When the door opened, the little bell above it jingled and Stacey walked in. She spotted Brent immediately sitting at a corner table, fingers drumming against the chipped wood. He had barely slept the night before, since Megan had called.
"What’s so urgent that you can’t text like a normal person?" Stacey frowned as she slid into the chair across from him.
"Thanks for meeting me," Brent sighed. “It’s Megan."
Stacey’s face immediately hardened. "What about her?"
He straightened, running a hand through his hair. "We talked. Yesterday. She gave me the choice.”
“What do you mean?” Stacey leaned closer, intrigued.
Brent lowered his voice as if he was scared someone could hear his words. “I’m going to be a father. She said I can either be part of this baby’s life, or walk away. I think I’ll need to quit school to support her now and the baby."
Stacey rolled her eyes. "No, you’re not. She could stick that choice up her ass.”
Brent snorted. “Easy for you to say.”
Stacey gave him a mischievous smile. “It isn’t yours.”
“What?” Brent shook his head.
“The baby isn’t yo-o-urs,” she drawled playfully.
Brent’s lface etched with worry. "She said I was her first. I was too drunk to remember any detail of that night.”
"I think Megan says whatever she needs to say to get what she wants," Stacey said bluntly then pulled her phone. “If there’s another thing I’m good at besides cheerleading, it’s stalking. And look what I’ve found.”
Brent sees the profile of the youth pastor with Megan. From his post, it looks like they are very close. "What does it mean?”
"It means she has another agenda on you.".
Brent exhaled shakily. "How do I even start?"
"You go back, look for him."
"Back?"
"To your old town. To the place you both came from. That’s where the truth is."
"I can’t do this alone.".
"Betty," Stacey said immediately, surprising even herself.
Brent looked at her. "What about her?"
"You trust her, don’t you?"
"Yeah."
"Then ask her for help. I’ve done my part," Stacey said, standing up. "Because you’re right—this is going to get messy. And if anyone knows your old life as well as you do, it’s her."