Logan and Coop come back.
“New game,” Coop announces as he deconstructs the round Logan and I were deadlocked in. “Celestra versus the Fems?” He sheds an obnoxious grin my way. Coop’s got me by the balls and he knows it. But there’s no way I can risk him telling Skyla about my true motives. And Coop is expertly using this to his advantage. I’ve seen Laken pawing him lately as much as I’ve seen her touch Wesley.
“As you wish.” I shed a brief smile his way. It could be worse. All Coop asks for is an all-access pass to the woman he loves. I don’t see anything wrong with that. Laken is still firmly tethered to Wes. And lucky for my brother, she’s actually having his kid on this go-round. With each passing day, it’s becoming apparent that Charlie belongs to Coop. And that is one biological time bomb I want nothing to do with.
Coop and Logan hustle as if they had money on the line. They kick Wes and me to the celestial curb, three different games, three different wins.
They take off to loot the mini fridge again and Wes slaps me on the back.
“They’re hungry. And you, my friend, are complacent.”
“And what about you? No responsibility from my teammate?”
“I might be on your team, but you, my brother, are the captain.”
He takes off and joins Logan and Coop.
Complacent. That word reverberates in my mind like a gong.
You know what they say. The head that wears the crown is heavy. And right about now, it feels as if it weighs a million damn pounds.
* * *
Back at the house, Chloe is downstairs looking like a zombie with her hair sitting on her head like a bird’s nest and large dark rings under her eyes. She’s wearing my sweatpants and an old dress shirt of mine with the front unbuttoned.
“You’re back,” she says, giving the bassinette near her a slight kick with her foot. The baby is screaming, so I head over and pick her up out of it. “I thought I could do it.” She sighs. “I tried feeding her, but my tits are begging me to saw them off instead. I don’t know how Skyla did it with two. But then, she had her boob-obsessed mother to guide her along. My mother suggested I hire a wet nurse.”
Crap. As much as I don’t care for Chloe, her mother seems to feel the same. It’s not a wonder how the apple that fell from her tree rotted so quickly.
She grunts, “I called Em. She’s on her way over.”
“Good. Is she bringing formula?” I try to rock the wailing infant in my arms. It’s amazing how much I can see traces of the boys, of Sage, in her delicate features. And the kicker is, I love her. I truly love this tiny being as if she were my own. I wasn’t expecting it, but it makes sense. I love Tobie, my sweet niece. Of course, I would love her sister. And I’m hoping that one day, Skyla will, too.
“Who the hell knows?” Chloe continues to moan. “I told her I’d pay her to take the kid for the next five years. And if she says no, I’ll give her to Lizbeth. That woman would pay me to take her for the next eighteen years.”
“No, Chloe. That’s not how this works.”
“It’s how it’sgonnawork.” It comes out rife with attitude. “And no offense, but Wes totally took the reins with Tobie. You haven’t stepped up one bit.”
“That’s because you’ve been nursing her. I lack the proper equipment to take care of her in that department in the event you haven’t noticed.”
The tiny being hikes up the volume another notch and poor Mal’s voice sounds as if it’s rubbed raw. I try my best to bring her close to the warmth of my chest, hoping it’ll settle her.
“Do you lack the proper equipment in the bedroom?” Chloe doesn’t miss a beat. “Because I’m honestly starting to think so. We haven’t fucked since our wedding night. What the hell is wrong with you? Maybe it’s time I start probing Skyla about the arrangement the two of you had. Oh, wait, that must be why she had Logan and Dudley on standby. God knows you’re useless when it comes to satisfying your wife,” she seethes. “In fact, I might just ask if I can borrow Logan or Dudley. And the irony is, I’ve slept with both of them far more than I’ve slept with you. FYI: I’m aCelestra. My wounds from giving birth have already cleared up. I’m ready and raring to go in the event you ever figure out what that joystick in your jeans is for.” She picks up her phone. “On second thought, I’m going to ask Messenger right now about her celibate marriage.”
I head over and swipe the device from her hands.
A ripe anger begins to percolate in me, but I opt to bite my tongue rather than lash out. Chloe is exhausted. Her ability to control her temper has been ground down to nothing.
Her eyes flit like fire. “You’re afraid I’ll let Skyla in on our little limp secret, aren’t you? Newsflash,King, I’ve already hinted at it. If I’m not getting any satisfaction, then she might as well have it in knowing you don’t have the balls to bed your new wife.”
A knock erupts at the door before Em walks right in. A welcome relief, and yet I can’t get Chloe’s last few words out of my mind.
“Come here, you little cute shit.” Em takes the baby from me and hikes up her T-shirt, exposing me to her blinding white boob as she shoves it into the squirming baby’s mouth. And sure enough, Mal suckles away as if she hasn’t eaten in days and I’m suddenly alarmed that this might, in fact, be the case.
“Thank you, Emily,” I say, forcing myself to look away. In truth, I wanted to make sure Mal was okay before I did. “You do not have my permission to take the baby when you leave.” I glower over at Chloe. “Her mother is another matter.”
Chloe grunts as if I just kicked her in the gut.
