Twist of Fate by Louise, Tia (free ebook reader for ipad .txt) 📗

saw it on TMZ. He was kicked off the cast of this big new show Mighty Thunder when it came out he was a porn star.”

“What’s going on?” I slip in behind Sly, frowning at Mims.

Sly’s voice rises louder. “Mims claims she has some dirt on Scout. Something about how he went to L.A. and turned into a gay porn star.” My cousin blows air through her lips. “Like that would ever happen. Not that it matters, but Scout Dunne is about as gay as I am.”

“It’s right here.” Mims turns her phone towards my cousin.

“Scout’s not gay.” My voice is quiet, but I’m concerned. From what I understand porn is a dangerous business involving high-risk behavior.

“Like you’d know anything, For Sales.”

I can’t believe Mims just called me by that lame cutdown from high school.

“I actually would know.” I’m not sure why my voice sounds so small.

Sly studies Mims’s phone, and the concern in her voice makes my stomach twist. “Where did you get this?”

“I told you. My cousin sent it to me.” I look over Sly’s shoulder at the image.

It’s him. I’d recognize Scout’s perfect physique anywhere.

He’s standing upright, holding a football over his shoulder, looking for all the world like Michelangelo’s David—with the most important part blurred out. Still, I can fill in the blanks from my memory, erect and magnificent.

I imagine he’d be a very popular porn star if that’s what happened…

Mims snatches her phone back. “I’m not surprised. I gave Scout Dunne every opportunity in high school to be with me, and he never even made a pass.”

“So naturally he’s gay.” Sly’s voice is sarcastic.

“He’s not gay.” I say it louder.

My cousin joins the chorus. “You’re a two-faced, back-stabbing bitch, Mims Watson. This just proves it.”

“Becky said he’s been calling J.R. for the last month begging for money.” Mims sniffs, shoving a lock of hair over her shoulder. “Maybe he’s not gay, but you never know what people will do when they’re desperate.”

“I’ve got to go.” Squeezing Sly’s arm, I head out the door and jump in Aunt Regina’s Cadillac again.

It’s only a half-mile to J.R. and Becky’s small house on the outskirts of town. I’ve never visited, but I know how to get there. Pulling into the driveway, I study the small, red-brick structure with a rusty aluminum playset out front. Off to the side, an open space of ground looks like a perfect spot to practice football.

As I walk to the front door, I think about what I want to say… J.R. and I have never talked much, but I hope he’ll be able to help me.

I haven’t made it two steps when Becky’s voice stops me. “What do you want?”

Becky’s only a year older than me, but her voice is low and husky, like a smoker. Or one of those old movie actresses. She’s dressed in a faded pink house dress, and she’s not wearing any makeup, just some lipstick. She looks so much older now.

“Uh, hi, Becky. Is J.R. at home?” By contrast, I sound so young and so naïve.

“He’s at work. Why are you here to see my husband?”

She’s holding baby Jesse in her arms, and I step closer. “Oh, look at him. Can I hold him?”

She hesitates a moment before bumping the screen door open with her hip and passing the baby to me. I take him from her with a little dip, following her inside.

She almost seems glad to have him out of her arms.

He’s a beautiful little boy with bright blue eyes just like his uncle’s—and his dad’s, I guess. I can’t help wondering if our little boy or girl might look like this.

“He’s so sweet. You must love being a mamma.”

“It has its moments.” Ice-blue eyes study me. With her straight, pale-blonde hair and sharp features, she reminds me of a hawk. “So, what’s this about J.R.? You two were never friends.”

Chewing my lip, I figure I should put her suspicious mind to rest. “I wanted to ask his advice about something… About Scout.”

Her eyes cut up and down my body, and she lifts her chin. “He knocked you up, didn’t he?”

It’s not a question. “I wouldn’t put it that way.”

“What do you want John to do about it?” It’s an accusatory jab.

“Nothing!” I exhale a laugh, shaking my head. “I just wanted to talk to him… About what I should do, since… you know. You’ve been through this.”

Her eyes narrow. “You haven’t told him yet?”

“Not yet, but I’m going to. I really want to fly to L.A. and tell him in person. It seems like the best way to handle it, but this afternoon, I kind of heard about something that has me worried…”

“You heard about the porn thing.” Her voice is flat, and she rolls her eyes as she sits in a chair.

It’s like she’s some kind of evil wizard. “Sort of…”

“Don’t do it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you need money?” She crosses her leg and folds long fingers together. “Someone to take care of you? Are you going to L.A. to move in with him or hoping he’ll propose to you?”

She asks it all so fast, my brain spins. “No… None of that. I don’t need any money, and I have a plan for taking care of myself. I just… He needs to know.”

“Why?” Becky steeples her fingers in front of her lips.

“Because it’s his child. He has a right—”

“Don’t. Do. It.” She enunciates each word, and my brow furrows. “You think it’s the right thing to do because that’s what everybody says. But you’re forgetting the Dunne brothers are this town’s shining superheroes. If you show up with Scout’s baby, wreck his dreams of being a Hollywood superstar, they’ll blame you for ruining his chances.”

“I think Scout’s chances might be a little shaky at the moment…”

“It doesn’t matter. You’ll take the blame.” She pushes out of the chair, and saunters to the kitchen. “When I told John I was pregnant, they blamed me for everything. When he walked away from his NFL deal to be a