Chapter 20
Becky sat behind her desk doing payroll. The last few days she had been feeling normal, well, as normal as she could. Her stress levels had diminished drastically now that Sloan knew everything. She was more focused but still had bouts of nausea.
The only issue she had now was Sloan touching her, or should she say not touching her. He was treating her like she was made of glass, and it was driving her crazy.
Slade walked in and headed her way. “I just talked to Sloan,” Slade informed her. “Dr. Holloway will be arriving sometime tomorrow. Sloan said he would be back in time.”
“Did he meet up with King yet?” she asked, pushing away from her desk.
Sloan had informed her last night that he was making his trip to Florida.
She had given him her blessing. In all honesty, she didn’t care what he did to the doctor as long as he got any information he could from the bastard.
He had even asked her what she wanted and promised he would take care of it.
She believed him and trusted him to do just that.
“Yes,” Slade replied, not giving her any other information. “How are you feeling? Still having nausea?”
“On and off,” Becky replied, then shrugged. “It’s not as bad, but with Frankie, I was sick up until six months. I think early on this time it had a lot to do with stress and not knowing what was done to me.”
Slade frowned, his eyes growing darker. “I’m so sorry that happened to you, Becky. It never should have happened. If you ever need to talk to someone about it, you know you can come to me.”
“Thank you,” Becky said and meant it. “I’m trying to focus on staying healthy for the baby.
I trust Sloan to get information from the doctor who did the procedure.
I know everyone has questions and doubts about what happened to me just like I do.
So hopefully Sloan can fill in some blanks when he gets back. ”
“You heard what was said in the kitchen?” Slade asked with a frown.
“Not word for word,” she replied then shrugged. “But I can imagine what was said and actually expected it.”
“Listen, this has taken us all by surprise. Even me. It’s normal to question, but please don’t take it personally. You are thought very highly of by all the Warriors.” Slade said, his voice filled with concern.
“It’s not me I’m worried about,” Becky replied, voicing one of her main concerns. “It’s Sloan. I don’t want anyone judging him. They can judge me and think what they want about me. Yes, it would devastate me, but only because it would reflect on Sloan.”
“Trust me,” Slade said, then actually grinned. “Sloan can take care of himself. I know it’s not fair to ask this, but just give the guys a minute to adjust.”
Becky nodded, then shifted uncomfortably. “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“Of course.” Slade looked at her expectantly.
Okay, this was embarrassing, but she really needed someone to talk to Sloan. “I know this is all new to Sloan. And, ah, well—” Becky bit her lip. She’d rather have nausea all damn day than talk to Slade about this, whether he was a doctor or not. “He’s, ah, afraid of hurting me and the baby.”
She finished without actually saying what she was trying to say. She just prayed he understood so she didn’t have to spell it out and say, I want to screw my husband, but he’s afraid to touch me. How flipping embarrassing.
Slade nodded, a hint of a smile tilting his lips and to his credit, he didn’t make her spell it out. “I got you.”
Heat rushed up Becky’s neck and straight into her cheeks. “That wasn’t exactly easy for me to ask.”
“No, I’m sure it wasn’t.” Slade’s expression softened, but there was still a hint of humor in his eyes. “But for what it’s worth, you’re not the first pregnant woman who has needed that particular conversation had with her overprotective husband.”
Becky blinked, then let out a small laugh despite her embarrassment. “Really?”
“Really.” Slade’s doctor face slid right back into place. “And medically speaking, there’s no reason for Sloan to treat you like you’re made of glass.”
“It would be great if you could explain that to him.” Becky shifted in her chair, still feeling her face burn. “Because apparently when I say it, he hears something completely different.”
“He’s Sloan.” Slade sat on the edge of her desk, careful not to disturb her paperwork. “When it comes to you, reason sometimes has to fight its way through a wall of overprotective instinct.”
Becky grinned with a nod. “That pretty much sums up Sloan.”
“It’s the way we Warriors are with our mates,” Slade replied, then stood.
Becky smiled, more relieved than she expected. “Thank you.”
Slade nodded. “If your nausea gets worse, there is something I can give you that is safe for the baby. Just let me know.”
“Okay, I will.” Becky watched as Slade headed toward the door just as Katrina walked in.
“Hey.” Katrina smiled, then looked at Slade. “You need me to come back?”
“I was just leaving.” Slade smiled at her, then disappeared out the door.
“How you feeling, momma?” Katrina asked with a grin as she plopped down in one of the chairs.
Becky smiled, realizing that was the first question people had been asking her.
And she was fine with that. She felt loved and cared for.
That wasn’t how she felt with her first pregnancy, where she pretty much fended for herself, learned everything on her own, and cried in the dark alone.
Yeah, this was a much different experience for her for many reasons.
“Better,” Becky replied, then laughed. “I’ve been getting the weirdest cravings.”
Katrina made a face. “Like what?”
Becky’s stomach actually rumbled. She had finally gotten her appetite back, and man, were her cravings crazy. “Chicken nuggets.”
“What’s weird about that?” Katrina frowned. “Kinda sounds good to me too. I’m hungry, which is why I came in here to see if you wanted to get some lunch.”
“Dipped in chocolate frosting,” Becky finished, then looked up at Katrina who was staring at her thoughtfully. “What?”
“That actually sounds pretty good.” Katrina rubbed her stomach.
Becky laughed because, honestly, it sounded damn good to her too.
The door opened, causing both women to look that way. Sid walked in, his eyes going first to Katrina, then Becky before he looked away real quick. “Katrina, can I talk to you?”
“Sure.” Katrina hesitated a second, her smile fading.
“I’ll give you guys a minute.” Becky started to stand, but Sid stopped her.
