Page 1 of But I'm Still Standing

Prologue

Savvy

“Ready to go?” Mia asks, entering the courtyard with Jill and Abby as Cami waddles behind them. She is seven months pregnant and over it already with this summer heat.

“Yeah, Mom is meeting us there,” I reply.

Once we get to Maspero’s, we get seated and wait for Sylvia. We go ahead and order strawberry lemonades and start looking at the menu when Mia’s phone dings. She picks it up and goes pale instantly.

“What’s wrong?” Jill asks first as we all just stare, not knowing what is going on.

She turns her phone around as a tear falls down her cheek.

Unknown: Enjoy your little brunch anniversary this year, none of you will make it to the next!

We all jump when all of our phones go off at the same time. I grab mine off the table same as everyone else. The same message from an unknown number pulls up on my phone. Sylvia walks in looking at her phone. She takes a seat masking her emotions and putting on afake smile. I know my mother, and she looks worried for the first time since I told her I was pregnant.

“Why do all my girls look so glum?” she asks as she leans over to air kiss my cheek. She sees my phone and sighs.

“I was hoping it was only going to be directed at me. Don’t worry your pretty little head, I have already sent this to my tech guy to take care of the problem.” Sylvia gives her best smile and picks up her menu as if this is no big deal. We all just stare at her in shock.

“Mom, we all got the text. Whoever this is knows we were all involved. I think we should be concerned here. We have a lot more to think about than just ourselves now.” I explain as I put my hand on my belly, knowing I have to protect him at all costs.

“Guys, I’m pregnant. We just took the test last night. We were going to tell everyone tonight at dinner.” Mia chimes in softly as a tear slips down her cheek.

“I already sent the message to Joe. We need to get out of here and back to the guys. It’s going to be okay Mia, we will all figure this out. Congratulations.” Jill lets us know she already let the cat out of the bag with the guys, but still tries to smile for Mia.

We all look to Mia and try to smile for her and give her our congratulations, but it doesn’t last long.

“Great now Jasper is gonna be pissed I didn’t send it to him right away.” Abby throws up her hands, then grabs her phone and starts tapping away.

My phone rings making me jump again, I let out a breath when I see Sins picture and realize my husband has to be going insane at the thought of anyone trying to terrorize us again. I get up and walk outside to talk to him, answering as I get out the door.

“Hey.” My voice breaks as I walk around to the side of the restaurant. I place my hand on my little bump protectively as I let a tear escape, looking at my friends still sitting with my mom through the open doorway.

SIN

“Boys! I have some news!” Nick struts in the courtyard as if he is on cloud nine smiling from ear to ear.

“Spill, bro.” Jasper chuckles.

Nick sits down at the table, takes a sip of his coffee and blurts out, “I’m gonna be a dad! You have to act surprised tonight at dinner when we tell everyone, but I had to tell y’all.”

“Congratulations man!” Joe Slaps him on the back, making him almost spit out his coffee.

“You all realize that babies are about to take over our lives, right?” Jasper raises his eyebrows with wide eyes.

“How about we go take some celebratory shots to help wrap our heads around three babies coming in the next year. We all get up and head to the library to celebrate. Our phones all go off stopping us before we hit the stairs in the courtyard, pulling us out of our happy mood knowing babies are about to take over our home. My smile fades as I open my screen and see a picture of the girls at Café Maspero sitting at a table, all looking sad.

One by one they will pay for their sins.

“Get the car!” I yell out, looking up to find the guys all standing waiting on me to move my ass.

“Abby just sent me a message they all received. It’s from an unknown number saying

(Enjoy your little brunch anniversary this year, none of you will make it to the next!)

What the fuck is going on!” He shouts as we run to the SUV.

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