Page 118 of Until I Find You

Her warm amber eyes give me a fire of strength.

I scan my family. Their expressions range from confused to careful understanding.

“Camilla and I are having a baby.”

Still silence.

Abigail accidentally lets the cork of the bottle go, a “pop” echoing through the room.

“Seriously?” she asks, staring at me with wide eyes.

Camilla laughs. “Seriously.”

An eruption. That’s the best way to describe what happens next. An explosion of joy that threatens to level the entire room, the entire building, all of New York. Not a single face is empty of surprise or a smile, save my dad who is struck absolutely dumb by the news.

He’s always been the stoic type, the one who has to process everything before he reacts, but I do wonder what’s going on in his head.

It’s chaos, everyone on their feet. Bottles are popped, champagne flows. Someone takes Liam away from me since he’sa second away from bursting into tears, having sleep stolen out from under him thanks to the uproar.

Camilla and I are passed around the room into warm embraces, showered with loving words. It’s all a blur, all the support and love from my family members.

Once I reach Abigail, she pulls me into a tight hug, tears in her eyes.

I laugh. “Why in the world are you crying?”

“Because!” she cries into my shoulder. “I’m going to be an aunt!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Camilla has ended up with my dad which makes me uneasy. Since his reaction was unclear to me, I don’t want him saying anything that makes her upset. Except from the looks of things, all is well. His hands are soft on her biceps as he speaks to her in a hushed way, a soft smile on his face.

Camilla’s saying something, returning the smile. And then they embrace, his head tucked on the top of her head.

Something tugs in my chest.

Camilla is still so new to the family. Everyone is still making a place for her. And I’m so fucking grateful that they understand without any explanation that she’s here to stay. Even if they suspect this was a mistake, the fact we’ve decided it’s not is enough for them.

My dad’s dark eyes flick over to me in that moment. There’s something unspoken there.

I want to go to him, but Nate flings his arm over my shoulder and mutters in my ear, “Seriously? Now Laney’s going to be impossible with the whole baby fever thing.”

“Sounds like a you problem,” I respond.

“Okay, okay, a toast. Time for a toast!” Abigail shouts, tears still edging her voice. She distributes the glasses, passing up Camilla with a very pointed, “None for you,obviously.”

Camilla giggles, then locks eyes with me from across the room.

I love you, I think, hoping she’ll hear it somehow. Some way.

Everything about us has been an accident from the beginning. I had no idea accidents could make me so happy.

“So, you’re naming the baby after me, right?” Seth asks, elbowing me in the side.

He might be joking, but he has a point.

“I owe you,” I say, my voice flooding with gravity.

His brows jump. “I was kidding, man.”

“I’m not.” I’ll figure out a way to repay him. Somehow. Someday.

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