Here Comes Trouble (Trouble, Tennessee 0.50)

“What are you rambling about?” Draegan accepted a water bottle when Serena returned. “Thanks for remembering what I drink.”

“You’re welcome.” She beamed. “It takes me a while but I eventually get it right.”

Draegan frowned and opened his mouth to likely tell her he was a soda drinker and after five, he liked his beer on tap.

“Don’t,” Markie warned him.

As soon as she was out of hearing range, Draegan said, “How often do we eat here?”

“Hush up, whiner,” Markie said, patting Draegan’s stomach. “Besides, throw a little lemon juice in the top of that baby and you’ll—”

“Have lemonade?” Bradley suggested, interrupting Markie for a purpose. He wanted Draegan to cut to the chase and say what was on his mind.

“That’s not what I’m talking about. Lemon juice is good for fluid retention.”

Draegan rubbed his stomach. “You know you’re right. I’m a little bloated.”

“Bloated is for women on their periods.” Markie’s southern twang hit the high notes. “I’d be surprised if you were missing cycles and such. There’s a word for what you are but I won’t insult you since we have an audience and all.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Markie sighed. “Okay, so much for being politically correct and all that. You’re fat. All right? There. You knock on women with big hips or a few extra pounds and it’s just wrong, Drae. Let me put it in perspective for you. If I were you, I wouldn’t stand next to any celebrities posing nude and showing off their baby bumps. Somebody might mix you up with one of those expecting fathers.”

Draegan immediately turned to the window and checked out his reflection. “You’re serious?”

“Of course I am. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.” Markie turned his head and arched his brows, grinned from ear to ear and then faced Draegan again with a serious touch to his expression. “Drop the baby already or lose some weight.”

Serena returned with his large burger and stack of fries.

“Can we get an extra plate?” Markie asked.

“Sure.”

Markie and Draegan had been friends since elementary school and they carried on with something crazy and irrelevant all the time.

“Back to what I was saying,” Draegan said, holding his shoulders back and sucking in his gut. “I had meant to discuss this with Allister, but since he’d already left this morning I decided to run it by you first.”

“What do you mean he’s already gone?” Rya

n asked, shooting Bradley a knowing look.

“I’m guessing he went to pay Denny a visit. I haven’t seen him since last night. Anyway—”

Serena returned with the extra dinnerware and Markie removed all fries from Draegan’s plate.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” Draegan waved Markie’s hand away.

“Stop that,” Markie said, slapping his fingers. “Who loves you more than your momma and daddy?”

“Not with that again,” Ryan said, blowing out a hard breath. It was nearly impossible to ignore the disruptive conversation between Markie and Draegan once their bantering began. “What makes you think Allister would go to Denny’s?”

“He isn’t afraid of Denny,” Draegan pointed out.

“Still, Allister probably shouldn’t go see him alone,” Derek said. “But I’m not convinced that’s where he is. He would’ve told Ryan.”

“No, he would’ve asked me to ride along.” Ryan frowned. “Did you see him leave?”

Draegan enjoyed his burger. Around a mouthful of meat, he said, “No, but I haven’t seen him all morning.”