Page 38 of Slay King

The sunroom was warm, and the view of Maeme’s backyard with all the flowers in bloom would normally be a cozy, welcome spot. The book in my lap remained unread, although it lay open. Thankfully, Maeme had left me alone with my thoughts.

I stared out at the azaleas, Spanish bluebells, and tulips. My hand kept finding its way to my stomach. The reality seemed to be even too much for me to comprehend. The longer I sat and let this sink in, the more I found that I wanted the baby. Even if King didn’t, I did. I loved this baby, and how odd that was. To love something you’d never seen and just found out existed. It was strange and powerful. I looked down at my hand covering where the tiny baby was now growing.

Even with all the fear and uncertainty, a small trickle of joy was finding its way inside. Slowly taking over all else. I hadn’t planned this, but now that it was here, I wanted it. Possibly more than I wanted anything else.

The sound of Maeme’s footsteps got my attention, and I moved my hand from my stomach and turned several pages in the book before she appeared. I didn’t want her to think I was in here worrying. I couldn’t explain what I was currently going through, and feeling as if I had to stressed me out.

“I brought lunch,” Maeme said as she entered the sunroom.

I glanced up from the book in my lap to see her carrying a tray.

“I could have come to the kitchen to eat,” I told her, closing the book and setting it on the table beside me.

“You’ve had a lot to take in today. You need to relax,” she informed me, placing the tray down in front of me.

There was pasta salad with cucumbers, which I loved, fresh mixed berries, and what looked like chicken salad inside a croissant.

“Did you like the tea? I have some more that will be safe for you to drink if you’d like to try another.”

I shook my head. “The water is fine. Thank you. This looks amazing,” I replied.

“I’ve got to make sure you eat properly,” she said, giving me a pointed look.

I hoped that didn’t mean she was planning on keeping me here. Not that I didn’t enjoy her home, but I wanted to go back to King. He’d want me back with him too. There would be no explanation that she could give him to change that.

“I reckon King will be back soon,” she said, taking the seat across from me.

I reached for the tray and set it in my lap. “He didn’t say where he was going or for how long,” I told her.

“He leaves in a few days, as you know. If he thinks something is off with you, we might have a problem with him leaving. He has to go, Rumor. This is vitally important to us. If he knows you’re pregnant, he won’t leave.”

I wasn’t so sure. I picked up a strawberry and took a bite, simply nodding. I didn’t know what she wanted me to say.

“I don’t want you to feel alone in this. I’m just trying to protect King. He’s a hothead, and if he thinks he has to choose, he’ll choose you and the baby. That could get him killed. In our world, the family comes first, and that’s not necessarily the biological one. We will get this Scotlin May thing behind us, handle the Insantos, and when you bring my great-grandchild into this world, all will be well. I just need you to trust me.”

Trust with this family was a touchy subject. I trusted them to keep me safe, but I also knew there was so much I didn’t know. They would lie to me if they felt they needed to. I would never get the complete truth.

“Okay,” I replied, knowing I could say nothing else.

“Good,” she said, smiling and standing back up. “Now, I will leave you to eat in peace and enjoy your book.”

“Thanks again for lunch,” I told her.

Her smile was genuine and warm. That I could trust.

• Sixteen •

You’re crazy.

King

Rumor was upset. I could tell she was trying to hide it, but she wasn’t doing a good job at it. I reached for the bottle of whiskey and poured more than two fingers into a glass. Listening to Scotlin talk for hours and try on clothes had been fucking miserable. All I had wanted to do was get back to Rumor, but she had been standoffish since I’d picked her up from Maeme’s.

“Already drinking heavy in the afternoon.” Thatcher’s amused drawl came from the doorway.

I took a drink and turned around. “I thought you’d left for Louisville already,” I said.

“Nope. I’m staying behind. We can’t all go running off.”

---