CHAPTER 7
I took Tristan’s advice and drove out to visit Tylar the following afternoon. I had called her earlier to make sure she felt up to having company. She seemed genuinely happy about me coming out. I played with Preston in the downstairs family room while Jean went out to the barn to let Tylar know I had arrived.
“Well look at you, Gina,” she said her cheeks rosy from being outside. “Pregnancy definitely agrees with you.”
“Thanks, Ty. I feel really great.”
“God, I wish I did,” she replied, taking a seat on the couch and stretching out. “I have no energy at all. My doctor is raising the strength of my prenatal vitamins, plus he put me on two additional supplements. I have really put a lot of responsibility on Marcus as far as the horses go. Of course, Trey has been no help with all the hours he has been working with the new junior partner. I’ve told you about Amber, right?”
(Like a million fucking times, girlfriend!)
“Yes, I believe you’ve mentioned her to me.”
“Well get ready to meet her today. Trey called a little while ago and he is having her come out here since they have to work late. She is going to be staying for dinner. They should be here anytime. I want your opinion, Gina.”
“Sure, Ty. So what else has been going on? I suppose you heard the news about Nigel and Tess’s surrogate?”
“Yeah, isn’t that great? Susan called last evening. She is so excited about all of these babies coming.”
“Yes, it’s lovely,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“Okay Gina. What’s up with that?”
“Nothing. I don’t know. I guess it’s just me feeling insecure, that’s all.”
“Hey - did I tell you that I am pretty sure my baby is going to be a boy, too?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I figure with this pregnancy being so damned different than when I was pregnant with Preston, it must be a boy that I’m carrying. You know like how I was horny all of the time with Preston, and now the thought of sex is kind of repulsive to me. It’s really strange.”
“I’ll bet,” I said, “How does the Hot Nazi feel about that?”
She rolled her eyes and smiled.
“About like you would expect. You know Trey. So, how are things with you and Tristan?”
“We’re doing great. I agreed to cut back to two shifts a week; Tristan agreed to cut his hours by hiring a night manager. We’re enjoying some good sex; I’ve got no complaints.”
“Have you and Tristan thought about any names for the baby yet? I mean we need to make sure that we don’t have the same names lined up for our baby.”
(Okay - where in the hell is she coming off with this? My baby is freaking due first.)
“Well Ty, suppose we did have the same names selected for a boy? What then?”
Tylar looked at me quizzically. She got that I was getting a little bit irritated with her.
“Well, I don’t know. I guess I haven’t thought it through. I figured you would probably be naming your baby after Tristan.”
“I see,” I replied, “I guess I presumed that you would be naming your baby, if in fact it is a boy, after Trey.”
“Gina, are you pissed off at me for something?”
“Well maybe I am a little bit, girlfriend. I mean for Chrissake, you act like you are the only one with problems. You whine about Trey and Amber constantly; when you’re not whining about them you’re going on about how sick you feel. Now you freakin’ want to lay claim to a boy’s name when you aren’t even fucking sure you’re having one and I am. Plus, my baby is due first.”
“What does that have to do with it?”
“That means I will name him anything I damn well please. I don’t need your permission to do so.”
I saw her tear up immediately. God, now I really felt like a piece of shit.
“Hey Ty, I’m sorry-”
She held her hand up and shook her head.
“Don’t apologize, Gina. You simply said what you felt. I’m sorry that I have burdened you with my problems. I didn’t realize how taxing that must have been for you. I won’t bring either of those topics up to you again. I promise.”
“Tylar-”
We were interrupted when Trey came into the room with the infamous Amber trailing behind him.
“Well hi, Gina. I thought that was your car out front. How are you?”
“Hey Trey, I’m doing fine. Just came out to check on my BFF. We don’t get to see each other much these days.”
Trey looked over at Tylar; he could tell she was upset. He looked quickly back to me. I gave him a non-committal shrug.
Amber cleared her throat beside Trey.
“I’m sorry. Gina, this is our new partner at the firm, Amber Stratton. Amber, this is Gina Hatton.”
Amber held her well-manicured hand out to me, flashing me what was meant to be her totally, intimidating, ‘I-can-have-any-man-I-want’ look. Oh yes, Tylar had reason to hate this bitch.
“Amber, so nice to meet you,” I cooed, flashing her one of my ‘don’t-be-messing-with-my-man’ smiles, with a slight nod of my head to top it off.
“Gina? Are you Tristan’s Gina, then?”
(Now how in the hell did she know that?)
“Well . . . yes. Do you know Tristan?”
I could see that Tylar had taken an immediate interest in the way the conversation was going. She was all ears now.
“Well ‘yes’ and ‘no,’ I guess,” she laughed softly. “I mean I know he is Trey’s older brother; and I know that I’ve caught a glimpse or two of him at The Shady Lady when I’ve been out with friends, but the reason that I put it together just now was from Ian.
(Huh?)
“I beg your pardon?”
I could tell that even Trey’s interest had been sparked by that one.
“Oh I am sorry,” she said, managing to produce a soft blush on her cheeks. “I suppose that is a sore subject with you.”
“Not really,” I lied, “You know Ian?”
“Well, I mean I only met him once. It was about a month ago at The Shady Lady. He was fairly talkative; he mentioned your name and pointed Tristan out to me. I’ve just got a great memory, I guess. It’s like a steel trap. Once imbedded in my mind, I don’t forget it.”
“Well I suppose that comes in pretty handy in the line of work you’re in then.”
“Why yes; it serves my purpose well.”
(Why do I think she’s not referring to case law here?)
“Well at any rate, it’s been a pleasure, Amber. Tylar, I’m going to take off now. Hope you feel better soon.”
“Gina you can stay longer if you want.”
It was Tylar’s half-ass attempt to say she wasn’t going to throw me out for being pissy with her, but I felt extremely uncomfortable at the moment for a variety of reason. Besides that, I had another stop to make before going home.