Katrina nodded but remained quiet.
Sid looked at her first. “I’m sorry for what I said in the kitchen. You were right to be pissed. I was running my mouth, trying to make sense of something that doesn’t make a damn bit of sense, and I made it about the wrong thing.”
Katrina’s eyes stayed on his, but she didn’t say anything.
“I wasn’t trying to disrespect Becky,” Sid continued, then glanced at Becky before looking back at Katrina. “And I sure as hell wasn’t trying to make light of what happened to her. But that’s how it came off, and that’s on me.”
Becky shifted in her chair, feeling the need to say something. “Sid, no one told me exactly what you said.”
Sid frowned, his eyes snapping to hers. “What?”
“No one told me,” Becky repeated softly. “I didn’t ask because, honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I just guessed.”
Sid stared at her, and for once, there wasn’t even a hint of a comeback on his face.
“I know you,” Becky said, giving him a small smile. “I know your mouth usually takes off before the rest of you catches up.”
Sid huffed out a breath, but it wasn’t quite a laugh.
“But I also know this whole thing sounds impossible,” Becky continued, her hand moving without thought to her stomach. “And if I’m being honest, I’ve wondered what everyone is thinking. Not because I think any of you would hurt me on purpose, but because there are so many questions none of us have answers to yet.”
Her eyes moved from Sid to Katrina, then back again.
“And honestly, I’m not as worried about what anyone thinks of me as much as I’m worried about Sloan. He’s your leader. I don’t want this changing how any of you see him. That would hurt worse than anything anyone could say about me.” Becky said firmly. “He doesn’t deserve that.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Sid’s jaw tightened. “I now realize how what I was saying sounded and Becky, I need you to hear me. I never thought you cheated on Sloan. Not once.”
Becky’s eyes burned, but she nodded. “Good, because that would never happen.”
“I know that.” Sid said, she could hear how much this has bothered him by the tone of his voice. “I questioned how the hell a doctor could pull this off. I questioned how Golden Blood could change something we’ve believed for centuries. I questioned a lot of shit because that’s what we do when something blindsides us. But I did not question you.”
Katrina looked away for a second, her expression softening.
“And I’m sorry if what I said made it seem that way,” Sid added, looking at Becky. “I’d never want you to feel like you had to defend yourself to me. You don’t. You’re family.”
Becky swallowed hard, then nodded. “Thank you.”
Sid looked back at Katrina. “And you were right about one thing. I should’ve been thinking about what happened to her before I started worrying about myself. So yeah, I fucked up.”
Katrina finally gave a small nod. “Yeah, you did.”
“I know.” Sid didn’t look away from her. “That’s why I’m here.”
For a moment, none of them said anything.
Becky finally blew out a breath, needing the heaviness to ease just a little. Standing, she reached out and hugged Sid, then pulled away. “Thank you, Sid.”
Katrina followed and hugged Sid. “You’re a good man, Sid. I think that’s why I got so heated.”
“I also know why you got so heated, Katrina.” Sid frowned. “I know your past, and well, standing up for Becky is exactly what I would expect you to do. You put me in my place, which is something not many can do.”
“Other than Lana.” Katrina smirked with a cocked eyebrow.
“Yes.” Sid grinned, then became serious. “That woman carries a big-ass gun.”
Both Katrina and Becky laughed at the seriousness in his tone.
“If there is anything I can do for you, Becky, just let me know,” Sid said before turning to leave.
