Page 138 of Treason's Temptation
“We could, but that cuts into the time I planned to do other shit. So, ask now.”
The softness behind his fingertips, tucking my hair behind my ear, stirred my confusion. I tried to steady my voice, but it came out thinner than I wanted.
“If you really didn’t want kids, why are you so calm now that I’m pregnant?”
He didn’t care enough about the past to address that part of my question. All that mattered was standing in front of him.
“I don’t know what I want, Blue. That’s the truth.” Three words I had never heard him utter. Treason always knew, and even when he didn’t, he wouldn’t admit it. “Keeping it or killing it doesn’t change shit between me and you.”
His response had to sound better in his head, because as it floated through my ears, I was mortified, snatching away from his hands and rubbing my arms.
“Killing or keeping this baby changes everything! Nothing will be the same. You not understanding that is blowing the fuck out of me.”
“What the fuck do you want me to say! It’s been,” he turned his wrist assessing the time, “eight hours since we found out. No, I don’t have all the fuckin’ answers, but you’re not in this shit by yourself.”
“You’re walking around like everything is normal, and it’s not! This baby is already inside of me. I’m already different!”
“If I tell you what to do, I’m a fucked up nigga. I’m supporting whatever you want, and you’re still mad. It’s no fuckin’ winning.”
“This isn’t a game. There’s no prize at the end, Treason. It’s just honesty, but you’re taking the easy road because you don’t want to make a decision. I don’t have that luxury.”
Treason grabbed my arm, trying to stop me from leaving, but I was over him and this conversation. Snatching away, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, pulling myself together.
Masking was a lot harder with the weight I was carrying, literally and figuratively. When asked why I was so quiet,I blamed it on being tired. Treason carried most of the conversations until I tugged my earring, signaling I was out of gas and ready to go. After a round of goodbyes, we left the restaurant. Sloane tried to slip away, walking in the opposite direction, but I needed answers.
“I don’t think so.”
“You think I have to listen to you.”
“You have nothing else lined up, or you wouldn’t be here. Plus, you love causing chaos too much to leave just yet, so yeah, you do.”
Sloane called my bluff, but I didn’t budge. Tired of standing on the pavement, Treason opened the car door. She complied but mumbled under her breath about me being dramatic as she climbed inside, and I followed.
“What was that?”
“I wasn’t sending you in there alone with those people,” Sloane’s response triggered Treason’s jaw.
“A fuckin’ joke from the mother who left her with Lorenzo. Where the fuck was that concern then?” Treason asked.
Sloane’s neck whipped to the side. “When the smell of her pussy wears off, then you can talk to me.”
“I’m too deep in it for that to happen.” The memories of it curving a weak smile on my face that made Sloane laugh.
“We’ll see when that baby gets here.”
“Both of you stop!” I yelled, massaging my temples. “What happened with Jaleb, and don’t bullshit me. I’m not in the mood.”
“He thinks I sent you to finish the job.”
“What job?”
Sloane shrugged, avoiding eye contact as Ward pulled into the street.
“Sloane!”
“It started as a job, but then I got to know him. Jaleb was everything I didn’t know a man could be, and that made me feel special.” Her nostrils flared, as her eyes watered. “We didn’t mean to, but we fell in love. Most men don’t leave their wives, but Jaleb was.”
“You know this how? Because he told you he would?”
