Page 129 of Treason's Temptation
“You’ve been here five minutes. What makesyouso sure?”
“A mother always knows, or whatever they say,” Sloane walked to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of wine -without asking- and poured herself a glass.
“You’d have to actually be a mother to know something.”
“One thing I know very well is when there’s a damn baby in the air,” Sloane rolled her eyes, gulping her wine, “Go ahead. Tell me how I’ve been a terrible mother.”
“I haven’t seen you, and you walk in here spewing shit you know nothing about because you’remy mom,” Navie chuckled, motioning air quotes. “You don’t get the title without putting in the work.”
“You haven’t seen me by choice, but I put that aside to show up. That’s what mothers do.”
Navie scoffed, pacing, shaking her head. Each mention ofmotheringsent her into a rage.
“Ask yourself why. Children don’t wake up not wanting to see their mother.”
“You need a drink,” Sloane poured her a glass and slid it across the island.
A silent challenge, considering Navie claimed she wasn’t pregnant. Sloane could’ve just been fuckin’ her, but Navie didn’t back down, reaching for it.
Instead, I intercepted the glass, and Sloane snickered, taking another sip of her own, “Guess I’m not the only one who thinks you’re pregnant.”
“Don’t feed into her shit. I have an IUD. I’m not pregnant,” she replied firmly, turning her face to me.
That wasn’t a point I would argue. Not how we’d been fucking lately and not always responsibly, so I took control of the conversation.
“It’s late, and we both have shit to do tomorrow. You can take the guest room tonight. We’ll figure out the rest in the morning.”
“Are you crazy? She isnotstaying.”
“One night, Blue. That’s it,” I insisted, cupping her chin tenderly in my hand.
“You are getting out tomorrow,” Navie fussed, stomping down the hallway and slamming the door.
“Stop fuckin’ with her, or you leave now.”
Sloane smirked, looking me up and down, “You’re the protective type, I see.”
“To the furthest extinct.”
I walked to the hall closet, quietly grabbing a towel and washcloth for Sloane.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
My heart was in my throat walking down the hallway. Suddenly, the walk felt much shorter, forcing me to pause at the doorway to sort all the questions in my head. I caught a glimpse of Blue sitting on the bed, shoulders rounded in deep thought. She was nervous as fuck, which did little to calm my own anxiety.
Leaning against the frame, I pushed down the knot in my chest to have an important conversation. One, I didn’t think Blue was ready to have.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she spoke up, perfecting her posture.
“Like what, Blue?”
“I’m not pregnant. This is what Sloane does. She says shit to piss people off. Me included,” Navie fussed, standing up, forcing eye contact, but it didn’t help her case. I could see the puddles forming. “You think I’m pregnant, don’t you?”
Scratching my head, I wasn’t sure what to believe.
“Iono, shit felt different this morning, and you never snore. Last night yo’ ass was calling the cows home.”
