Page 32 of Sinful Deception

“You intentionally over-simplify and choose the negative edge to describe what I’m attempting.”

“You love her, but only when Fletch is nice to you.”

“Bullshit! I’m removing Charlie from the equation completely, you jerk! Hehasbeen nice to me. Every single day since our fight, he’s called, he’s sent flowers, he’s been nice. By your theory, that means Mia and I areonagain.”

“Boggles my mind.”

“I’m removing him from the equation,” she snarls, “and I’m removing me, too. That way, that sweet little girl can grow up without our relationship ebbing and flowing with Charlie’s moods.”

“Aka: she can grow up withoutyou.” We’ve discussed this already. “You were mad at him, so you walked away. But you forgave him enough to show up yesterday. Now Mia’s still copping the fallout of his asshole moment, even when he’s not?”

“His wife was dying!” Fat tears drop to her cheeks and flow to the sharp edge of her jaw. “Dying, Mayet. I was hurt by his behavior, but I’m not a monster. He needed his friends, and even if he and I are not that—friends—I still wanted him to know I was around.”

“But you don’t extend that same kindness to Mia? It’s honestly mind-numbing how backward this all is. If you want to maintain your anger at him, do it. But be there for Mia! Be consistent for her, especially now. She did nothing to deserve this pain, and she needs us now, more than ever. She has her dad, and she has Archer and Cato and the others. But she wept for Aubree last night. And you. And she clung to me. She’s crying out for thewomenin her life.”

“I can’t be what she wants me to be. I can’t waltz in and take that role I know you’re implying I should.”

“Her friend?”

“That’s not what you’re saying, and we both know it.”

“Her mom?” I smirk and slowly turn the coffee in my hands. “It’s not a dirty word, Fifi. You can say it.”

“Less than twenty-four hours after Jada dies, and you’re already shopping for a new mommy for Mia? That’s crass, even for you.”

I scoff. “You were her stepmomlast summer, sitting on a yacht in the middle of the Caribbean, braiding her hair and giggling over silly things that made sense to no one but you two. That was long before Jada’s passing, so don’t stand there and pretend I’m out here shopping before her body is even cold.”

“I can’t step back into her life and pretend everything is okay,” she groans. “Her mother is dead, forever making her a martyr, and her mother hatedme. Of all the women in Copeland City that Charlie could bring into Mia’s life, Jada hatedmethe most. Re-entering now is pure disrespect.”

“Disrespect to who? Jada? She’s gone, and she doesn’t get a say. She didn’t get a say when she was alive, and even if she did, you didn’t like her either! So why give her opinion so much weight?”

“Because she was Mia’s mom!” She’s losing her steam. Slumping when her back is typically poker straight. Groaning, when she’s so accustomed to huffs of impatience.Did she sleep at all last night?“She carried that little girl in her stomach. She fed her from her breast and raised her through infancy and toddlerhood. They were a family, Mayet, and that family would still be intact if not for a few unfortunate decisions that began with impulse. Charlie didn’t want to leave her, not until he had to. So me stepping in now, or any time in the future, would be nothing more than a couple of idiot adults pretending it’s something it’s not.”

“You’re talking about a relationship with Fletch.” I cross my left leg over the right and lean forward in my seat. “I’m talking about your relationship with Mia. This is why we fight: becausewe’re so rarely on the same page, and you’re terrified to consider a future where you get to be a part of her life, not because you’re with her dad, but based only on the affections between you and the girl.”

“Mayet—”

“I assure you, I have never, nor would I ever, sleep with Charlie Fletcher. But somehow, I get to be in Mia’s life, day after day. So weird how that happens.”

“You’re obnoxious when you oversimplify things. You’re married to Charlie’s best friend. That’s how you maintain that relationship. Get off your high horse and stop pretending you’d have given her a second thought if not for Archer.”

“And if Archer and I separate, or God forbid, something happens to him, I willstillbe in Mia’s life! I mean, assuming I’m not in prison for killing whoever hurt him, and even then, I’ll call her when my commissary account has phone money.”

“You’re being intentionally insufferable.”

“Yeah, but I find that to be a nice change of pace when everything else is tense. Remove your hurt feelings and bring everything back to the core: you care for Charlie, proven when you turned up at the hospital yesterday for a woman you didn’t even like. And you care for Mia, proven because you think you’re the martyr by staying away. Today, no matter our collective thoughts about Jada Watson and the choices she’s made, let’s focus only on the pain suffered by those she left behind. A man lost the ex-wife he nearly killed himself to save, and a little girl lost her mom. A toxic mother is still a mother, as far as a four-year-old goes. Emotion overtakes logic, which means she’ll miss the woman who never spent time with her anyway. Funny,” I stand and smile at the dancer whose eyes narrow to slits. “She misses you, too, though you never spend time with her.”

“You say hurtful things and expect me to bend over and do as you ask?”

“No.” I take my coffee with me—it’s mine now—but I stop and stare into her eyes. “I just enjoy pointing out how foolish you look. Someday, when this is all in the past and that little family has moved on, either you’ll be on the outside, still, and missing out on the very best life has to offer. Or you’ll be inside, but sad that you forfeited this time you could have had. If you stay away now, you lose, no matter what.”

“Awesome.” She sets her hands on the desk beside her thighs and squeezes the thick wood. “My life prospects seem so cheery.”

“Wouldn’t be like this if you stayed at the George Stanley.” I lean around her and find the mayor, who has remained entirely silent during our row. “You stole, and everyone’s heartache now is your fault.”

“Sounds oddly like a teenager screamingyou can’t tell me what to do.AndI hate you.” He flashes a wide smile that irks me to my core. “I’ve raised bratty teen girls already, Mayet. Your tantrum is nothing I haven’t seen before.”

“Your daughters told me last week that they can’t stand you.”Good lord! Am I really this dumb and petty now? “They said not to tell you, so you wouldn’t call and annoy them asking questions.”

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