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She sighed. “I wish I would have let you. I wish I wouldn’t have been a coward.”

I shook my head. “You weren’t. You thought you were helping. I wish I wouldn’t have spoken that night at the campsite in such absolutes. I am still... upset, but I understand the impulse to tell a white lie and have it spin out of control.”

“You do?”

“Yes,” I said. “Life is messy.”

Chloe pressed my hand to her stomach. My throat felt scratchy and I fought tears. Wanting to reassure her, I kissed her forehead.

“Telling a lie to protect people you love is a very, very parental thing, Chlo. We've all done it. All I ask is that you never do it again.”

Tearfully, Chloe agreed. “I will never, ever do it again. Full transparency. Even down to the fact that my ass turns toilet seats blue.”

I snickered. “One of the lesser-known and odder symptoms, huh?”

“I freaked out and called Lanie to ask if I was radioactive. But, you said you wanted transparency.”

I sighed. “I do. Even the weird things. We're family, Chloe. I want it all.”

If it wasn’t a twister, it was a housing crisis destroying my dream. If it wasn’t Piper growing up, it was Brynn’s potential pregnancy sending Piper into a tailspin. But with Chloe, that wasn’t my fear. I knew somehow, someway, we would find a path forward—one that included Piper and didn’t make me feel like I lost everything in an instant. Chloe needed us and our baby did, too.

38. THE ARSENAL

CHLOE

Cole assembled an arsenal for me on the coffee table—my remotes, water bottle, an assemblage of snacks, and a hot water bottle for my aching back. Brownie sat in the corner. She looked so lonely in the apartment that Cole asked if she could visit. I, of course, would never refuse a four-legged friend in the house. She settled by the fireplace that roared with a cozy glow.

As much as I’d worried, Cole didn’t run from me. He ran to me and this baby—our baby. As he brought me another blanket and tucked it over my feet as an option, I fell harder for this man. I couldn’t help but observe and moon. He was just so sweet and handsome. His desire to dote warmed my heart.

“What?” Cole turned. “Do you need something else?”

“No,” I answered. “As long as the baby is okay, I’m fine. I told you that you didn’t need to do all of this.”

“I did. And I will.” He patted his jeans, as if ready to leave. “I mean, if you’ve got everything and your… friend.. is upstairs, are you okay?”

I shook my head. “Sit. And at least eat some of these snacks. Don’t just leave me.”

He plopped in the chair by my feet and reached for Doritos.

“She’s my friend, yes. And former assistant. Who is hopefully coming back on to help. And that’s all she’s doing. She’s not here to step on your toes.”

“So is she the one⁠—”

“Yes. She slept with my ex and it was a disaster, but he played her as much as he played me. And when you talked to me about Brynn’s infidelity and moving on… it made me reconsider if I should let a fuckboy really come between me and one of my best friends at a time when I need help more than ever.”

He raised his hands. “I’m not here to cast stones, Chloe. If she’s helping, that’s fine. I just wanted a bit of background.”

I winced. “I’m sorry I’m so shit at that. I should get better⁠—”

He squeezed my knee. “Just be willing to ask for help, baby. Sometimes, you can’t take care of it all on your own,” Cole observed. “We’re both caretakers, you know that?”

“I guess. Helping is kind of my whole thing. When you grow up fortunate, it’s your responsibility to give back. And not in a ‘think of the little people’ way. In a way that capitalism is fucked and… well, sadly it’s people like me and Cal who get to set the agenda of who else gets to speak. Amplifying people and not talking over them is what fills my cup.”

“I worried I was just an annoying charity case for you.”

“I know. You were wonderful distraction and I was in a bad place, Cole. You and Piper gave me a renewed hope in the universe and reminded me of people I love.”

“Please don’t say your father,” Cole groaned.