Page 104 of Power Move

Mona brought two mugs back—the same way Davey always did when I had a shitty day.

“It will be okay, Eva,” Mona said. “God, I didn’t think you’d get this emotional.”

“I… I love this dog, Mona. I am sorry, but it is hitting hard. I appreciate you ringing me.”

“Of course. I feel like… it’s the least I could do, darling.”

We sat in awkward silence as the dog slept in my lap. The flutters continued.

“So, are we going to talk about the obvious thing you did behind my back?” Mona sighed.

I furrowed my brow. “What?”

She nodded towards my stomach. “You aren’t going to explain that? Was that your last order of business? How did you manage it?”

“I didn’t do it behind your back,” I said, angry she felt control over my body like that. “I was free-and-clear. You don’t own me, sweetheart. You broke it off. I was the one who had to move out. You insisted on keeping Carter, too. Don’t rewrite history.”

She furrowed her brow. “Did you not use the last straw?”

It took me awhile to figure out what she meant. “You mean the sperm bank straw?”

“The one we said you wouldn’t use.”

“The one youaccusedme of wanting to use,” I clapped back. “No. I would never do that without your consent.”

“Good, because it was my money?—”

I set my jaw. It was the same argument every time—her money, her time, her place.

“It was our money. I paid for half the treatments, Mona. And I’m not arguing about it. This wasn’t the straw.”

“How… how are yousopregnant? When did this happen?”

“After I moved back. I’m having twins,” I answered.

“You found a sperm bank that fast?”

“It’s really none of your business,” I said. “They aren’t your problem.”

“That is irresponsible, Eva. You aren’t in a place?—”

“Mona, save your condescension for someone who gives a fuck,” I said, even more hurt. “I didn’t come here for your verbal abuse and judgement.”

She fell silent. I pet Carter, silently wishing I could steal her away and let her spend the last couple of months of her life in my office at work sleeping on a bed fit for a princess—the way I had when in London on Fridays. Davey would love her, right? We’d have an apartment dog. Mona would never allow it.

“You moved on, too,” I was salty and unwilling to give up the argument before winning. “I saw the coat in the hall.”

Mona looked down. “Look, I’m seeing someone, yeah. But that is very different?—”

“So am I,” I said. “This was… unexpected and unplanned, but a blessing for us both, okay? We’re doing our best and I don’t need your judgement on top of Brooke’s blatant slut-shaming and homophobia.”

Mona looked up, sympathetic. “Oh, she finally made it there? I’m sorry, Eva. Fuck Ian.”

“Indeed. I’m not speaking with her right now. I didn’t go to her stupid baby sprinkle. Now, I cannot talk to my parents.”

“They love you, Eva.”

“They do. They also didn’t stop her from calling me a whore and accusing me of being someone’s beard.”