Nausea roils. I feel like my insides have just been pulverized. “By help her, you mean fuck her? Is that code or something?”

“Jesus, Shay, it’s not like that. She’s . . .” He blows out a breath. “Scarlett is pregnant.”

For a minute, I’m sure I’ve misheard him. I’m positive this cannot be happening.

“Shay? Are you still there?”

“She’s pregnant.” Saying the words doesn’t make them any easier to swallow. How? Fucking how could this work out like this?

“Yeah.” I press my hand to my stomach, and I’m almost surprised not to feel blood seeping out on my fingers. She’s pregnant with Easton’s baby. All I can hear is the soft whoosh of his breath through the phone. He’s breathing as hard as I am.

“I grew up without my dad around. I always promised myself that if I was ever a father, that would be my first priority. Do you understand?”

I nod, even knowing he can’t see me. Yes, I understand. I know that Easton wants to be the kind of dad who’s there for everything—who always puts his kid first. He’d never walk away from a child he knew about, and being put in any sort of situation where he felt like he had to would destroy him. Yes, I understand too well.

“Shay?”

“Congratulations, Easton.” The sob rises up my throat, and I choke it back. “I know you’ll be an amazing father.”

Part VIII.

Easton

I followed Shay to the parking lot, but she was already in her car and driving away.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I’m going to have to track her down. We can’t leave it like this after what just happened. But first, I need to deal with the woman waiting for me at the bar.

“Easton! Surprise!” Scarlett slides off her barstool and pushes through the crowd that’s gathered around her. I’ve developed a good relationship with my ex-wife over the years, but I’ll never understand her need for surprises. And tonight’s visit to Jackson Brews is definitely a surprise.

She wraps her arms around my stomach and hugs me tightly. Jake and Carter watch every move. Jake looks a little pissed. Carter looks confused.

“What are you doing here?” I ask Scarlett, pulling out of her hug. She’s an affectionate person, and while I know she hugs everyone, I don’t need Shay’s brothers thinking this means we’re patching things up. When I decided to come back early from our Chicago house hunt, I was under the impression that she was going to keep looking without me. Kinda hard to look at Chicago homes when you’re not in Chicago.

“I was thinking—why buy a place in Chicago when I can buy a home here and be closer to you and Abi?”