Page 52 of Bound Hearts

I wince. “That’s exactly why a party doesn’t appeal to me. We probably won’t even tell anyone until after we’re married. That’s how low-key we want this.”

Hayes touches his heart. “I’m wounded about that… but I get it.”

Julian's grin grows with pride. “Look at us. My company is a matchmaker. I’m marrying my assistant, Hayes is engaged to the mother of his daughter, who works in finance, and Foster knocked up Sutton in legal and will be beating us all to the altar. Fuck, maybe Easton can even find his forever.”

Now, I have to chuckle. “When you put it that way.”

“Elodie and Savannah are going to flip,” Hayes adds.

“She’s telling them today. She isn’t exactly going to fit into her bridesmaid dress at Savannah and Julian’s wedding.”

Julian and Hayes seem to be smirking at one another, their own language.

My gaze swings between them. “What?”

Hayes sputters a laugh and lifts a shoulder. “We all kind of thought you two might hit it off on the wedding weekend this summer. You two are ahead of schedule. You and she are not exactly a crazy match.”

“Doesn’t surprise me.” Not their theory, or that Sutton and I are a match. We are. From moment one, it was apparent. It’s just taking an unconventional route for us to get there.

A few minutes later, Lola woke up, and Hayes brought her to her highchair. I was never the type kids are drawn to. Nor did I have interest.

But the little girl looks at me, and it hits me that one day I’ll be the one placing cut-up fruit on the tray of a highchair.

My mind is curious about whether the baby will have Sutton’s dark hair or sparkly eyes.

I hope so, because those are the type of eyes that convey the best kind of message.

That they seem content to be bound to you for life.

14

SUTTON

On the scale of things you wouldn’t want your daughter to do, I’d rate this a two. Yet here I am, in the hallway of Jupiter, a restaurant in a refurbished warehouse, calling my parents from outside the bathroom at the end of the hall.

I haven’t forgotten them. I just haven’t worried about their reaction. They know I’m an adult and will be relieved I’m not doing this alone. They can’t judge me anyway.

Holding my phone out in front of me, my parents pick up the video call after three rings, and their smiling faces greet me immediately.

“There you are!” My mother is beaming, wearing a sunhat. They seem to be sitting outside on a warm, sunny day, with a line of tall green trees along a river behind them.

“Haven’t heard from you in a while,” my dad adds.

Nervously, I chuckle. “Yeah, about that,” I begin. “I kind of needed some space. You see, no point in making a huge deal about this, but I’m pregnant, and I’m marrying the father, and no, this wasn’t planned. I’m following your example. You’re welcome.”

They both go quiet, look to one another, then back at their phone. They’re… indifferent.

“You can’t be hypocritical right now,” I taunt.

Dad shrugs. “You’ve always done things your way. If this is it, then so be it—you know what you’re doing.”

Tipping my head to the side, I’m trying to dissect his tone. “Really? That’s it?”

Mom shoots me a knowing look. “You’re a grown-up. This is your choice. But I still want to know—who’s the father?”

Fair enough. My mind is made up, and their opinions wouldn’t sway me anyway.

“His name is Foster. He works at my company, a friend of Savannah’s fiance, too.”