Chapter 21
I chased sleep all night. Nothing could calm the thoughts swirling in my head, not even lying in Treason’s arms. I replayed every conversation we ever had about kids.
Nah, I’m good on that. Kids are like the woman you meet at the club. Fun for a night, but nothing anybody in their right mind would commit to long-term.
His grandmother would be ecstatic. At least this baby would be half normal. His family was so sweet and supportive, I’d likely never have to lift a finger.
Well damn bitch, that was fast. So you are keeping it?
I didn’t know and was scared shitless to take a test. Thankfully, Treason got up early to hit the gym.
Unexpected guests and pregnancies were stressful while running a campaign and working a day job.
When he got back, I pretended to be asleep to avoid any questions about what was next. Questions I didn’t have the answers to.
Now that he was gone, I needed to get rid of Sloane. Climbing out of bed, I walked down the hallway, the smell of breakfast filling my nostrils.
“Good morning,” she greeted me when I turned the corner.
“Morning.”
“Did you get some sleep?” I grabbed a sausage, giving her a deadpan expression. “Let me prepare myself for your attitude now.”
“No, I didn’t, and I have a full day of stuff to do. Planning this fundraiser. Then dinner tonight with the Langstons,” I rolled my eyes, because I wasn’t in the mood to be scrutinized all night.
“A dinner they wanted to host just to give them something to do.
“Life is boring and redundant when you have their kind of money. All so they can talk about you before your ass hits the driveway to go home.”
“You know it. Insisted on hosting it at Chateau Noir.”
Sloane’s humor returned, “Some things never change around here.”
Her response pulled me back to the present, where I was still wondering, “Why are you here?”
“Donovan hasn’t seen or heard from you, so when Treason’s assistant showed up on my doorstep saying you needed help, I thought you were in trouble.”
Fallon . It had to be Fallon. She was the only one bold enough to track down Sloane and drag her back to solve a problem Treason told her to let go. She’d met her match because I planned to show her exactly how bold I could be.
“So,” Sloane dragged, flipping the pancakes I didn’t even know she could make, “Treason.”
“Let’s not do this. After breakfast, you need to leave. You’ve laid eyes on me and I’m fine.”
“You’re not, so I think I’m going to stick around for a while.”
“I was before you showed up.”
“Well, get used to being uncomfortable, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere until I feel like it.”
“Why are you like this? Is it your life’s mission to irritate me? You show up here uninvited, telling me I’m pregnant, and now you won’t leave.”
Sloane shrugged, “That IUD has you covered, remember? What difference does it make what I tell you? Lord knows you don’t want to hear shit I have to say.”
She was being annoyingly facetious, turning off the burner.
“I don’t, but you’re here and refusing to leave. So, what makes you think I’m pregnant?” I asked, hating to admit there was a chance Sloane was right.
Selfish, Cold, and Manipulative, but she wasn’t a liar and was as intuitive as fuck. A trait that served her well in scheming men, but it made me clench my hands until my nails dug into my palm.
Sloane rested on the counter, staring back at me like she was posing for the cover of Vogue. No makeup and thick auburn hair, glowing as it framed her face.
“You think I don’t notice you rubbing your temples every five minutes? Headaches . I got bad ones with you. Thirty-some odd years later, ain’t much changed.”
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “I bet you’ve been exhausted lately, too. Nappin’ when you’re normally wide awake. Hornier than usual too. Can’t keep your hands off him, fallin’ deeper into that boy’s trap.”
My brow lifted defiantly.
“Oh, please. You’re grown. Sex is natural, and I know y’all have been ‘round here having plenty. That’s why you’re eating more than you realize now,” she tipped her head toward the sausage in my hand.
My eyes skirted to the plate they were on, realizing half of it was gone.
“All those little things you think are stress?” She paused to smile before enunciating, “It’s called a baby .”
Her words slid under my skin like glass while Sloane pushed herself into a standing position.
“It’s two tests on the counter. Get it over with. Time moves fast when you’re pregnant, and so do your options.”
Sloane disappeared inside the guest room, claiming to have a few meetings with old contacts. If she was planning, she intended to stay. I couldn’t control whether Sloane left the city or not, but she was definitely leaving this house. That was nonnegotiable.
“Hello,” I answered.
“What are you doing?” Tre asked.
“You don’t need to check on me. I’m fine.”
“Just making sure I don’t have to take on a murder case too. I got enough shit on my plate.”
“It would be your fault. You told her she could stay.”
