My brows lift in surprise. “Really?”
I can’t remember the last time someone bought me a gift just because.
“If you like it, you can wear it for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Oh, right… Thanksgiving.
With everything going on, I forgot all about the holiday.
Inside the tissue paper I find a creamy cable-knit sweater dress that’s loose and forgiving. It’s exactly the kind of silhouette that won’t draw attention to what’s hiding beneath it.
“Wow,” I whisper.
“I might’ve grabbed boots too,” she adds, like it’s no big deal.
A surprised laugh escapes from me. “Seriously?”
She shrugs. “I’m an only child and didn’t have a little sister to spoil while growing up. But I do now.”
Emotion surges unexpectedly, and I have to blink away the tears that gather in my eyes.
Pregnancy hormones are the worst.
“Thank you,” I murmur. “This is amazing.”
“Oh, and one more thing?—”
When my phone buzzes on the nightstand, dread curls through me before I even glance at the screen. I steal myself, trying to keep any expression off my face.
Unknown number:
Did you take care of it yet?
Cold prickles race across my arms. I left school and came to Chicago to get away from Collin and his constant hounding.
“Kia?”
I don’t bother with a response to the text. My finger shakes as I block the number.
Again.
Even as I do it, I know it won’t stop him. He’ll just text from another burner number. That’s been his MO since he found out I was keeping the baby.
Before the silence can press in enough to suffocate me, my phone chimes with a second message, and I brace for another ugly text.
Instead, I find that I’ve been included in a group chat.
Lilah:
Welcome to the inner circle, Kia. You’re officially in!
Callie:
Just so our roles are clear… I provide the baked goods and they dole out the unsolicited advice.
Sloane:
Unsolicited? Please. Does this mean we need to keep everything PG now?
