Page 161 of Tainted

Sydney waited until I climbed out of the car and was close enough to hear her words. “I’m sorry about that,” she masked her inner turmoil, clearing her throat. “I wanted it to be true so bad, you know. I was stupid to think this time would be any different.”

“Definitely stupid, but I know how bad you wanted that.” Sydney scoffed at my blunt rebuttal to keep her tears at bay, “Sometimes people just aren’t capable of being what you want or need them to be.”

“You’ve always been that and more. Even tonight, you didn’t have to come through for me, but you did. Thanks, Keyes.”

“You’re welcome. Now repay me and act like you have some sense. I’m tired as fuck and would like to go to sleep without a long-drawn-outtalk.”

While I appreciated Banana Girl’s house, there was no place like home. Opening the door to mine, Zara was still awake, sitting in the living room. She smiled as I rounded the corner until she saw Sydney behind me.

“How did she do?” I asked Shaudi.

“She didn’t eat much, but she was chilling.”

“You snitch!” Zara complained, shoving his arm while I shook my head.

“Syd is staying in the guest room tonight. You’re upstairs with me.” I pointed at Zara, then the stairs.

Neither Syd nor Zara said a word to each other, but I wasn’t complaining. That was better than being stuck in the middle of them. Zara disappeared while I thanked Nolan and Shaudi for their help. After they left and Syd settled in the guest room, I walked into my own, and Zara sat in the middle.

“What is she doing here?”

“Her dad died, and her mom is out of town. It’s just for a night or two.”

Zara watched me move around the room, undressing while trying to manage a response that didn’t showcase her anxiety. She knew there was more to it than that.

“If anybody should have an attitude, it’s me. You didn’t feed my baby,” I complained.

Zara let out a hysterical laugh.

“You are insane if you think that trumps your ex-situationship staying for a sleepover.”

“My baby trumps everything if you didn’t know, so I’m going to shower to fix my attitude while you fix yours.”

Strolling over to her, she tried to turn her head to resist my kiss. I almost forgot she was pregnant and collapsed on top of Zara to remind her who’s boss, but my hand took her face, bringing it closer.

“Is this what I have to look forward to for the next nine months?” she asked, kneading her face into my kisses.

“Try the rest of your life. Have those toes ready for me.”

“I hope you plan on rubbing them.”

“Fix your attitude, and I might.”

I stood under the showerhead until the water finally ran cold. Stepping out of the bathroom, remnants of Zara’s attitude filledthe room, but a foot rub and shooting down every baby name I came up with lightened the mood. The room was quiet except for the soft rise and fall of her breathing until exhaustion pulled me under.

I opened my eyes the next morning to the sun filtering through the blinds. Patting around the bed, Zara was nowhere to be found. Knowing Syd was still here made me yank the comforter back and jog downstairs.

She was standing in the kitchen focused on the iPad, so I parked behind her to look for myself.

“What are you doing?”

“Since we’re keeping the baby, I need to find a doctor,” I nodded, resting my hands on her stomach. The more we talked about it, the more real it felt, like the future was slowly taking shape.

"I’m thinking about Dr. Allen," she said, her voice light but careful. "She’s got great reviews and a high success rate in deliveries without complications.”

Sydney walked in, her eyes narrowing as she moved between us. The tension was initially subtle, but I felt it when her gaze shifted to Zara’s stomach. Her expression turned cold, the kind that sent a chill down my spine.

"You're pregnant?" She cut me off, her voice laced with disbelief.

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