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“I think you’re overestimating your abilities,” Theo says with a shrug. “While you’re welcome to live with us forever, kids grow up. If it wasn’t San Diego, it would have been college, or even something else. I don’t think the dingleberries aren’t a suitable reason for you to move out. Fuck them. This is an important lesson for the girls. Sometimes, people leave, while not necessarily leaving them. You know?”

“Wow,” I whisper. That was so emotionally aware. Damn.

“I couldn’t have said that better myself, Theo,” Rachelle breathes. “Do you want my mom to wait to go to the zoo with all of us, or will it be too warm?”

“The weather has been amazing here,” I sigh happily. “I can walk without getting overheated. I hate to say this, but I’m going to miss being pregnant. I feel incredible.”

“There’s not a chance it could just carry over afterward?” Theo asks hopefully.

“No. The doctors are already prepping me for the crash. I’m talking it through with my therapist, because I know it’s going to be rough after feeling so well. Dr. Sully says to enjoy every moment and we’ll handle it when it happens.”

“Fuck.” Yep, that’s how I feel about it too, Theo. “School is officially out in a couple of weeks. I think we should rent a house out in San Diego for the summer. We’re about due for a vacation.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Rachelle adds. “The dingleberries all have plans to fuck off as soon as they graduate. One of my clients mentioned it to me randomly after her session. I swear, the high school tea is always served piping hot. It does have its advantages though.”

“Are we calling the guys dingleberries now?” I ask curiously.

“Dipshits, cuntasauruses, and whatever else we can think of also apply,” Theo mutters.

Eh, that’s fair.

Rachelle rolls her eyes and continues as if Theo didn’t say a thing. “We’ve all been stressing out about being away from you for the birth. Feel free to still go on your solo dates, Noor. We don’t want to encroach on your independence.”

“Is it okay if I still need you?” I ask, finally stopping my pacing as I begin to make myself dizzy. I’m thankful for the ottoman as I sink down onto it, deciding to chill my nervous movements. I may be feeling better, but I can still overdo it.

“You can always need us,” Theo grunts. “Emil still gets us out of scrapes and he’s not even my dad. There’s no rule saying that you can’t need your parents the second you turn eighteen. Remember, we said we’d be your parents forever.”

I nod, taking a deep breath so as not to worry him about my emotions. I think I’d cry even if I wasn’t pregnant.

“I’ll see you next week then,” I whisper.

“You will. We love you,” Rachelle says.

“Love you.” I hang up the call before letting the tears fall, shaking my head at how much I’ve cried in the last few minutes.

I leave my phone on the ottoman as I stand slowly, moving toward the easel where my painting sits waiting for me along with a stool. I may as well use these emotions to create. It’s the best way to purge everything I’m feeling.

I get comfortable behind my canvas and pull out my paints from the cart I keep beside it. The entire apartment is set up the way I need it to be. I suppose that’s a benefit of living alone. I don’t have to worry about tiny people getting into my paint.

I would gladly put it away though to be able to see Ari and Adelina.

Soon. I hope Theo and Rachelle are right and they’ll be able to forgive me.

CHAPTER

FIVE

TWO MONTHS LATER

NOOR

“Noo, mira!” Ari squeals, pointing at the elephant. I don’t know why I was so worried. As soon as my sweet sisters saw me, they burst into tears and instantly forgave any grievances they may have had.

It turns out we’ve missed each other like crazy, and they weren’t interested in pouting even a little bit. They did have a lot of questions about my belly that were awkward to answer.

How do you tell your baby sisters that you’re an unwed mother by choice? Well, as much of a choice as possible. Falling off a cliff is a wake up call.

I explained why I lived in San Diego to the best of my ability, and the girls accepted it. My parents helped me muddle through the baby questions, and they’re excited to be aunts, though they both seemed a little confused by the thought.