Page 223 of Relentles
“My god,” Mommie moaned, tipping her head back. “Why couldn’t it have been for CJ if we had to face this?”
“I wish it was his, too,” Harley whispered, losing her steam. “If we go to Aunt Jordan, won’t she tell Lolly?”
Mommie moaned again. “We’ll get a pregnancy test first, then.”
“If I am, can I somehow make it be CJ’s?”
“Have you slept with him?”
“No. Only Nardo.”
“Then, what are you saying? You know how sex works, Harley. His sperm can’t fly through air like pollen to impregnate you.”
Sniffling, Harley hung her head. “You said you wished it was CJ’s, too. Even if he likes Molly better than me because I’m not like her.”
“You aren’t, and she isn’t like you. Mattie isn’t like you, and you aren’t like her. I know what you’re insinuating. Whatever else he may be, he isn’t what you’re pegging him as. He understands and appreciates your differences.”
“That doesn’t make him—”
“If I were to bet, I’d put my money on CJ moving on. With Jaleena.”
“No…she…no! She is the complete opposite of Molly!”
“Until I was comfortable in my own skin, I could never be happy with anyone because I feared their perception. IfIcouldn’t love myself, then I would’ve never believed anyone else could.”
“I’m ugly, Mommie! The acne makes me ugly.”
“You arebeautiful, Harley. I can’t stress that enough. Your daddy can’t stress that enough.”
“You don’t count,” Harley said with a sniff. “Neither of you. You’re my parents. You’re required to think I’m beautiful.”
Sighing, Mommie squeezed the bridge of her nose. “Did Nardo use a condom?”
“Obviously not! If I might be pregnant.”
“Condoms break, sweetheart. They also protect you from diseases.”
Harley hadn’t thought of that. “Oh.”
“The ball is a few weeks away,” Mom started, changing the subject. “Outlaw had considered inviting you, CJ, Rory, Mattie, Devon, and Ryan, but had since changed his mind.”
“Why? I would’ve loved to have gone.” It had been such a big deal for the past five years. Ever since it began, her family no longer went to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, a tradition Lolly began when Harley was quite young. “Can you or Daddy change his mind?”
“Only Meggie could,” Mommie said with a shrug.
“Then talk to her.”
“We aren’t on the best of terms right now. I’ve been abominable to her by trying to protect you and working through all my emotions.”
Over those stupid, miserable babies. “Personally, I’m glad you lost the children.”
Hurt flashed in Mommie’s eyes, but she nodded. “I’m sure you are,” she said briskly. “It doesn’t matter thatIwanted another baby. Onlyyourdemands matter.”
“My father has a say in this. And why would you want another baby?”
“Now, he’s your ‘father’?” she sneered, narrowing her eyes, her mouth tightening in anger. “He’s not Uncle Toady?”
“No,” Harley mumbled, ashamed of herself.
