Page 64 of The Phyre that Burns

“Same here. Six mothers went into labor this week, two of them last night. I didn’t get home until eight o’clock this morning.”

“Oh, you’re an obstetrician?” Ethan asked. “Nice.”

“I am. Thank you. What do you do?”

“I coach college basketball at Black Elm City College.”

“Nice. You—” I began, but was interrupted by Kavia’s rude ass.

“Has she told you about the baby yet?”

No one responded because we didn’t know who she was talking to or what she was talking about.

“I’m talking to you, Phyre, and you look confused. She probably kept that little secret to herself,” Kavia continued.

“Stop talking in circles and say what the fuck you mean,” I barked.

“I don’t think it’s my place, but ask your precious Ginae about the baby she aborted thirteen years ago.”

“I’m so sick of you and your shit. Can you exist without stirring up drama?” I questioned, doing my best not to reach across the table and drag her through this banquet hall.

“Not where you’re concerned. I will never let you off the hook for embarrassing me in front of the entire city when you called off our engagement.”

“Hold up? Y’all were engaged?” Ethan asked, confused.

“You can’t be serious right now. Why don’t?—”

“Every time we cross paths, I’ll make sure it’s an unpleasant experience.”

The look of satisfaction on her face pissed me off. She pushed her chair away from the table and stood, keeping her evil eyes on me the whole time. Ethan hesitantly got up and followed her.

“I might have to kill your sister,” I told Kevin.

“She’s a hateful ass woman,” Lennon commented. “Do you think she’s telling the truth about Ginae?”

“No.”

“Are you sure? Because she seemed confident as hell,” he pressed.

As I was about to respond, the ladies returned from the bathroom. Before Ginae sat down, I stood, took her hand, and headed toward the door. I was moving so fast, she could barely keep up in her heels, but I was too caught up in my thoughts to care.

Kavia was a shit starter, but randomly saying that Ginae got an abortion was even far-fetched for her. She spoke with such confidence that I couldn’t help but question if she knew something I didn’t know. I thought back to what Kavia said when Ginae had gone to the bathroom.

“So, that’s Ginae, huh? I thought she looked familiar. It’s all starting to make sense.”

I’d heard her, but it didn’t register. Something Kavia had said at my mother’s house when Phoenix announced that she was pregnant also came to mind.

“Mama Clem, did you know you could’ve been a grandmother years ago? Unfortunately, abortion was the chosen option.”

Obviously, we assumed she was referring to an abortion she’d had, but she clarified that it wasn’t herself she was talkingabout. If she were talking about Ginae, how would she know something like that?

Thirteen years ago, Kavia was resourceful enough to get Ginae’s phone number, so she probably had seen pictures as well, and that would explain how she knew what Ginae looked like.But how would she know Ginae had an abortion?

“Phyre, what’s wrong?” Ginae asked when we got outside.

“Nothing.”

“Why are we leaving? Did something happen?”