Page 103 of Crossing Lines

“I’ll drive you home, Ms. Sinclair,” Kross offers. I feel embarrassed that he witnessed the mess.

“And who the hell are you?” she questions rudely.

“This is Kross. My boyfriend.”

“Huh,” she cackles.

“At least let me drive you home.” He touches my hand tenderly while waiting for my mom’s response.

“Fine. I don’t have a ride anyway since Davia chased him off.”

I click my tongue and huff at her. “Unbelievable.”

“This way,” Kross directs, and she follows us to his car in the parking lot at the bowling alley.

Mom whimpers in the backseat the entire drive to her condo as if her world is over. She exits the car without thanking Kross.

“I’ll be right back, babe,” I tell him, hurrying after her into the elevator. “How did you become involved with Jamir’s dad?”

She cuts her eyes at me. “We ran into each other in early February at the museum.”

The elevator opens on the fifth floor, and she marches out. I shadow her down the hallway to her condo, forcing myself inside before she closes the door.

“How did it lead to an affair?”

She throws her Chanel purse on the sofa—a gift I gave her. “He vented about his bitch of a wife. I gave him a shoulder and invited him over one evening. We drank wine. He told me I was beautiful, and we ended up in bed. You want more details?”

“Stop it!” I snap at her. “You have no shame about sleeping with a married man.”

She scoffs. “Like you’ve been cheating on Jamir with that man downstairs?”

“Jamir and I broke up,” I reiterate.

“I bet it was after he found out.” She sucks her teeth and turns away.

“What about the baby?” I ask.

“What baby?” she hisses. “You heard Mike. He wants it gone.”

My jaw drops. “So you’ll abort your baby because he doesn’t want it? Did you get pregnant on purpose?”

She slants to me. “I thought it’d motivate him to leave his wife. It’ll be right between us once it’s gone.”

“Mom, the man just said that it’s fun for him. He’ll move on to someone else when you no longer interest him. Don’t you see that?”

“He was only upset about the baby. Once that’s gone, it’ll be okay. I mean, he gave me this condo.” She splays her hands. “He obviously cares about me.”

“Jesus.” I run my hands over my hair, becoming still as a thought occurs. “Wait, is that how you ended up pregnant with me?”

She blinks awkwardly and walks into the kitchen.

I approach the island. “Mom, did you have me to keep my father?”

“Davia…” She pours a glass of wine, proving she doesn’t give a damn about having the baby.

“Tell me who it is,” I demand. “No more secrets. Come clean.”

“I don’t know!” she yells.

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