Sloan bit into her sandwich and paused, grabbing a napkin as she chewed.“Oh!” she exclaimed.“Wait, this is more than just a friendly fuck?”
“I think so,” Ellie stated.“I don’t know. It feels like it could be, but he has this baby mama, and I’m whole-ass married and…”
“Timing is a cruel bitch,” Sloan interjected.
“He invited us to come to his company Christmas party tonight. It’s like this formal thing. He said I can bring my girls. He’s holding a table for me.”
“Why would you bring us? Wouldn’t you be his date?” Sloan asked. She bit into her sandwich again.
“Girl, you fucking that sandwich up!” Ellie teased, biting her own.
“You know your daddy can cook,” Sloan defended, laughing guiltily.“My assain’t ate all day! Don’t try to change the subject. Whyaren’t you going with him?”
“He invited his baby mama before he met me, and he doesn’t want to go back on his word. He’s supposed to make it clear that they’re over, and I’m supposed to be working out my shit with Cairo. We agreed that we needed to close those chapters before we could really explore what this is.”
“Oh, that’s complicated,” Sloangrimaced.“Are they still together?”
“He says theyaren’t, but they still fuck around from time to time. He’s beenhella upfront about everything else. I don’t know why he would lie about it. He didn’t even have to tell me about the party, so he technically could have taken her, and I would have been none the wiser, but something about it just feels…”
“Like he’s running game,” Sloan finished for her.
“Okay, so it’s not just me?” Ellie asked.“Okay, now I feel better. He just seems too good to be true, and this baby mama situation is problematic.”
“Shit, your situation is worse, Ellie. You got a whole bitch-ass nigga for a husband.”
Ellie sighed.
“Should I even be going to this event?”
“Oh, bitch, we are definitely going,” Sloan said.“Ain’tnothing gon’tell you more than seeing the shit for yourself.”
The back door opened, and Cassidy walked into the room. Sloan lost air as he halted in his tracks.
“My bad, Iain’t know you had company, E,” Cassidy said as he stared at Sloan.“Iain’t mean to interrupt. Let me get out y’all way.”
Sloan couldn’t even look at him without becoming emotional.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got to go. I got to get back to work. Send me the details, Ellie. I’llbe there.” Sloan stood from the table.
“Mommy! We need you!” Tessa’s voice carried through the whole house.
Ellie hopped up in a hurry because it sounded urgent.
“Better check on that,” Cassidy said.
“Have kids they said,” Ellie joked. Sloan smiled, and Ellie rushed upstairs, leaving Sloan and Cassidy alone.
“Can we talk?” Cassidy asked.
Sloan was already headed for the door. She stopped at the door, collecting her shoes as she struggled to get them on her feet. Cassidy followed her. He got down on one knee and took her foot into his hand. He slid both shoes on her feet. Just his touch sent chills through her body. He stood, looming over her.“Sloan,” he whispered, taking her chin between his fingertips.
“Ellie’supstairs,” Sloan whispered.
“I don’t give a fuck about, E,” Cassidy replied.“Look at me.”
Sloan’s eyes flooded.“Cassidy, please.”
“I know what we felt the other night,” Cassidy said.“Behind all your doubts, all the fear, I know what you felt, Sloan.” They had spent twenty-three years apart from each other, and after one night together, separation was unbearable.“If I’m reading shit wrong, let me know.”
