in that horrible dream. She’d dreamed that Paula’s baby was stillborn and they were planning the baby’s funeral.

She blinked several times and then caught the aroma of bacon and coffee finding its way under her bedroom door. She was awake, thank God, but she hoped that was one dream that never came true.