Page 227 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

“I wanted to leave last week,” she admits. “Go back home. This whole Chicago thing wasn’t supposed to last this long. He said he had opportunities here, meetings, a way to fix something that should’ve been his.”

My pulse gives a small, strange kick.

“What should’ve been his?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know. He gets vague when he talks about it. One minute he says Ethan owes him. The next he says he’s working on a project. Something important. Something that will prove he was always necessary.”

Luci’s eyes meet mine.

Sophie’s smile disappears.

My hand goes to my stomach before I can stop it.

“A project,” I repeat.

Celeste nods. “He’s been obsessed with his laptop. Taking calls outside. Getting angry if I walk into the room. He barely sleeps. He keeps saying once this is over, everything changes.”

A cold thread unwinds through me.

“What does that mean?” Luci asks.

“I don’t know.” Celeste’s voice shakes. “That’s the problem. I don’t know anything anymore.”

“Has he hurt you?” Sophie asks carefully.

Celeste looks away. My stomach turns.

“Celeste,” I say, softer now. “You don’t have to go with him.”

Her eyes fill. “I don’t have anywhere here.”

“I didn’t either,” I say.

The words leave before I can stop them.

And they’re true.

I came to Chicago with nothing but luggage, humiliation, and the delusional hope that my life might not be as wrecked as it looked. Then Ethan happened. Oliver, Captain, Sophie. Luci showing up like a caffeinated storm system.

I found people.

Maybe Celeste needs people too.

Sophie reaches for a napkin and slides it toward her. “You can sit here as long as you want.”

Luci points a finger at Celeste. “I’m not emotionally ready to like you.”

Celeste lets out a broken little laugh.

“But,” Luci continues, “I’m always ready to hate Bryce more. So there’s room for growth.”

That makes Celeste cry. Quietly. The kind of crying that tries not to bother anyone.

I know that kind too.

I just didn’t ever think it’d be anyone but me.

CHAPTER FORTY