Page 33 of Bound Hearts

We’re attached to one another through our physical, private world, a world that's freeing, and every real-world stress is pushed to the side. The perfect escape.

But now, everything is about to shift. Our world is tilting, and nothing will be the same.

We won’t be the same. For the rest of our lives. Another path has found us.

He drops our fingers, and my entire stomach feels the pit of fear and confusion.

“If you need anything, you’ll let me know?” he double-checks in a low, hushed tone.

“Sure. But really, it’s just my usual preparation for the week on Sunday night,” I lie.

Slowly, he nods, and his closed mouth slides a tad with an attempt at a smile that fails.

I swallow hard, desperate to escape. The last thing I want is to be trapped in the elevator with him—I might blurt out everything. I need time to myself before he finds out.

I jerk my thumb over my shoulder. “Oh, I forgot—the birthday girl wanted to show me a picture she made,” I lie. “You go ahead.”

Foster lifts his chin slightly, skepticism clear, but says goodbye anyway.

I linger behind, threading my fingers through my hair, trying to steady myself.

In truth, all I can think about is how much I’m completely lost.

Pregnant.

I see the confirmation now, and there weren’t even nerves while I waited.

Still, tears came in a tidal wave, and I cried myself to sleep—for the few restless hours I managed.

As I sit in the meeting room, Celeste’s voice cuts through my drifting attention. "I mean, Sutton. You joined our company at exactly the right time." Celeste is sitting behind the conference table with her hair pulled into a tight ponytail.

I’m only half-listening, my mind drifting back to the upheaval in my life. I probably look like a raccoon—makeup can only hide so much.

She continues as she swivels on the chair with a pen between her fingers. “With Adam out for the long run and your talent, then I’m throwing you in the deep end. You’re going to step into a higher role.”

All I can hear is her planning as if I’ll be here, business as usual. I haven’t figured out my own direction yet, but I’m pretty sure maternity leave wasn’t penciled into anyone’s Q3 plans.

“If he returns in a few months, then still he’ll have his job waiting for him.” I’m going to steer her away from my expedited career path. One that a week ago would have had me ready to dive in with full force.

“We’ll cross that road when we come to it,” I tell her.

A knock on the glass door pulls our attention, and we see Hayes and Foster.

Hayes opens the door. “Sorry to interrupt, we need this meeting room, and I saw you didn’t have this booked, so I’m going to be an ass now and kindly request that you leave.” He half-grins.

Celeste smiles in response. “No problem. We only needed to have a quick chat, anyhow.”

Foster’s eyes lock with mine; he’s drilling into me. I look away as I stand, determined not to let his presence deepen my numbness.

When Celeste and I walk past them, I’m positive that Foster shifts ever so slightly to the side to ensure our arms graze. I pause for a millisecond. I feel a quiver run through me.

Taking a deep breath, I walk away and don’t dare look back.

In the hallway, Celeste lets me know that she’ll email me a few to-dos. At that moment, my phone reminds me that I’m having lunch with Elodie.

Downstairs, we snag sandwiches from Beans, the bustling coffee spot. With no tables free, we settle on a lobby bench tucked between indoor trees. Elodie devours her caprese panini, while mine sits untouched in my hands, more prop than meal.

“I’m so happy you came yesterday. Also, the party is over. It’s a bit of an energy drainer having to arrange everything for kids and the parents and friends and Hayes’s mom.”