Page 163 of Twins for Three Bad Boys

“Yeah,” I say. “That tracks.”

“I’ve ruined everything,” she says again.

I reach for her face this time. Cup her jaw. Make her look at me.

“You didn’t ruin anything,” I say firmly. “You got pregnant. That’s not a moral failure. That’s biology.”

Her laugh comes out watery.

“I don’t even know what I want yet,” she admits. “I just found out. I’m in shock. I’m scared. I’m thinking about Evan. And Wayne. And you. And Fletcher. And I don’t want to blow everything apart.”

“You won’t,” I say.

“How do you know?”

“Because we’re not that fragile.”

She searches my face.

“What if you, they, don’t want this?” she asks.

There’s the real question.

I take a slow breath.

“I don’t know everything yet,” I tell her. “I don’t know what this looks like. Or how it works. Or who the father is.”

Her throat tightens.

“But I do know I’m not disappearing,” I continue. “Not because it’s messy. Not because it’s complicated. Not because I’m scared.”

“You’re not scared?” she whispers.

“I am,” I admit. “I’m just not running.”

She steps into me again, softer this time.

“And if it’s not yours?” she asks against my chest.

“Then I still care,” I say. “I don’t switch off because a test tells me to.”

Her hands fist in my jacket, anchoring herself.

Bolt presses his whole body against our legs, physically sealing the promise.

After a long minute, she pulls back.

“I have to tell Wayne,” she says. “But I’m afraid because he’s been through so much. I need Fletcher to know too. But I think… Wayne first. Right? I mean, this is probably going to be the hardest on him.”

“Yeah,” I agree.

I pull my phone out.

“I’m not tellin’ him details. Just that I’ve got you.”

She nods, eyes still wet.

I type quick.