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Theo is the result of trusting birth control, I think, but I keep that to myself. Saying it out loud would start another fight I don’t have the energy for.

Veronica pouts, arms crossed over her chest again, but the second I climb back onto the bed and settle between her thighs, rubbing the head of my cock over her clit, the attitude starts to melt. She arches into the touch, a soft breath leaving her as I tease her, and it’s easy to lose myself in this—just something physical to distract me from everything else in my head.

I pin Veronica’s wrists above her with one hand and thrust into her, my free hand hooking her leg over my shoulder so I can go deeper. My eyes stay fixed on where we’re joined, watching myself slide in and out of her, trying to stay right here in this moment.

My phone rings from the nightstand.

I ignore it, focused on making her beg, on the way she’s already starting to tighten around me.

It stops, then immediately starts again.

Veronica moans that she’s close, her voice breathy and urgent. I keep moving, chasing the same release she is.

The ringing stops.

Then it starts a third time.

“I gotta check it,” I groan, not pulling out as I shift to grab the phone off the nightstand. I’m already planning to silence it and keep going—probably just Gears trying to drag me out for drinks.

It’s not Gears.

Blaire’s name lights up the screen. Three missed calls in a row.

“Fuck.” I curse sharply and practically fly off the bed, yanking the condom off so fast it stings. Blaire wouldn’t call this late, this many times, unless something was wrong.

“Simon? Who—” Veronica starts, sitting up.

“Blaire,” is all I manage before hitting the call-back button, my heart hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat.

She answers before it even rings.

The second the call connects, I hear everything at once—Theo screaming at the top of his lungs, muffled voices in the background, and the distant wail of sirens. My stomach drops straight through the floor.

“Blaire? Are you guys alright? What’s going on?” I’m already snatching my clothes off the floor, yanking on sweatpants with one hand while the phone stays glued to my ear.

“What’s happening?” Veronica asks from the bed, sitting up.

I shoot her a sharp look and motion for her to shut up.

“He was just in his room,” Blaire chokes out. She’s crying too—her voice is wrecked, shaking so hard the words are barely coming through. “He started crying and— I know, baby, it’s alright, you’re okay.” She keeps getting cut off by Theo’s sobs and her own desperate attempts to soothe him.

“Blaire? Blaire, what’s going on?” I snap, already grabbing my wallet and keys off the dresser. “Is Theo hurt? Are you hurt?”

“Theo,” she sobs. “He hit his head. And I think his wrist is— Theo, stop moving, baby, just hold still.”

“Blaire, what hospital?” I bark, shoving my feet into my shoes.

“You’re leaving?” Veronica climbs off the bed, following me as I head for the door. “Now?”

“Cape Fear Valley,” Blaire manages through tears.

“Okay. I’ll meet you there. I’m on my way.” I hang up without another word, snatching my hoodie off the back of the couch.

Veronica is right on my heels. “Simon, what the fuck is going on?”

“I don’t know—something happened to my son. They’re going to the emergency room.”

She scoffs, like the words don’t even register. “Why can’t she just handle it on her own? She’s his mom. Why do you have to go?”