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Moving back to the hallway, I stare at them in confusion. Are they having some kind of group aneurysm?

“What are you talking about?” I ask, feeling like I’m definitely missing something.

“We’ve asked, hinted, and tried to give you space to decide,” Theo says. “You’re turning eighteen next week. Will you accept our formal invitation to join our family?”

“Be aware this is forever,” Rachelle grins. “We’re a wild bunch but I promise it’ll be worth it.”

“You want to do this right now?” I hiss, looking over my shoulder at the cup full of my pee. God, I’m being ridiculous. It’s just us, and there’s no one else who can hear us.

Even if I am pregnant, the baby can’t hear us yet. Right? Ugh, maybe I’m already fucking this all up.

“No better time, mija,” Liliana chuckles. “So?”

“Yes!” I say, my hand rising and falling to hit my thigh. “This is the first time I’ve felt like I belonged somewhere. I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out⁠—”

My voice cracks with emotions, and tears fall quickly down my cheeks.

“Real families don't have a bottom,” Theo says. “Our love is unconditional, Noor. Those boys are lucky I haven’t seen them on the street. The fact they forced themselves on you really pisses me off.”

“Me too,” the guys all chorus.

“Be ready for overbearing father figures,” Lili says, shrugging as she squeezes my hand. “Now that we have that all settled, let’s see what the future holds for us, shall we?”

Sniffing, I nod. I never thought this conversation would lead to so many emotions or promises. Taking a shuddering breath, I walk to the cup and hold onto the test as I walk back to the doorway.

“Ready?” Rachelle whispers. I appreciate the hushed word, because my hand is shaking as I nod and carefully lift the test to read the results.

“Two lines,” I croak out. “Does that mean…”

“You’re pregnant,” Ignacio says, reaching quickly to take the cup before I drop it. Leaning against the door frame, I stare at it for an extra beat before showing my foster family.

“Well, it looks like we’ll be welcoming an extra person into the family,” Rachelle says, blinking rapidly.

It’s official. While I secretly knew the results because of the changes in my body, I still needed this confirmation.

Turning eighteen next week will look so very different than I expected.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-NINE

DRAVEN

“Are you sure it’s today, man?” I ask.

We’re standing across from the Santa Barbara courthouse near an archway so we can watch Noor and her family leave.

Should we be here? No. However, we haven’t seen her in ages, and I need to at least catch a glimpse of her.

Ciaran has his settings on his computer set up to pick up Noor’s name whenever it’s mentioned in a public record. Once it does, his laptop will ping him to check it. The three of us have this sick obsession with her, and none of us can let it go.

Alastair’s dad is happy Mrs. Denton is now fully focused on a ‘family matter’, and comes in to do her job without getting overly involved with the board. He has no idea what it could be, outside of having to do with Noor. At least he’s happy.

This bullshit has left me in a place where we’ve ruined any chance of amicable conversation with her.

I think Alastair and Ciaran have the most complicated emotions when it comes to Noor. Ciaran definitely has a fucked up way of wanting to show interest in Noor.

There’s no other choice. We’re reduced to stalking her.