Pregnant.
Kiki is pregnant.
“Oh my gosh.” I blink at her, processing. “You're—really? You're sure?”
“Three positive tests and a doctor's appointment this morning.” Her eyes shine with tears, the good kind. “I'm almost eight weeks along. We're having a baby.”
Skyler jumps up. “We’re having a baby?”
Kiki grins and nods. “Yes, sweetheart. You’re going to be a big sister.”
Skyler’s eyes grow big. “I am?”
“Yes,” Kiki says, getting down on the floor with Skyler. “A new baby is coming.”
“Wow!” Skyler shrieks. She launches herself at Kiki, wrapping her arms around her. “Can we name the baby Princess?”
“We'll take that under consideration,” Tobias says, laughing.
“Holy cow.” I go over to Kiki and pull her into a hug because that’s what you’re supposed to do, right? That’s what a good sister does when her older sister announces life-changing news. “Congratulations. That’s—wow. That’s amazing.”
And it is. It really is.
But underneath the happiness and the genuine excitement I feel for her, there’s something else creeping in. Something that feels uncomfortably like panic.
Kiki has a baby coming. She’s going to need space. Privacy. A house that doesn’t have a broke eighteen-year-old squatting in one of the bedrooms.
I force myself to smile, to act normal, to not let them see the calculation happening in my head. Because this changes everything. Ihaveto move out now. I have to get my act together and stop being a burden on people who have their own lives to live.
Kiki needs this house for her family. Herrealfamily. The one that doesn't include her screwed-up little sister who can't even accept a simple job offer without having a breakdown.
“When are you due?” I ask.
“Mid-January,” Kiki says. “Right after the new year.”
Seven months. I have seven months to figure out how to survive on fumes.
No problem. Totally doable.
My phone buzzes. River. I go back to the couch and grab it without thinking, then immediately wish I hadn't. His text startles me.
Why not?
Short. Direct. No accusation, just a question.
I stare at the screen while Kiki and Tobias discuss baby names and Skyler lobbies hard for “Princess Sparkle Barrett.” My thumb hovers over the keyboard. I type a quick response.
It's complicated.
Three dots appear immediately. He's typing. My heart does this stupid flutter thing that I deeply resent.
I'm not asking for complicated. I'm asking you to cook dinner a few times a week.
I shoot back a response.
For an insane amount of money.
Not insane. Fair. You'd be saving me from starvation and my own terrible life choices. That's valuable.
