Chapter 0354
“Okay,” | say, taking a step closer and nodding, looking up at Daniel. “I — | hear you about my soft spot, all right? I''ll be careful.
But Daniel,” | say slowly, shaking my head, making him listen. “You either trust me or you don''t. | told youst night — I’m doing
this because | love your dad. I’m not doing anything for Ivan, okay? And I’m going to need you to remember that in the uing
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 being around more?” Daniel asks. “Is that why | have to trust you?”
“He’s going to being around a lot more, Danny,” | 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?!”
“| have my reasons, Daniel!” | sing over my shoulder, giving my dad a wink as | head into the living room, “you either trust me or
you don’t!”Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Daniel murmurs something discontentedly as | sit on the couch with Jerome and Janeen. As | 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,” | call back.
m not into Ivan,” Daniel growls, making me smirk. Jeromeughs a little too, ncing at me. | wrinkle my nose at him.
“Wait,” Daniel says, storming into the living room and ring around at all of us. “Are...are the rest of you into lvan?”
m,” 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 | have to say — if | was one of the gays? | wouldn’t kick him out of bed.”
Janeen and | howl withughter 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 anding 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
particrly, the people with whom | associate.”
“Night, baby,” Jerome calls casually over his shoulder. Daniel mumbles something back as | snuggle closer to Jerome’s side.
“He totally thinks Ivan’s hot,” | murmur.
“Nah, Daniel''s faithful,” Jerome says, giving me another little wink. “Just like you. Like | 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 | grin up at my friend, d that someone sees the truth in me.
But also wishing, very much, that | couldy eyes on Kent. Just for a little bit, to remind me of everything that I’m fighting for.
| sigh and look down at my belly, at where my little kidney bean is growing into...a grape? | don’t know. Whatever tiny food
comes next. “Guess I''ll just have to fight for you,” | 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 | 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 Te provided by the
Alden corporation. Please read the
original content at NovelDrama.Org.
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 NovelDrama.Org.
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 | leave the
house. | 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
NovelDrama.Org.
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.