Page 82 of Asher Black (The Five Syndicates)
Now her weight, which is centered on the little pouch of her belly, makes more sense. In my defense, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen a pregnant woman. Plus, what’s growing in her belly isn’t even as old as my supposed relationship with Asher, which is not very old at all. That’s a sobering thought. I clench my fist tightly, fighting the urge to glance at Asher.
Forcing myself to focus on Madeline, I ask, “Boy or girl?”
A melancholy expression flits across her face before she smooths it over. “Owen wants to know, but I refuse to find out. We didn’t wait to learn the genders of our last two kids, so I want to be surprised for this one.” She pauses, her voice tentative. “It’s actually been something we’ve been fighting about lately. It sounds so stupid when I say it aloud. Maybe I should just give him what he wants again, or maybe he should be giving me what I want because the last two went his way. I don’t know. Either way, we’re fighting about it, and it sucks.”
“One of my foster moms got pregnant,” I begin, startling myself.
I hate talking about my foster families, but here I am, about to do it. Is it because I sincerely like her? Or do I want her to like me for Asher’s sake? Maybe a little bit of both.
I continue, “She was one of t
he better ones. I really liked her and her husband. They were kind to one another, and while I don’t think they were in love, they were good friends.” I sigh. “Their relationship was built on that friendship, too. At the time, that was the closest thing I ever saw to love—between spouses and even between parents and their children. I never witnessed love. But them? They were friends and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. But they changed after they got pregnant. Their fights were tearing their marriage apartment.” I eye Madeline’s belly. “Want to guess what they fought about?”
Madeline’s eyes widen. “Learning the sex of their baby?”
I nod my head. “Yep. Every day.”
“But that’s so stupid,” she says indignantly.
“Exactly.”
“Oh.” She pauses. “Did you just call my fights with my husband stupid?”
I smile a little. “If I recall correctly, you did.”
We laugh together when she grins. “I did, didn’t I?”
I shrug. “If it helps, I was thinking it, too.”
She barks out a surprised laugh. It fills the room, causing Asher and Owen to look over. Madeline sends Owen a loving grin and a wink. He looks surprised, which makes me think that they really have been fighting a lot.
“You know,” she begins. “You’re not as bad as I thought you’d be.”
“You’ve known me for all of two minutes. Just wait. My horns are retractable. You just caught me at a good time.”
She giggles. “No, really!” Her face turns serious. “I normally hate the girls Asher brings around.”
“Are they anything like them?” I glance towards Viola, who’s laughing with Martin’s wife. When I passed by them earlier, they were rating people’s outfits. No one received more than a two.
“They’re worse. Asher’s girls are vapid airheads. At least Viola and Marla have two brain cells to rub together.”
I nod. I can respect intellect. I just think nicer people deserve it more, though how nice can Madeline and I really be if we’re talking about other people behind their backs?
“That bad?” I’m referring to Asher’s girls.
“Whatever you’re picturing, it’s worse.”
I think of Nicole. “I’ve sort of met one. I’ve never actually talked to her, but I’ve seen her from afar.”
“What’s her name?”
“Nicole.”
“Oh.” She grimaces. “That one stuck around longer than welcome.”
I laugh, because Asher was planning on having her be his fake fiancée, but he has me instead. And now that’s looking like it’s turned out to be a positive thing. To be fair, I actually like Madeline. I’m not even trying to butter her up now. At first, sure, but now I’m just enjoying talking to a woman that I respect.
Madeline gives me a hesitant look.
