bChapter /bb97 /b

bThe /btaxi ride from the airport Sutton didn’t remember. It wasn’t jetg, but it hadn’t helped.

The only thing that stuck in her mind was the rain as it hit the windows of the taxi, and she watched the fat raindrops slide down the outside of the bss/b. Typical. New York had always had a sick sense of timing.

The driver didn’t speak much and thank God for that. Sutton didn’t have it in her to make conversation. She barely had it in her to breathe.

Her head throbbed. Her back ached. Her stomach turned with every bump in the road. Not morning sickness–just everything sickness. Life sickness. If anything, him speaking to her would’ve only made her cry again.

When the car pulled up in front of ir, Dan, and Laura’s building, Sutton didn’t move for a isecond/i. She just stared at the ce. She hadn’t been here before but had the address in her phone.

This ce… New York–not ir’s ce–was like a different lifetime ago. One where she wasn’t pregnant. One where Luca hadn’t looked her in the eye and called her ba /bslut.

She was hurt more than anything that he had believed she would sleep around on him. He was the one who had been nning to get engaged to this young girl while he had been seeing her. Had he always been engaged to his little wife? Having a woman on the side until his bride came of age?

Who truly was the slut here if that was the case?

She paid the driver, dragging her suitcases up the stairs one at a time, and rang the buzzer.

Keira answered the door.

“Holy shit,” she breathed, pulling it wide open. “You didn’t tell us you wereing. I was just visiting with ir. Dan’s away for some sales meeting, and Laura had some modeling gig for a few days.”

Sutton shrugged, voice dry. “Didn’t know I was until thest minute. I didn’t know I wasing here until I got in the taxi.”

Keira stepped aside, letting her in. “You look like hell.”

“Thanksi,” /iSutton said, pulling her two suitcases through the door.

ir was alreadying down the hallway barefoot, hair up in a messy twist, wearing leggings and an old Columbia sweatshirt. Her eyes widened when she saw her.

“Sutton?”

“Yeah,” Sutton said, throat scratchy. “It’s me.” Her throat tightened.

ir didn’t hesitate. Just crossed the space and wrapped her arms around her.

And for a second, Sutton let herself sink into it. She may be the older sister and normally the strong one, but right now, she wasn’t feeling it. She felt bset /b

adrift. Afloat from reality.

“You okay?” ir asked, too quietly.

Sutton pulled away before she could fall apart. “I’m tired.”

“You want food? Shower? Couch?”

“Couch,” she said. “First… I do need a shower, but I don’t think I have the energy to stand upright nowb, /blet alone strip.”

Keira had already disappeared into the linen closet. ir guided her to the couch, where she copsed like her bones bwere /bdone trying bto /bhold bher /bbup/b.

b1/4 /b

bShe /bbdidn’t /bbcry/b. Not yet. Honestly, right now, she didn’t believe she could tell her sisters what had happened and cry at the same btime/bb. /bHer brain wasn‘ functioning enough to multitask.

Sutton was d her sisters didn’t jump on her to ask questions. They gave her time, and she was grateful. It surprised her with Keira bher /bbyounger /bsister not exactly known for being subtle.

ir handed her tea a few momentster, Sutton hadn’t even noticed her leave the room.

Keira pulled her boots off like she was seven years old or something. cing a light nket over her. Sutton let it happen. She curled bup/b, took small bsips/b, and tried not to throw up. Her stomach was too tight. Everything was too tight.

After a while, Keira sat on the armrest beside her and nudged her shoulder.

“Well?” was Keira’s one–word question.

Sutton stared at the steam rising from her mug. “I was in a rtionship, as you knowi./ii” /iShe had told them she was seeing someone, bbut /bnot all the details -because she hadn’t been sure if he was serious.

Hah. What ba /bjoke.

He hadn’t been. No. He had his child bride.

ir sat across from her. “We know.”

Her sisters said nothing, waiting for Sutton to fill in the nks.

After a moment, Keira nudged her shoulder again.

“So, uh. Are you gonna tell us what happened? Or are we just gonna vibe in awkward silence until one of us snaps and fake cries for attention?”

“It’s over.”

“With Luca?” ir asked immediately.

Sutton nodded. “Yeah.”

“What did he do?” Keira asked. “Because if this is something forgivable, like bad socks or a questionable haircut, I’m still shing his tires out of

principle.”

Sutton swallowed. “He’s getting married.”

ir blinked. “To who?”

“Some eighteen–year–old Italian heiress.”

Keira made a strangled sound. “Wait, wait, wait. Eighteen? Like… legal in Italy but barely not doing homework?b” /b

“Yeah.”

ir’s expression darkened. “And he didn’t tell you?”

“He came over to end things,i” /iSutton said. “Then told him I was pregnant. But he still left.”

Thatnded hard.

Dead silence.

ir sat back. “You’re what?”

b2/4 /b

“Pregnant.”

Keira blinked. “With his baby?”

“No, Keira. With a stranger’s. Obviously.”

Keira grinned. “Just checking. You’ve always had that mysterious glow about you. Could’ve been immacte conception.”

Suttonughed. Just once. It sounded broken. But it was Keira, and that counted for something.

“I told him. He didn’t believe me. Said I was lying. Trying to trap him. Called me a slut… he said some hurtful things. Doesn’t believe the baby’s his

Keira’s eyes went wide. “Oh hell no. No. No no no. Give me his addressb. /bI’m serious. I can be on his doorstep by Friday and in jail by Saturday. bVil /bbbring /bmy own shovel.”

“I mailed him the test,” Sutton added, not responding to Keira’sment. “He probably burned it.”

ir leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “You came home because of that? I’m d you did, hon.”

“I came home because I couldn’t stay,i” /iSutton said. “I canceled my contracts. Walked away from the agency. I’m done. I just… I can’t live that life right now. I’m pregnant, alone.”

ir nodded once, slow. “You’re not alone.”

“I know, I know. I meant-”

ir cut her off. “You said alone. I’m correcting you. Not alone. Not anymore. You have bus/bb./bb” /b

Keira snapped her fingers. “Exactly. And I just signed a lease on ba /btwo–bedroom with a study. Was looking for a roommate, but clearly the universe bhad /bother ns. You and that nugget in your uterus can move in. Study’s got great light. We’ll make it a nursery.”

Sutton blinked. “Keira, you don’t have to-”

“I know I don’t. But it’s either that or I keep living by myself and start talking to my nts like they’re people. It’s you or bthe /bbficus/b, and honestly, he’s been a judgmental little shittely.”

Sutton just stared at her.

ir smirked. “She’s serious.”

“I am,” Keira said. “Rent’s not bad. I’m not messy. And I don’t care if the baby screams all night because I once lived under ba /bguy who yed bthe /bdrums bat /b3 a.m. every Tuesday. I’m basically trauma–trained.”

Sutton’s throat tightened. “You guys…”

“We’re not going anywhere,” ir said simply. “So stop acting like this is some big tragedy where you’re the lone survivor. You made it out. You left. That’s strengthb, /bnot shame.”

“I feel like a fucking idiot.”

Keira shrugged. “No. He is the idiot.”

Sutton smiled through the sting behind her eyes.

“I don’t know what I’m doingb,/bb” /bshe admitted.

ir stood and walked over, resting ba /bhand on her shoulder. “But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

Sutton finally let herself exhale.

She had

the best sisters.