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“A U-turn, Lennon! Flip a bitch! It’s a California thing. I don’t have time to explain. Talk soon?”

“Yeah, talk soon. Love you.”

“Love you too, Lennon. You’ve got this.”

The call ends so quickly that I barely have a chance to register what just happened, but if my sister is thinking of coming back to Garnet Valley for a while, that could stir up a lot of drama that even I am not equipped to deal with.

Instead, I focus on my stomach as my daughter rolls inside me.

“I promise to do my best, little one,” I whisper—because maybe putting the words into the universe will manifest the life I want for us both.

A life with Easton might sound perfect, but it will come with a shit-ton of obstacles to overcome.

Chapter 26

Lennon

A Surprise Visitor & A Strong Decision

“Owen?”

It’s just after seven Wednesday evening, and the last person I expected on the front porch with bags from Melvin’s was my brother-in-law.

“Hey, Lennon.”

My gaze drops to the takeout boxes straining against the plastic bags in his hand. “Uh, you wanna come in?”

“That’d be great. Thanks.” I let Owen pass through the door, shut it behind him, and follow him to the kitchen island, where he sets down the food. “I hope you’re hungry, though.”

“I was gonna say, I hope that’s not all for me.”

Owen barks out a laugh. “No, some of it’s for me and my mom, but I didn’t feel like going through the boxes in the truck. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course. But that doesn’t explain why you’re here with food in the first place.”

Owen arches a brow at me. “Do the math, Lennon.”

It doesn’t take me long to figure out what he means. “Easton sent you, didn’t he?”

“Yup. And if he asks how I did, I’d appreciate a five-star rating. I’m not about to lose my big-brother card any time soon.”

Smiling, I watch Owen pull boxes from the bags and open each one to check the contents. “I’ll give you a glowing review.”

“Thank you. Now, he told me two orders of the brisket and the mac and cheese. Does that sound right?”

My mouth waters. “Yes. That’s perfect.” I intercept the boxes, pop a piece of brisket into my mouth, and moan as I chew. “God, that’s good.”

“Easton said this is all you’ve been craving so far.”

“It’s not the only thing, but it’s definitely the most persistent.”

“Congrats on the girl, by the way,” he continues, reaching for a fry from one of his boxes.

“Thank you.”

“Easton is pumped.”

Thinking back to his reaction in the doctor’s office makes me smile. “He is, although I feel like he’s being even more overprotective now.”