Page 185 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

Her eyes damn near pop out of her head. “No, because that’s insane.”

“Thank you. I feel validated.”

She leans back, laughing once in disbelief. “How did you find out?”

I close my eyes briefly. “At Ethan’s dinner party.”

Sophie freezes. “Oh, Addy. I’m going to pass away.”

“I almost did.”

Sophie lowers her hands slowly. “Whatdidyou do?”

“I handled it with dignity and grace.” She gives me a disbelieving look. “Okay, I ran.”

“Respect.”

“I may have yelled first.” I take another sip of tea, letting the warmth settle in my stomach. “It was awful. I thought for half a second that Ethan knew. That it was some horrible setup. Which makes no sense, obviously, but my brain was not operating with full Wi Fi. But he didn’t know, and in Ethan’s defense, he kicked Bryce out.”

By the time we leave, my stomach has settled, my head feels clearer, and Sophie has made me promise to hang out again soon, which is nice.

She always makes me feel wanted and included here.

She helps Chicago feel like home.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Ethan

The apartment'sunusually loud for a Saturday morning.

Oliver has constructed what he informs me is a “multi-runway international airport rescue base” across the living room floor, using blocks, toy aircraft, two couch cushions, three coasters, and one of my shoes.

The shoe is apparently a hangar.

I’ve chosen not to argue.

Captain is lying beneath the coffee table with a stuffed giraffe pinned under one paw, watching Oliver with the self-important expression of a security officer overseeing national infrastructure.

“Dad,” Oliver says without looking up, “the tower needs more height.”

“The tower is currently taller than the terminal.”

“That’s because it’s important.”

I laugh. “A valid structural argument.”

He nods, accepting this as the proper respect due his work.

Addy would have said something ridiculous about zoning permits or emotionally unstable air traffic control.

The thought arrives before I can stop it.

I look toward the hall.

She left less than an hour ago, dressed in jeans, boots, and a soft sweater that kept slipping off one shoulder while she pretended not to notice me noticing. Sophie invited her out for the day. Coffee, shopping, possibly some form of friendship ritual I don’t understand.

Now the apartment feels different without her in it.