Page 95 of Promise Me Not

My eyes narrow, watching as she swallows, and fireworks light me up on the inside because hot damn. She knows.

She’s not confused.

She fuckingknowswhat I’m feeling, and she’s still standing right here.

Fuck it.

I rush for her, her eyes widen…and a car door slamming in the driveaway serves as a shield between us, jolting me in its invisible trap.

My face falls, and hers points to the floor.

That’s it. My time is up.

The others are here.

I look to the garage door, considering waiting until they come in and track us down, but then I hear a soft laugh that has a smile crossing my lips regardless of the situation.

It only grows wider as I step from the garage into the house and over to the front door, Payton quietly following behind. I yank it open just in time to catch Noah saying “Best thing I ever did was miss that pass.”

I grimace at the sight of my sister in his arms, but I can’t help but grin.

“And here I was thinking the best thing you ever did was toss me on the bed and?—”

Okay, yeah. No.

“Don’t finish that sentence.” I cut her off, but my tone is playful if anything.

Ari whips her head around, hitting me with a bright smile. She kicks so Noah will set her down, and she’s rushing for me in the same breath.

I don’t have time to brace, groaning when she slams into my chest for a full-ass hug.

“Shit. Sorry!” She jumps back quickly.

“It’s fine. Come here.” I pull her into my arms and hug her tight. And because she’s Ari, her sniffles follow soon after. “I’m okay, baby sister,” I whisper. “Promise.”

“Yeah?”

I nod. “I was fucked up for a couple of weeks, but I’m good now.”

“Thank god for that.”

My girl lays on the sass, and I glance back to find her leaning against the frame all fucking adorable like. I almost go to her, but Ari beats me to it.

“Oh my god,” my sister murmurs. “Look at you.”

The two hug, and Payton meets my eyes over Ari’s shoulder, playfully rolling hers. “Go ahead. Feel me up.”

Ari doesn’t hesitate, instantly running her hands along her belly, and the sight shifts some pieces inside me, yet another clicking into place.

My sister looks so honored, a giddy, loving eagerness bright in her brown eyes. She can’t wait for there to be a baby in our mix, something she’s dreamed of since we were way too young to even want such things, but that didn’t stop her from planning for it. She begged our parents to have another one for years, and as soon as we hit junior year of high school, she started talking about how she couldn’t wait until one of us had a baby of our own.

Of course we tried to take bets on who would be first, but everyone picked Brady, so the bet never took.

None of us expected a broken blond to join our mix.

Least of all me.

No one is happier than I am that she showed up.