Read Online Poison Me by Cami Checketts - Free Book Online Page A

visiting Grandma.” She started and cast a guilty look at Ruby. “Not that he isn’t normally excited to see you Grandma, it’s just…”
    “Just the truth,” Ellie interjected.
    Chanel’s face suddenly felt hot. She barely knew Jake, yet his sister believed he was coming here to see her. She ducked her head, hoping it was true.
    “I can’t compare with Chanel.” Ruby chuckled softly. “So, how much longer until the baby comes?”
    “Two weeks.” Brinley reclined into the couch, slowly massaging her abdomen. Her stomach distended to the left, then rolled to the right. Brinley smiled and pressed against the bump. “This little guy’s a wild one. I’m praying he’s early.”
    “Wilder than Trevor?” Ellie asked, pointing to the little boy, who stole a packet of hot-chocolate mix from the snack counter, ripped it open, and poured the powder into his mouth.
    “Oh, Trevor,” Brinley moaned, but made no attempt to stop him.
    “Another boy.” Ellie sighed. “Heaven help us. Who did you say knocked you up this time?”
    Ruby gasped. “Ellie, really.”
    Marissa raised her eyebrows. “Please say I misunderstood that one. Did you just say ‘who knocked you up’?”
    “Yes, I did.” Ellie zeroed in on Brinley like a game-show host asking the million-dollar question. “Now out with it.”
    Chanel froze with embarrassment for Brinley. How dare Ellie say something so offensive to this worn-out young mother?
    Brinley watched her son scramble up and over a coffee table, barely missing the silk floral arrangement. “Be careful, Trevor.” She turned back to Ellie with a sigh. “I’ve already told you, Aunt Ellie. The father’s name is Harrison.”
    “Harrison, huh? That’s an odd one. Harrison’s not a first name, it’s a last name.”
    Brinley wiped her hand over her eyes. “It’s his first name. His last name is James.”
    “Now that’s a first name.” Ellie’s gaze swung to Ruby. “Don’t tell me. Please not—Marlene’s boy?”
    Ruby only nodded, but her grimace spoke pages.
    “Marlene James?” Marissa said. “Oh, heavens. If I ever get stuck at the grocery store listening to that woman talk again, I’ll beg for the electric chair.”
    Ellie giggled. “Good one, Rissa.”
    Marissa beamed.
    “He’s nothing like his mother,” Brinley defended.
    “That’s wonderful,” Ellie said. “So you’re going to marry this one, or is he a putz like Trevor’s daddy?”
    Brinley sighed again. “We’ve already talked about this subject as well.”
    Ellie’s eyes narrowed. “We did? I must be getting old. Refresh my memory—what was the excuse this time?”
    Brinley didn’t respond.
    “Come on, out with it.” Ellie patted her hand. “We’re all family here, except Chanel, and she doesn’t know enough people for her gossip to do damage. Tell us the loser’s story.”
    Brinley glanced at Chanel. “Harrison isn’t a loser.”
    Ellie nodded. “Oh, good, so he’s going to be a part of his baby’s life. He’s going to support you financially and emotionally. You’ll get married and life happily ever after. I’m so glad to hear it.”
    Brinley’s jaw tightened. “You just don’t know how to give up, do you?”
    “Leave her alone, Ellie,” Ruby said.
    “I will.” Ellie’s brow furrowed. She reached out and gently rubbed Brinley’s shoulder. “I’ll leave her alone after she tells me why another man isn’t taking responsibility for his child. I’ll leave this beautiful girl, who I love like she’s my own, alone after she tells me why she let another man break her heart.”
    Everyone studied Brinley. She shifted uncomfortably, a telling brightness in her dark eyes.
    “Oh, fine.” Brinley wrapped her arms around her belly as if she could protect the baby from the words she was about to speak. “Harrison and I started dating when he visited his mom last summer. We emailed back and forth, and then he came for Thanksgiving. Well, we really hit it off and…” She gestured