His Baby Her Gift: The Slow Burn Duology 2 by LaShawn Vasser (the dot read aloud .TXT) 📕

to say otherwise. I wasn’t the one sleeping with her.”

“True.” Mesha held up a pink onesie to show Harlem. “You do know this situation is as ghetto as it gets. Rich people do messed up shit too. I mean, seriously, Carter is having; what is it called? Ghetto twins?”

Harlem snatched the onesie out of Mesha’s hands. “Much too soon for those kinds of jokes, and that is really cute.”

“Girl, it’s either cry or laugh. I will always choose the latter.”

“I haven’t been able to do either.” Harlem stopped rummaging through the table full of onesies and looked at Mesha. “I usually know exactly what I’m doing . . .” Harlem pressed her thumb and forefinger together, “down to the last detail. I haven’t felt in control of my life since I made the decision to have a baby. I honestly have no idea what I’m doing from one minute to the next.”

“That’s most of us.”

“Maybe.” Harlem sighed sadly. “I was supposed to move in with Carter this weekend.”

“I know.” It was why Mesha made the trek to Chicago. Harlem was going through a few too many transitions, and Mesha wanted to make sure she was okay.

“We decided to take things one step at a time.”

“We, huh? How does Carter really feel about that?”

“It’s the best I can do for now. Carter had to leave for a few days unexpectedly for business. He got back last night. If I’m honest, I’m glad to have had this time to think. When he’s around, I lose myself.”

“What is it that scares you the most?” Mesha asked.

Harlem took a moment to really think about the question before answering. “How I feel about him. It’s too much, too fast, and too much.”

“I think you already said too much.”

“Mesh, I have so many emotions flowing through me. I’m almost five months pregnant, and I haven’t really had a chance to even enjoy it. What if this is the last time I’m ever pregnant? I’ve been so focused on Damian and now Carter. I mean, seriously. Carter is having a baby with another woman. That shit is going to be crazy! I’m not sure how to deal with it. I’m not sure if I want to deal with it.”

Mesha could understand. “I think you’re doing the right thing. If you and Carter are meant to be, it’ll all work out.”

“Yeah. I hope you’re right.”

Mesha wanted to lighten the mood. “How about I treat and buy that onesie for my Goddaughter? How much is it?”

“You don’t have to do that. I’ve got it.”

Mesha plucked the little pink outfit from Harlem’s hands. She looked at the tag. “Harlem! This damn thing is a hundred and twenty-five dollars?!” A few customers turned to look at them after Mesha’s outburst.

One customer, in particular, made her way over to where Harlem and Mesha stood. “It is an adorable outfit. Maybe I should get one too.”

Harlem’s face drained of all color. What the fuck?

Elaina had mischief written all over her. “Hi, Harlem.”

She didn’t respond. Her voice was stuck in her throat.

“Isn’t that interesting? You steal my boyfriend and have the audacity to give me the silent treatment?”

Mesha glanced between the two women. She quickly figured out that the person intruding on her conversation with Harlem was Elaina. My God. Carter certainly has a type.

Harlem was holding a few items in her hands, and she held on to them so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She wasn’t in the right headspace to deal with Elaina. Harlem pivoted and walked towards the check-out counter.

Mesha, however, had a clear mind. Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t know me, and we should keep it that way. However, fair warning, I am not above beating a pregnant woman’s ass.” Once she was sure Elaina got the message, she walked away and hurried to catch up with Harlem.

Harlem was at the counter. “Shit!” She looked all around.

“What? What are you looking for?” Mesha asked.

“I think I left my purse on that table.”

“I’ll go get it.”

“Thanks.”

A few moments later, Mesha returned with Harlem’s bag. “You were right. It was next to the table with the onesies.”

“Thanks.” Harlem quickly went through it. She sighed in relief after finding her wallet and credit cards still there. Harlem paid for her items, and they left the store.

Mesha was confused. “Harlem, I thought Elaina was a red-head?”

“She was the last time I saw her.”

“Did you notice that her hair was not only dark with high-lights like yours, but it was styled almost exactly the same?”

“Of course, I noticed. It’s a pretty drastic change.”

“I just didn’t realize you two resembled each other so much. It’s not just the hair. I mean, even Elaina’s eyebrows are shaped like yours.”

Harlem was uncomfortable. “Not only does it look like she changed her hair similar to mine, but she’s gotten some work done. Her lips were more plumped as if she got fillers, and she’s tanned, I mean really really tanned. She’s now a light shade of brown, just like me. It’s freaky.”

“Is she trying to morph herself into you?”

They stared at each other for a while.

“That would be crazy, right?” Harlem spoke softly. “Elaina might be a lot of things, but I don’t think she’s a head case.”

Mesha figured they were blowing things out of proportion. At least she hoped they were. “I almost forgot that I need something from the Vitamin store.”

“I’ll meet you at the car.” Harlem was shaken, and she was ready to go. “Actually, I’ll pull the car around to the front entrance.”

“Cool. I’ll meet you out front.”