Chapter 0354

“Okay,” I say, taking a step closer and nodding, looking up at Daniel. “I — I hear you about my soft spot, all right? I'll be careful.

But Daniel,” I say slowly, shaking my head, making him listen. “You either trust me or you don't. I told you last night — I’m doing

this because I love your dad. I’m not doing anything for Ivan, okay? And I’m going to need you to remember that in the upcoming

weeks.”

Daniel sighs in relief but then he thinks about my words and snaps his gaze back to me, narrowing his eyes. “Wait, what are you

saying?”

“What do you think I’m saying?”

“Are you...is he going to be coming around more?” Daniel asks. “Is that why I have to trust you?”

“He’s going to be coming around a lot more, Danny,” I say, patting his check with my hand and giving him a pained little smile.

“And you're going to have to hang out with him. And pretending you’re mad. And that you’re not into him, like everyone else is.”

“Oh my godddd,” Daniel groans, putting his hands over his face. “Why are you doing this to me, Fay?!”

“I have my reasons, Daniel!” I sing over my shoulder, giving my dad a wink as I head into the living room, “you either trust me or

you don’t!”

Daniel murmurs something discontentedly as I sit on the couch with Jerome and Janeen. As I settle in the spot next to Jerome,

he wraps an arm around my shoulder without even turning his head to acknowledge me, his attention firmly on some show on

TV.

“Wait,” Daniel says from the kitchen. “What did you just say? Pretend I’m not into him?”

“Yup,” I call back.

“lam not into Ivan,” Daniel growls, making me smirk. Jerome laughs a little too, glancing at me. I wrinkle my nose at him.

“Wait,” Daniel says, storming into the living room and glaring around at all of us. “Are...are the rest of you into lvan?”

“lam,” Janeen says freely, raising her hand. Jerome looks at his boyfriend stone-faced, not giving anything away. Daniel takes a

step forward to interrogate further, but before he can my dad interrupts by clearing his throat.

As one, we all look into the kitchen to see my dad leaning against the counter. “Well,” he says, raising a beer to his lips, “I’m not,

but I have to say — if I was one of the gays? I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.”

Janeen and I howl with laughter as Daniel’s jaw drops. My dad gives Daniel a wink and then takes a long sip of his beer. “Good

looking kid,” dad murmurs, chuckling and coming into the living room, giving Daniel a pat on the shoulder as he goes.

“I'm going to sleep,” Daniel murmurs, turning away from all of us. “I need to...rethink my entire life. And my values. And

particularly, the people with whom I associate.”

“Night, baby,” Jerome calls casually over his shoulder. Daniel mumbles something back as I snuggle closer to Jerome’s side.

“He totally thinks Ivan’s hot,” I murmur.

“Nah, Daniel's faithful,” Jerome says, giving me another little wink. “Just like you. Like I said — you and Daniel are two peas ina

fucked-up pod. Once you settle on someone? It’s for the long haul. You can’t even see anyone else. Which is all very much to

my benefit.”

And I grin up at my friend, glad that someone sees the truth in me.

But also wishing, very much, that I could lay eyes on Kent. Just for a little bit, to remind me of everything that I’m fighting for.

I sigh and look down at my belly, at where my little kidney bean is growing into...a grape? I don’t know. Whatever tiny food

comes next. “Guess I'll just have to fight for you,” I whisper to baby, too soft for even Jerome to hear, “while daddy's locked up.”

The next weeks pass quickly as we

fall into a weird little routine. Daniel

kisses me goodbye in the marni

while I sa of my shade cap of coffee

Dnedy. his own triple-espresso

drink packed away in a to-go

container. And then he drives himself

— himself — to work with my father in

the fancy new Tesla provided by the

Alden corporation. Please read the

original content at .

Daniel doesn’t work every day with

my father; instead, my father has

Daniel moving around to a variety of

the city’s shnpina apes Sete

leaypssframreny her's best men to

figure out the ins and outs of his

international shipping businesses —

both the legitimate ones, and the

illegitimate ones that import and

export all kinds of illegal goods

between the United States and ports

unknown. Please read the original

content at .

When Daniel goes, Jerome stays

home with me. We all agreed on this,

deciding that Jerome can functi S

my driver and mypsdyduard on the

rardlo asions when I leave the

house. I rolled my eyes at this

suggestion at first, but Daniel’s

whispered “Kent would want it that

way” had me convinced. Please read

the original content at

Because he’s right. Kent would want it that way. And he’d probably smack the crap out of Daniel if he ever found out that he took

Jerome, leaving a pregnant me at home unprotected.