AN: Because this is just a small chapter, I'll be uploading this chapter and the next at the same time! Enjoy and don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you think!
Beth was slowly pushing her cart through the aisles while trying to decide what to cook for dinner when she heard a woman's voice behind her.
"Beth Boland."
She looked back and saw a familiar face that surprised her. She ran into old classmates frequently, but never the one who was determined to steal Dean away from her when they were younger. She laughed to herself when she thought about how if it weren't for her children, she would regret not letting her have him.
"Sonia Allen. How are you?" Beth asked, turning around and smiling out politeness.
"Oh! I am good and I see you are too." Sonia remarked. "You and Dean are brave souls to have another child at your age."
Beth realized that not a thing had changed. Sonia was still a mean girl who would smile in your face while taking a dig at you.
"We're actually not together anymore." Beth cleared her throat, hating the fact that this news probably gave Sonia great joy.
"Hm. Did you remarry?"
"It's complicated." That was the best way she could describe it. "What are you doing in town?"
She was going to try her best to steer the conversation away from her, but Sonia wouldn't have it.
"My mother's birthday. Who's your boyfriend? Fiancé?"
"You don't know him." she answered quickly. "I apologize for the rush, but this seventh month has made me a little easy to tire." She turned around and placed her hands back on her shopping cart.
"We should get together before I fly back out." Sonia suggested.
"Sure." Beth said flatly, not even bothering to turn back around.
The conversation played in her head the whole drive home. The longer she sat in the house doing nothing, the more annoyed she got. She couldn't even enjoy snacking in the kitchen, which had become her favorite thing to do. She had felt the judgment radiating from Sonia's body while they were talking. She knew that everyone was judging her, but the smug look on Sonia's face made her judgment feel ten times worse. Her front door opened and closed and she turned around and saw Rio. He didn't get his usual reaction, she just turned back around and continued nibbling on her mashed avocado and crackers.
"Something wrong?" Rio asked, sensing the tension.
Beth sniffed and frowned. "You reek of marijuana. I told you to always shower before coming here if you were smoking."
"The kids aren't here." Rio shrugged. "And I ain't smoke any. What's really wrong with you?"
At the moment, she loathed how he had grown to know her so much that he could tell when something was on her mind or bothering her.
"I'm sick of everyone judging me." she finally said. "I'm sick of not being able to clearly explain this situation that I carry every day."
"Who gives a damn what people think?" Rio asked, shaking his head.
"I do. I give a damn. We're two different people from two very different worlds. We're fooling ourselves thinking whatever this is will last long."
"It better last a minute. Cause I went legit for you." Rio admitted.
"What?" Beth asked, a smile involuntarily creeping on her face. "You're kidding."
"A dumbass auto shop job."
Beth stood up and walked over to where Rio was leaning onto the kitchen island.
"You can work magic with cars and you know so much about them. It's perfect."
Rio turned to face Beth and smirked. "I'm only doing it for you two. I'm not happy about it."
"Remember the first time we had sex? That night in the abandoned chop shop? I'm going to think about that night if you ever come here all greasy." She pressed her lips to Rio's and smiled until he returned the kiss.
"Alright, so maybe I'm a little happy about it."
She laughed and he smiled, glad to see the reaction he was used to when he visited her.
Later that night, while Lia was kicking Beth's butt from inside her belly, Ruby layed next to her in bed.
"You'll never guess who I ran into at the store today. Sonia Allen."
"Bitchy bitch from high school? Ew."
Beth laughed. "I know! She said Dean and I were brave for having a child at my age. Then inquired about who got me knocked up."
"Sounds like she's still the same." Ruby said, rolling her eyes.
"I can't lie though. It got to me."
Ruby sat up and looked at Beth.
"I am knocked up by someone I can't really explain to people. Definitely can't tell anyone how we met. Embarrassed to admit I got pregnant while I was still married." she explained.
"Beth, you don't have to explain yourself or your situation to anyone. Least of all, that bitchy bitch. We've gotten to see a glimpse of a different Rio over the past few months and not everyone gets that. Not everyone will understand."
Unknowingly driving Ruby's point home, Rio walked in with a bowl of ice cream.
"They ain't have the kind with the brownies so I got red velvet." Rio explained, handing the bowl to Beth.
She sat up and her face lit up. "Perfect!"
"I should know by now that you never want what you say you want." he said, shaking his head.
"Thank you." she said, kissing him before he left back out.
"See? That's the guy we get to see. Forget about what anyone else around here says. That's the guy who knocked you up."
Beth laughed. "It is."
"So don't let anyone make you feel bad or guilty about it. As long as you're happy and safe, who cares?"
Right then and there, Beth made a conscious decision to try and let the judgment and people's snide comments roll off her back. Because the truth was that they had no idea what she and Rio had together. They didn't know what they were like together or what they felt for one another. So they couldn't possibly understand.