Page 44 of Simply You & Me

The concerned look Julian shoots me before the door closes behind them makes my chin tremble.

"Shit, no crying. Work, then we can cry, okay, Bean?" Tears flow at the realization that I'm already giving my baby nicknames and talking to her. Or him.

Oh god, what if it's twins? Nope. Not right now. I have a shift to get through without gagging at the smell of fish.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Zachary

"Has anyone talked to Lynnie today?"

At Tate's question, we each look around, waiting for someone to say something. "Didn't you go over there this morning?" I ask, confused.

Tate frowns. "Yeah, but just long enough to bring her a coffee and a muffin. I left right after to get back here." He waves his hand at the mess littering the dining room table.

"Is she okay?"

The scoff Tate lets loose grates on my fucking nerves. "That's why I'm asking if anyone has heard from her. I wouldn't know. I've had my face shoved in this damn computer all fucking day trying to make sense of this shit."

"T," Wyatt murmurs, eyeing him with caution. "Breathe. Zach wasn't accusing you of anything. And no, I haven't talked to her today. She sent me a text earlier, but I've been busy."

Dragging my phone out of my pocket, I check to see if she messaged me at all. The thread makes my stomach swirl with guilt.

Dolly: Hey. I don't know where you all ran off to, but I think I might head home.

Fuck, that one was from last weekend when she came over since we couldn't take her out on a date.

Dolly: We missed you tonight. Taco Tuesdays are too quiet without you guys.

I didn't respond to that one either. Shit started spiraling last weekend. One of our friends back in Seattle reached out to warn us something was going down, and it included us. Tuesday, Wyatt's security walls were blown wide, leaking our location, plans, and everything else important.

Sophia has been keeping an ear on the ground for us since we left. Because of her, after four years, we collected enough evidence to take down three of the five families who deserved far more than lifetime prison sentences.

I don't think we would have ever gotten out of that life without Sophia. We've been friends with her for years, her dad having moved them out there while she was in high school. She didn't go to the same school as us, but she was one of our first security gigs, actually. Being the niece of one of the main rich douchebags, she's required to attend a few of the functions as her dad tries to weasel his way into their group.

Unfortunately, Sophia's dad and uncle were too tight-lipped around her in order for us to take them down as well. It still feels like a kick to the balls that we couldn't get Mason's parents arrested, too. The people who raised Rylee's abuser deserve nothing less than a cold cell to rot in. I hate thinking of Sophia as Mason's cousin.

My phone vibrates with another update from Sophia, but for the first time in a week and a half, I ignore her in favor of responding to my girlfriend. Fuck, my girlfriend, who I haven't responded to since last week.

"Son of a bitch!" Julian roars, scaring the shit out of me as his chair clambers to the floor. "I'm going to be late!"

My anxiety spikes. "For what?"

"I have to pick up Rory! We told Addie we would babysit tonight since she has a late shift. Fuck!"

Julian's out the door in a flash, cursing himself for being awful.

Honestly, I feel like the worst kind of person right now, too. I'm the worst fucking boyfriend ever.

"Shit," Wyatt whispers, drawing my attention. With his phone in his hand, I watch his finger scroll. "I forgot to respond to her the other day. I haven't fucking talked to her in days."

"I'm sure it will be fine," I murmur, not believing my own words.

"Are we going to tell her what's going on?" Tate frowns at me. "Because I don't think anything but honesty will smooth this over."

The sandwich on my plate loses its appeal. "We can't tell her, Tate."

"Why the fuck not?!"

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