Page 79 of Lost the Handle

My heart swells as a tightness burns in the middle of my chest. I swallow thickly, and for the first time, I’m scared of what my sister is capable of. “I do.”

She nods but doesn’t let me go. “You deserve the world, Emery. You are vicious and strong and a downright force to be reckoned with. You ran because you felt like you weren’t good enough for him. But Emery, you are better than anyone on this earth, including me. Remember that, and don’t let him make you feel anything less than your worth.”

When tears fall over her bottom lashes, I gape at her. Stella doesn’t cry. I reach up, cupping her hands with mine. “Stella, I promise. He loves me, and he doesn’t make me feel anything but cherished. I hurt him.”

“I don’t care.” She gives me a shaky nod. “Don’t forget.”

“I won’t,” I promise, staring into her eyes. “Are you okay? Did Wes do something to hurt you?”

She scoffs at that, and pure satisfaction fills her gaze. “Please, that man worships me.” She’s not wrong. Wes McMillan treats her like a damn queen. He is my brother’s best friend and somehow got past him to get to my sister. Or really, he got past me. I wasn’t the nicest to him. But he took me in stride, and now I love him.

Because of how much he loves my sister.

“He did do something.”

She threads her fingers through mine and drags me toward their bedroom. “Stella, slow down! I want to see the changes.”

“Later,” she throws over her shoulder at me as she drags me through the house. It upsets me that I don’t even have a chance to take in all the renovations they’ve done, though Stella has sent me photo after photo of the new white cabinets and marble accents. She’s going for a modern country feel but in a drunk wine way.

Yeah, make that make sense for me. I’m gifted, and I still don’t know what the hell she is talking about. No amount of Pinterest boards helps.

When we enter her bright-pink bedroom, I snort since I can’t imagine Wes in here on a daily basis. He’s so rugged and big; it’s comical to think of him lying in a pink bed. But then, he’d sleep anywhere Stella is. “Wow, this is really pink, Stel.”

She grins back at me. “Right? Very Barbie chic.”

I gag. We’ve always been dark and light, the two of us, but God, I love her. She drags me into the bathroom, and then she points to the counter. I glance over from where I am taking in the stark-white bathroom to the spot she is pointing at.

Where three sticks lie.

Three pregnancy tests.

Threepositivepregnancy tests.

My jaw drops, and then I’m looking back at my older sister, who is also my best friend. Don’t get me wrong. I was excited for Aiden and Shelli when I found out about Fitz and Roman, surprised when I met Alexis, but I have never felt like this before. It’s like my heart has exploded into a million butterflies in my chest.

My best friend is pregnant.

My eyes lock with Stella’s, and overwhelming love and excitement course through me. I squeal and she screams before we’re a tangled mess of limbs. I hug her tightly as we sway back and forth, and she cries on my shoulder.

I pull away from her. “You’re going to be a mom!”

She sobs. “And you’re going to be an aunt. Like, for real. Like, there for my baby because you aren’t leaving me, you hear me?”

Now, I’m sobbing. We crash back together as we sway back and forth again.

All while I ignore the knot in my stomach.

Don’t let me down, Quinn.

Not like I did you.

Chapter

Thirty-Five

Quinn

One of theperks of being Elli and Shea’s son is the around-the-clock access I have to Luther Arena, where my mom’s team, the Nashville Assassins, plays. While it’s summer and usually concerts, Monster Jam, and other events take place here instead, the ice is out for a charity hockey tournament Shelli is putting on to raise money for the Assassins Foundation. The tournament starts this weekend, and Dad is dropping the puck. It’s going to be a good event, will raise lots of money, and the winner of the tournament not only gets bragging rights, but they get a suite for an Assassins’ game this season.

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