Page 220 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

A laugh almost breaks out of me. Not because it’s funny. Because nothing is. “No.”

“Oh.”

“But that isn’t your fault.” I shut my eyes again. “I’m dealing with something here.”

“Work?”

“Yes.”

“Do you need to go?”

“I don’t want to,” I say.

Her voice gentles. “But you have to.”

I hate that she makes it easy. I hate that she thinks she has to. “I’ll come as soon as I can.”

“Okay.”

Then she’s gone, leaving me the feeling of falling without somewhere to land, of sinking underwater and unable to breathe, ofknowingthat I’m messing everything up without any clue how to fix it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Addy

Being dischargedfrom the hospital should feel like victory.

It doesn’t.

It feels like being handed my belongings in a plastic bag and politely released back into society with three tiny secret passengers and absolutely no adult supervision.

Which, frankly, seems irresponsible.

A nurse named Brenda wheels me toward the exit even though I insist I can walk.

“You fainted,” she says.

“Yes, but I’ve evolved since then.”

Brenda doesn't laugh. Brenda has seen too many women try to act brave while secretly panicking into hospital socks. Brenda knows my type.

Luci walks beside me, carrying my bag, my phone, my discharge papers, my dignity, and what remains of my sanity.

Every time I touch my stomach, she notices.

Every time she notices, I stop.

There are three babies inside me.

Even thinking the sentence feels absurd.

Triplets.

That’s not a pregnancy. That’s a logistical crisis with heartbeats.

A hostile takeover with placentas.

“Are you breathing weird on purpose?” Luci asks as we reach the main entrance.