Page 188 of Treason's Temptation
I focused on the glazed carrots I had been stabbing for the last fifteen minutes. I covered the check as atoken of appreciationfor the free therapy session. We left all the heavy conversation at the country club and enjoyed an afternoon of shopping. Daige threatened to disown me if I didn’t come, but I was looking forward to it. The details she shared sounded like a good time that Treason and I both needed.
Chapter 30
The bag didn’t hit back, but that didn’t stop me from trying to break it.
“Relax your shoulders,” Ward muttered from behind the mitts.
I gritted my teeth and let another jab fly. I needed the pain and silence between hits. I couldn’t get away from Danielle. She was in my home and at work. There was no escaping her attitude, like I’d betrayed her somehow, getting Navie pregnant. I didn’t owe Danielle or her skewed memory an explanation, especially when I had an election to win.
That had been my focus, securing my future so Blue and Gummy Bear were taken care of. She didn’t always agree, but she understood. She still treated me like I wasn’t unraveling from the inside out. The thought of her doing something stupid, like running from the stress, occasionally tugged at my heart. Then she stumbled into my office wearing my t-shirt, being patient as fuck, and that only deepened my obsession.
“Shit,” I muttered, dropping my fists and pacing away from the bag.
Ward watched me, towel around his neck, brow arched. “Did you tell her?”
I shook my head, “No.”
“What are you waiting on, pussy?”
I wasn’t sure what the hell Navie unlocked, but I needed it more than I could admit. She gave me a kind of peace I didn’t think existed in another person.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want Danielle.”
“I know better than that, but she doesn’t. The breakup wasn’t as amicable as you claimed. Danielle wants you, and that’s something she needs to hear from you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“We all know it, and if you think Navie doesn’t, you’re a fool.”
“Fuck you.”
“I’ll check in while you’re at family dinner.”
“Yourhomie’sbright idea. You should swing through. Gram is making Lasagna.”
The only thing that could keep him from Evie’s lasagna was drama, and there was no shortage of that on the menu. I hoped that finding out we’re having a baby would make Evie so happy she would forget Danielle was there. Mom promised to do her best to keep Gram on a leash, but Evelyn Westbrook was a balanced breakfast for any opponent.
Ward and I finished another circuit before going our separate ways to handle business. When I stepped off the elevator, Danielle directed the small camera crew on where to set up.
“Where’s Navie?”
“She’s your girlfriend. It’s not my job to keep up with her,” Danielle quipped, going back to her conversation.
Danielle wanted to be. That’s why she was mad as fuck, so she ignored her and walked to my bedroom.
Me: Where are you?
Blue: Helping Daige with the yacht party. I got our outfits.
Blue: Danielle said she didn’t need me. Only you.
I could hear Navie’s sarcasm even through text.
Me: You let her tell you what to do? Gummy Bear is making you soft.
Blue: My boobs are literally ACHING! Don’t irritate me.
Me: I’ll make ‘em feel better later