“That fight would’ve dragged all night if I didn’t, and we had more important shit to discuss.”
“How’s your day?” I asked, in between gulps of water.
“Busy. Victor is getting on my fuckin’ nerves, and your girl cussed me out this morning.”
“Miss. Dot?” His silence told me he nodded, as if I could see him because he was doing three other tasks at the same time. “ Them kids are runnin' a fight club behind the rec center. I ain't mad. Just tell 'em to charge admission if they’re gonna wake me up .”
“She is something else.”
“Yeah, she is. Victor and his campaign are coming around now that it’s election time, but he hasn’t fixed anything on my block in years. That’s why I gave him the church finger .”
“He better steer clear. That’s a problem he doesn’t want.”
“Let him take his ass over there playing.”
“As much as I love your midday calls. I have work to do before I’m on her list, too.”
“Aight. Love you, Blue.”
“I know,” I rushed out, wincing at how I fucked that up.
“Go calm your ass down. I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, Tre.” Hanging up, I dropped my phone on the counter, staring at the test.
Snatching the first one open, I skimmed the directions and took them into the bathroom.
My thoughts filtered back to the first time I met Treason.
I’d noticed him long before he started watching me.
Treason had the charisma that sifted the room when he walked in.
Tall, chocolate, and ’90s fine. Smooth, clean-cut, and handsome, that made you feel like you’d been cast in a romance movie.
He was good. The kind of good that would have you rearranging your world just to orbit his.
That’s why I’m sitting here watching two pregnancy tests.
Walking out, I carefully set the tests down and created a timer. At least, he made the ride worth it, and that was the hard part. Treason was protective, thoughtful, and romantic in every way a woman like me needed.
1:47 secs.
My fingers tapped the counter as I mentally put together an outfit for dinner tonight. The alarm sounded, and I ran just to see two positive results. Rushing to the bathroom, I grabbed the instructions to make sure I didn’t get the signs missed up.
Still positive .
Pregnancy tied me to another life. Two to be exact. Disappointment shrouded my eyes with tears. Deep down, I knew Treason would protect me and this baby without hesitation. That kind of love was terrifying because it meant permanence.
Something I’d never had in my life.
Cleaning up the kitchen, I showered and watched television until I fell asleep. My dreams brought peace until I woke up to the reality of Treason’s bag hitting the table and his feet padding to his office.
Tired of overthinking the perfect script, I stepped into his office. The lamp cast a soft glow, highlighting every sharp line of his face. He didn’t look up right away because he was in his element, and I was about to drop a grenade right into the middle of it.
“Wassup, Blue?”
“I um,” Fumbling with my nightgown, all the words I rehearsed escaped me. When I didn’t respond, he finally looked up. “I’m pregnant.”
“You sure?” His voice was steady, revealing nothing.
I nodded. “Two tests. Both positive.”
For a moment, silence swallowed us whole. His expression didn’t shift—no widened eyes, no cursing under his breath, nothing. Just Treason, sitting there like I’d told him it was supposed to rain tomorrow. Then his pen tapped against the desk, and I knew.
He was freaking the fuck out, too.
Treason leaned back in his chair, signaling me closer.
I crossed the room without a word and climbed into his lap like I’d done it a thousand times before.
One leg draped over his, my cheek pressed to his chest, using it as a pillow.
Then he kissed my head, bringing his arms around me to grab his iPad.
“Breathe,” he whispered, “We’ll figure it out.”
I knew underneath all that controlled composure, Treason Westbrook was just as undone as I was. It made me curious. Was he afraid I didn’t want it or that I did? Asking right now would produce a polished response that irritated me more than I wanted.
“Do I have to go to dinner?” I mumbled.
“I’m trying, so I have to say no.”
“ But ?”
“No, buts. It’s on you.”
“But my brain hurts.”
My head bobbed against his chest as he laughed.
“Now you want somebody to tell yo’ ass what to do.”
“You love giving orders. Don’t fail me now.”
“Lay here until it’s time to go. If you don’t want to, don’t.”
It was hard to relax when my brain was in a muddle, trying to figure out if this was a trap or genuine concern.
Turns out it wasn’t a trick. He gifted me a hall pass tonight that I didn’t even want to use anymore.
He needed me, so I got dressed, pushed my shoulders back, and walked into Treason’s eyes.
He smiled with a slight nod, holding the elevator as I joined him.
Stepping between his gapped legs, I leaned back into his chest.