Olivia grins. “Trust me. I know all about your story taking a hard left when all your life you’ve been making carefully timed rights.”

“Yes!” I say, reaching for the chips. “I liked the path I was on. I liked my life just fine. And then this happened.”

“Who’s to say you won’t like this new path just as much? I never thought I’d end up with my brother’s best friend,” Gracie adds. “I didn’t think Luke was really my type, and I definitely didn’t think he’d ever be into me. So even though I had this, like, raging crush on him, I never in a million years thought we’d end up together.”

Eva smiles. “And now y’all are so damn cute together it’s kind of disgusting. I mean that in the best way.”

“Thanks,” Gracie says, grinning. “But yeah. Looking back on it, I was glad I got pushed off course. I’m glad I didn’t get what I thought I wanted, because it didn’t make me very happy. But what I ended up getting with Luke? That does make me happy. In ways I never could’ve imagined.”

Olivia nods. “Exactly. Sometimes the best thing that can happen to us is not getting what we want. Because there’s something better in store for us. Something we don’t see coming.”

“Something that will actually fulfill us,” I say. “You really think I can be happy with Grey?”

Eva’s lips twitch. “You’re calling him Grey now? Sounds serious.”

My body warms at the memory at the gravel in his voice when he said I like it when you call me Grey.

I felt more alive in his bed than I have in months. Alive and sexy and light.

“It feels serious,” I admit. “I spent the night at his place on Friday. I was telling him how much I wish I could tell my parents about the baby. And he invited me to his parents’ to tell them. I’m going over there for dinner tonight.”

Eva draws back. “Holy shit. That’s actually really sweet.”

“Right? I was shocked,” I say. “But I’m excited. To meet his family, obviously. But also to find out where he comes from. Maybe get a few clues as to why he is…you know, the way he is. He’s been slowly opening up to me, but I haven’t gotten the full story.”

“I know he got divorced a few years back,” Gracie says. “Greyson is a very private person, so he’s never explicitly mentioned it to me. But I bet that has something to do with his growling.”

My pulse skips a beat. I had no idea Greyson was married. I’ve had a few friends go through divorces, and it’s pretty horrible for all parties involved.

I remember that sliver of vulnerability I saw in him the other night. I thought it was at odds with his intensity. But maybe I was wrong.

He’s intensely focused at work. Intensely involved, down to the last detail.

Makes sense that he’d feel things intensely, too.