Page 116 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

I return to the branch notes, but only for a moment, because against reason, against discipline, against the entire morning’s clear demonstration that I function best when focused on solvable systems rather than women with dangerous mouths and terrible timing, my mind shifts anyway.

Back to the kitchen.

To breakfast.

To the way Addy said, “We know it was a bad idea,” with that mix of deflection and honesty she uses when she means more than she intends to reveal.

And then farther still, to the look on her face when I said I wouldn’t compromise the structure she’s built here with Oliver.

It was the right thing to say.

It remains the right thing.

So why exactly does it seem I’ve spent the entire day proving I know how to fix every unstable thing in my life except the one waiting at home?

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Addy

I shouldn’t be pacing.

Pacing implies I’m nervous.

I’m not nervous. I’m simply moving with purpose back and forth, across Ethan Strong’s very expensive living room. like a woman who absolutely doesn't have a mental younger sister about to FaceTime her and demand a full debrief of her life choices.

Captain watches me like I’ve finally lost it.

“You’re not helping,” I tell him.

He blinks.

My phone buzzes in my hand, Luci’s name lighting up the screen with a level of enthusiasm that should honestly come with a warning label.

I inhale.

Exhale.

Answer.

“Hello—”

“Fucking hell, Addy, yousleptwith your boss?”

I close my eyes.

Of course she opens with that.

“Hi, Luci,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. “How are you? How’s life? How’s your complete lack of boundaries?”

“Thriving,” she says immediately. “Now answer the question.”

I stare at the screen, already regretting every life choice that led me to texting her anything more revealing than a weather update. “I’m hanging up.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“I absolutely would.”

“You need me,” she says sweetly. “I’m your emotional support sister.”