Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
She grins back at me. “Right? Very Barbie chic.”
I gag. We’ve always been dark and light, the two of us, but God, I love her. She drags me into the bathroom, and then she points to the counter. I glance over from where I am taking in the stark-white bathroom to the spot she is pointing at.
Where three sticks lie.
Three pregnancy tests.
Three positive pregnancy tests.
My jaw drops, and then I’m looking back at my older sister, who is also my best friend. Don’t get me wrong. I was excited for Aiden and Shelli when I found out about Fitz and Roman, surprised when I met Alexis, but I have never felt like this before. It’s like my heart has exploded into a million butterflies in my chest.
My best friend is pregnant.
My eyes lock with Stella’s, and overwhelming love and excitement course through me. I squeal and she screams before we’re a tangled mess of limbs. I hug her tightly as we sway back and forth, and she cries on my shoulder.
I pull away from her. “You’re going to be a mom!”
She sobs. “And you’re going to be an aunt. Like, for real. Like, there for my baby because you aren’t leaving me, you hear me?”
Now, I’m sobbing. We crash back together as we sway back and forth again.
All while I ignore the knot in my stomach.
Don’t let me down, Quinn.
Not like I did you.
Chapter
Thirty-Five
Quinn
One of the perks of being Elli and Shea’s son is the around-the-clock access I have to Luther Arena, where my mom’s team, the Nashville Assassins, plays. While it’s summer and usually concerts, Monster Jam, and other events take place here instead, the ice is out for a charity hockey tournament Shelli is putting on to raise money for the Assassins Foundation. The tournament starts this weekend, and Dad is dropping the puck. It’s going to be a good event, will raise lots of money, and the winner of the tournament not only gets bragging rights, but they get a suite for an Assassins’ game this season.
It was my idea.
I lean back in one of the seats that my siblings and I used to sit in to watch Dad play. Right by the penalty box. They were Mom’s season ticket seats back when she was just a fan of the Assassins. After having us, she bought the whole row. I have so many memories of sitting here. When Dad would get thrown into the box, we’d make faces at him until he’d laugh. It only happened one time in all the years we messed with him, but we felt like we’d won the Stanley Cup that day. We still make fun of him for it. I smile to myself, the memory warming me and distracting me from the predicament I got myself into.
I came straight from the surgery center, needing to clear my mind, and Luther Arena has always been that place for me. Ava hasn’t answered my text yet, but she did like it to let me know she will get back to me. Usually when she’s busy, she’ll answer from her Apple Watch, not that I bother her much. I would have gone home, but I feel this weird guilt in my chest when I’m with Emery. I feel like I’m betraying Emery by talking to Ava now that we’ve gotten back together. Like I’m basically cheating on her with my fiancée, which I realize is a whole lot of backward and fucked up, but I hate disappointing Emery.
This is all such a fucking mess.
I should have said no when Ava offered. I should have just taken a year off until I got my head on straight again. I should have known Ava would use what she did for me against me. I shouldn’t have been such an idiot. Fuck, there are a million things I should have done. Chased after Emery. Told my parents the truth. Admitted when I started struggling. Not lied.
Not agreed to marry someone who isn’t Emery.
I’ve known since I was a kid that Emery was someone important to me. She had a way of getting under my skin, making me take notice of her. I’ve always found her so beautiful, so stunning and fierce. When I hit puberty and sex was the only thing on my mind, I’d always imagine Emery when I’d get off. A smirk pulls at my lips as my eyes drift shut, remembering the first time we kissed.
“I don’t know why you like this movie. Sparkling vampires? Please.”
Emery snorts beside me, shaking her head. Her hair is up in a huge topknot, and she’s wearing her dad’s Assassins shirt with a pair of short black shorts. I can’t help but take notice of the curve of her thighs, even if they’re hidden under a blanket. “This is prime literature turned into a blockbuster. It’s amazing.”