𝙏𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 | 𝙎𝘽

033.

Weeks passed, and the silence between Kayli and Trevon grew. They hadn't spoken to each other about anything personal; their communication was limited strictly to the baby's doctor appointments.

The distance between them felt like a growing chasm, filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Kayli was hurt—deeply hurt—but she had decided to keep moving forward. She couldn't afford to get stuck in the past, not with a baby on the way.

At 28 weeks, her belly was now noticeably round, a constant reminder of the new life growing inside her. Despite the turmoil with Trevon, she found herself falling more in love with their baby with each passing day.

She could feel her daughter's kicks getting stronger, little flutters that brought her a strange sense of comfort, a reminder that she wasn't alone. Every kick, every movement, felt like a promise that things would be okay, no matter what happened between her and Trevon.

She tried not to dwell on Trevon too much, but it was hard when every time she opened Instagram, there he was. His career was taking off, more than ever.

He was in the studio constantly, posting snippets of new tracks, and from what she'd seen, he was gearing up to release an album soon. Part of her was proud—she knew how much he had worked for this.

But another part of her felt a sting of resentment. It seemed like he was throwing himself into his career, using it as an escape from dealing with their issues, from dealing with her.

Kayli pushed those thoughts aside as she got ready for her day. She had to keep herself focused, had to keep her mind in a positive space. Just as she finished getting dressed, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Anita, Trevon's mom.

Mom In Law♥️.
Hey, sweetheart. I was thinking, how about we have a self-care day? Just us girls. You deserve some pampering. How does that sound?

Kayli smiled at the message, feeling a warmth spread through her. Anita had always been so kind and supportive, especially during these past few months. She appreciated the gesture more than she could express.

That sounds perfect, Anita. I'd love that. Thank you so much.
Delivered.

Within an hour, Anita was at her doorstep, her face lighting up with a warm smile as Kayli opened the door. "There she is," Anita said, pulling Kayli into a gentle hug. "You're glowing, honey. Pregnancy looks good on you."

Kayli chuckled softly, touched by the compliment. "Thank you, Anita. I'm trying to keep it together," she replied with a small smile.

Anita waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, nonsense. You're doing great, and I'm so proud of you. Now, come on. Today is all about you. We're going to the spa, getting our nails done, and then maybe some lunch. Whatever you want, okay?"

Kayli felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. "That sounds amazing. I really need this," she admitted.

Anita smiled knowingly. "I know you do, sweetie. It's been a tough few weeks, but you're strong. And remember, you're not alone. You've got me, and you've got a whole village ready to support you and that little one," she said, gently patting Kayli's belly.

Kayli felt a lump form in her throat, touched by Anita's words. "Thank you, Anita. That means a lot."

As they continued their self-care day, the mood was light and relaxed. The warm steam from the spa's sauna enveloped them, and the soothing music created a peaceful atmosphere.

Kayli was grateful for the distraction from everything that had been weighing on her lately. Anita had been chatting about the latest neighborhood gossip, her cheerful demeanor making Kayli smile, but then she paused, her expression turning more serious.

"Kayli," Anita said gently, glancing over at her as they both sat in the sauna, wrapped in fluffy towels. "I gotta ask...what's really going on between you and Trevon? I've noticed you two haven't been the same lately. You know you can talk to me, right?"

Kayli hesitated, feeling a knot form in her stomach. She hadn't planned on talking about this today, not wanting to dampen the mood or cause any tension. But Anita had always been good to her, she considered her the mother she never had, and she could see the genuine concern in her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Kayli decided to be honest. "Things have been...difficult," she admitted quietly. "Ever since that day with Ezra, we've barely spoken to each other, except for the baby's appointments. He's been distant, throwing himself into his music and his career, and...I just don't know where we stand anymore."

Anita's brow furrowed, a deep frown settling on her face. "Difficult? What do you mean by that, honey? Has he even been to any of the appointments?"

Kayli shook her head, feeling a pang of sadness at the admission. "No, he hasn't. I've been going by myself. I think he's scared, or maybe he's just not ready to face everything that's happening. I don't know. But he hasn't been there, and it hurts."

Anita's face darkened with disappointment. She took a deep breath, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I didn't raise Trevon to be like this," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "I raised him to take responsibility for his actions, to be there for his family. And right now, it sounds like he's failing on both fronts."

Kayli nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I don't know what to do, Anita. I've tried to talk to him, but every time I do, it just turns into an argument. And I can't keep putting myself and the baby through this stress. I need to think about what's best for us."

Anita reached out and placed a comforting hand on Kayli's arm. "I'm sorry you're going through this, Kayli," she said softly. "I'm gonna talk to him. He needs to hear some things from his mama, and it sounds like he's forgotten who he is and where he comes from. I'm not gonna let him walk away from his responsibilities, not when there's a baby involved."

Kayli nodded, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. "Thank you, Anita. I just... I don't want to cause any problems between you and him. I just want him to step up and be the man I know he can be."

Anita smiled softly, squeezing her arm reassuringly. "Don't you worry about that, sweetheart. Trevon and I have been through plenty, and he knows I'll always love him. But sometimes, love means telling someone when they're wrong, and right now, he needs a wake-up call. He needs to understand what he's risking."

They spent the rest of the day enjoying their spa treatments and lunch, talking about lighter topics, and sharing stories about the past. Anita tried to keep things upbeat, making Kayli laugh with stories from Trevon's childhood—stories that reminded Kayli of the man she fell in love with, the man she hoped would find his way back to her.

As they left the spa, Kayli felt a little lighter, the weight of the morning's conversation lifting slightly with the support Anita had shown. She knew things were far from resolved, but at least now she felt like she wasn't facing everything alone.

Anita hugged her tightly before she left. "Just remember, Kayli, you're stronger than you think. And no matter what happens with Trevon, you've got a family here with us. We're gonna make sure you and that baby are taken care of, one way or another."

Kayli smiled, her heart warmed by Anita's words. "Thank you, Anita. I needed this today. I needed to hear that."

Anita nodded. "Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime. Now, go home, put your feet up, and take care of yourself and that little one. I'll handle my son."

As Kayli drove home, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. Of course, she didn't like being the person that had to rat Trevon out to his own mother but it wasn't fair for her to be doing everything alone.

The ball was in Trevon's court if he wanted to be present or not, Kayli wasn't gonna force it. It wasn't her responsibility to. She just hoped it would all come together in the end.

_________

TBC. ✨

I'll be announcing the baby's name soon and i'm so excited! ✨

Also, I wanna thank everybody for reading my book and actually loving it! This is my 2nd book i've written and i'm honestly proud of how far it's come! ✨

WE MADE IT TO 2K VOTES!! ✨