“I’d like for you to stay if you don’t mind.” Sid responded quickly.
“Okay.” Becky sat back down, realizing Sid was having a real hard time looking at either one of them.
Sid stood there for a second, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Listen, I’m not real good at this, but I’m going to say it anyway.”
Katrina nodded but remained quiet.
Sid looked at her first. “I’m sorry for what I said in the kitchen. You were right to be pissed. I was running my mouth, trying to make sense of something that doesn’t make a damn bit of sense, and I made it about the wrong thing.”
Katrina’s eyes stayed on his, but she didn’t say anything.
“I wasn’t trying to disrespect Becky,” Sid continued, then glanced at Becky before looking back at Katrina. “And I sure as hell wasn’t trying to make light of what happened to her. But that’s how it came off, and that’s on me.”
Becky shifted in her chair, feeling the need to say something. “Sid, no one told me exactly what you said.”
Sid frowned, his eyes snapping to hers. “What?”
“No one told me,” Becky repeated softly. “I didn’t ask because, honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I just guessed.”
Sid stared at her, and for once, there wasn’t even a hint of a comeback on his face.
“I know you,” Becky said, giving him a small smile. “I know your mouth usually takes off before the rest of you catches up.”
Sid huffed out a breath, but it wasn’t quite a laugh.
“But I also know this whole thing sounds impossible,” Becky continued, her hand moving without thought to her stomach.
“And if I’m being honest, I’ve wondered what everyone is thinking.
Not because I think any of you would hurt me on purpose, but because there are so many questions none of us have answers to yet. ”
Her eyes moved from Sid to Katrina, then back again.
“And honestly, I’m not as worried about what anyone thinks of me as much as I’m worried about Sloan. He’s your leader. I don’t want this changing how any of you see him. That would hurt worse than anything anyone could say about me.” Becky said firmly. “He doesn’t deserve that.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Sid’s jaw tightened. “I now realize how what I was saying sounded and Becky, I need you to hear me. I never thought you cheated on Sloan. Not once.”
Becky’s eyes burned, but she nodded. “Good, because that would never happen.”
“I know that.” Sid said, she could hear how much this has bothered him by the tone of his voice.
“I questioned how the hell a doctor could pull this off. I questioned how Golden Blood could change something we’ve believed for centuries.
I questioned a lot of shit because that’s what we do when something blindsides us. But I did not question you.”
Katrina looked away for a second, her expression softening.
“And I’m sorry if what I said made it seem that way,” Sid added, looking at Becky. “I’d never want you to feel like you had to defend yourself to me. You don’t. You’re family.”
Becky swallowed hard, then nodded. “Thank you.”
Sid looked back at Katrina. “And you were right about one thing. I should’ve been thinking about what happened to her before I started worrying about myself. So yeah, I fucked up.”
Katrina finally gave a small nod. “Yeah, you did.”
“I know.” Sid didn’t look away from her. “That’s why I’m here.”
For a moment, none of them said anything.
Becky finally blew out a breath, needing the heaviness to ease just a little. Standing, she reached out and hugged Sid, then pulled away. “Thank you, Sid.”
Katrina followed and hugged Sid. “You’re a good man, Sid. I think that’s why I got so heated.”
“I also know why you got so heated, Katrina.” Sid frowned. “I know your past, and well, standing up for Becky is exactly what I would expect you to do. You put me in my place, which is something not many can do.”
“Other than Lana.” Katrina smirked with a cocked eyebrow.
“Yes.” Sid grinned, then became serious. “That woman carries a big-ass gun.”
Both Katrina and Becky laughed at the seriousness in his tone.
“If there is anything I can do for you, Becky, just let me know,” Sid said before turning to leave.
“Well, now that you mention it.” Becky stopped him in his tracks, then glanced at Katrina with a wink. “I sure could eat some chicken nuggets.”
Sid’s eyes dropped to her stomach, then back to her face. “Cravings already?”
“Bad.” Becky laughed. “Do you happen to have some chocolate frosting?”
Sid thought for a minute, then nodded. “Give me thirty minutes.” He headed for the door. “Make a list of your crazy cravings, and I’ll make sure I got the stuff here.”
“You might regret that,” Becky called out after him.
“I definitely will,” Sid’s voice faded as he headed toward the kitchen. “But I will still whip up whatever disgusting thing you come up with. I may bitch about it, but just ignore me.”
“We usually do,” Katrina teased earning a glare from Sid, but then he reached out an hugged her.
“I’m damn proud of you.” Sid said, then let her go heading for the door. “Don’t forget that list, Becky.”
“I didn’t expect that,” Katrina said, staring at the empty doorway after Sid walked out.
“I’m not surprised.” Becky smiled, then shook her head. “Sid is rough around the edges, and his mouth gets him in a lot of trouble.” She pulled Katrina into a hug. “Thank you for having my back, Katrina.”
“Always,” Katrina whispered, holding tears back. “You helped me during one of my darkest times. I can never repay you for that.”
Becky pulled back and smiled down at her. “You just did.” She grabbed Katrina’s hand. “Come on, let’s go to the kitchen and see what else we can get Sid to make us.”
As they passed Sloan’s desk, Becky glanced at it.
The sight of his empty chair hit harder than she expected, sending a sharp wave of loneliness through her chest. She missed him.
She knew where he was and why he had to be there.
She wanted answers. Wanted justice. But none of that stopped her from wanting Sloan back where he belonged.
Blinking back the sudden sting in her eyes, Becky let out a quiet breath. Lord, pregnancy sure did send her emotions into a chaotic mess.
Katrina squeezed her hand, and Becky forced a small smile before they headed toward the kitchen.