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She blinks at me. “Uh, yeah. That’s generally part of the marriage package, Lennon.”

My body drops back down to the mattress. “I’m so tired, Nora. I think…I just need to go to sleep and think about this in the morning.”

Nora sighs. “Fine, but I’m telling you, I think it’d be a smart move.”

Before she opens my door to leave, I stop her. “Hey, Nora?”

She glances at me over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

Her smile brightens. “Anytime. I know you’d do the same for me.”

Nora and I have always been close, but today I’m especially grateful for that. I could never have spoken to Blair about my situation without some sort of judgment or sarcastic response. And Sloane? She’s so busy and we’re just not as close as I wish we were. And this is definitely not something I would discuss with Hudson.

When I was growing up, I felt like the odd man out, like the three of my oldest siblings had already established a bond and then I came along as the annoying little sister nobody wanted.

They weren’t malicious, but I just felt like I didn’t belong with them. By the time I was old enough to play with them, they were growing past that part of their childhood.

But today, despite the chaos, I didn’t feel so alone with Nora by my side.

And now Easton wants to be there for me too.

Is that what I want, though? Is it smart to agree to this?

I place my hand over my stomach, reminding myself that my decisions aren’t just about me anymore.

My child deserves a stable environment and a mother who will make sure they’re protected and loved. Their father may not want us, but I’ll be damned if that prevents my child from feeling cared for.

That’s when it hits me.

Marrying Easton is the smart thing to do. It would give my baby stability and give me time to finish school. It isn’t romantic. It’s practical, and maybe practical is exactly what I need.

God, I can’t believe I’m considering this.

But I know in my heart it’s the right thing to do.

I just hope Easton and I can get through it without ruining our friendship forever this time.

Chapter 9

Easton

A Kiss Ten Years in the Making

“You are surprisingly calm for a man who is about to marry a girl he’s secretly been in love with for years,” my brother mumbles under his breath.

I reach up and straighten my tie. “I’m not in love with her. It’s just the right thing to do.”

“I don’t disagree that you’re helping her more than you are required to, but what happens when she finds out the truth?”

“What do you mean?”

“That deep down, you’re hoping she’ll fall in love with you too.”

I snap my gaze over to him. “That’s not what this is about.”

“But you’ve thought about it, right?”