Mom gives a hard clap. “That’s what he wanted. Laken, if you have any milk pumped, I can nurse him myself. I have the apparatus strapped to my breast for Mally. I just need to change out the bag.”
Laken’s lips quiver as if the thought made her sick, and she kindly declines.
“Skyla”—Dr. Oliver gives a mock bow—“you look like the picture of a healthy mother-to-be. How are you feeling?”
“I look like the picture of a woman who ate a dozen mothers-to-be,” I say and both Emma and Demetri chortle away—with Emma braying the longest and the loudest. Figures. Leave it to her to enjoy a potshot at myself even if it was me who doled it out.
A body pops up by my side and the familiar shade of blue on the West football jersey catches my eyes so I wrap my arm around him.
“Skyla,” Laken hisses.
I glance up and freeze.
That’s not Logan my arm is warming. It’s Gage. I pull my poor limb back as if I had just set it in the mouth of a fire-breathing dragon, and I did.
Gage grunts my way, no smile, no dimples, not one ounce of kindness for the mother of his children. But then, apparently, I’m not the mother of his favorite child, so it’s all starting to make sense.
Mom giggles awkwardly. “In just a bit we’re all going to move the party up the road. The Halloween spectacular this year is set to be the best yet. Professor Dudley and I worked very hard to make this happen.”
Emma makes a face as if she doubted my mother’s good-time theory.
“It will be,” I say, completely going off faith. “Laken, will you and Wes be joining us?”
“Oh, yes.” She gives a wistful shake of the head. “That child assessment you suggested I take will be scored in just a few hours and I can’t wait to brag that I’m beating you at Parenting 101.”
My mouth falls open. Laken has some serious lady balls to even hint at the paternity test in front of Wesley’s little spies.
“I can’t wait.”
Dr. Oliver leans in. “Skyla, we’re excited for the twins to turn three in just a few weeks. Have you made plans on how we’ll celebrate?”
Mom practically gags. “It will be a fine soirée at Demetri’s home.”
Demetri nods. “Per my request. My thirst to spoil all of my grandchildren is very real. Taking care of them is of the upmost importance to me. Of course, I offered the same for Tobie.” He gestures toward Laken.
“And Wes and I thought something at our home would be better suited.”
Emma offers a sour smile. “Yes, well, the boys come from a broken home, so you see, they’ll have to have their birthday celebrated at a neutral site from here on out. Feel free to book our home for their fourth. I would be delighted to have an entire gaggle of children.”
“So they can drown in your pool?” I say without thinking. “No thanks.”
Chloe steps up and giggles as she wraps her arms around Gage. “The Skyla and Emma Show. Why didn’t you call me, honey?” She hikes up and kisses him on the lips and my stomach begs to dissolve in a vat of its own acids. “You know I absolutely adore the infighting.”
“There’s no infighting,” Emma is quick to correct. “Skyla is no longer my daughter-in-law.”
Mom takes a step forward and plants her fists into her hips. “That’s because your son decided to run around with another woman.” She swivels her neck before wincing at Chloe. “No offense to you, sweetheart. As soon as Em finishes up with Mally, she’s mine for the night. You kids have a great time.” She winks at Gage.
I’m about to scoff or vomit when my stomach seizes as if a belt were being cinched around it and I groan instead. Thankfully, it was on the heels of one of my mother’s baby tirades. There are no nipples as hungry as my mother’s who thirst for the mouth of a starving child. And if that sounds wrong, it’s because it is.
Demetri frowns over at me. “Skyla, you don’t mind that I’m hosting the boys’ special day, do you?”
“Not as long as we all get to leave with our heads intact.”
Chloe is the one and only to chortle her ass off. And why not? Both she and her vagina benefited greatly from the disaster.
Demetri’s expression sours. “Yes, well, I can assure no such catastrophe will befall anyone. The Fems will be providing extra security provisions for their king.” He nods to Gage and I can’t help but look up at the beast who was once the love of my life.
“That’s too bad,” I say as I glance to Chloe. “I’d like to see a couple of heads roll this time.”
