Page 98 of Isla

I plop onto the floor, holding out my arms as he stacks magazines in my arms. "These are all industry magazines. There are tons of pictures that will help with inspiration. I was thinking we could tear out the ones we like, narrow them down, and then find something similar from one of these." He plunks down a stack of restaurant supply catalogs.

"You're a lifesaver," I choke out, blinking back tears at the fact that he took the time to scrounge up all of these just to relieve the pressure I'm feeling. We spend the next couple of hours poring over the magazines, bouncing ideas off each other, deciding on a color scheme, and then finally finding the items that match my desired aesthetic.

"We can go antique shopping in Glasgow to look for some of these older-looking pieces," Theo says, pointing out the vintage lamps and glasses I ripped out of a magazine.

"That sounds fun!"

"When do you want to go?"

"All of us could go this weekend if you don't have plans," I suggest, biting my lip as dirty thoughts flood my mind.

"You sure that's a good idea?"

"What do you mean?" I ask innocently.

"You said you wanted to wait for all of us to be together until after that party. Has that changed?"

"I mean, I haven't really thought about it." That's a lie. I have. A lot.

"I'm worried we'll get carried away, Isla. There's something about seeing you ravished that flips a switch inside us. I don't know how much closer we can get without going all the way."

I pull in a shaky breath, heat crawling up my body as my mind takes over, imagining the four of us in every position possible. "That's probably a good point."

"If you want to go to Glasgow, then that's what we'll do. We just need to be careful. And because we obviously need a reminder, you chose that day because you want it to be magical, and I can't think of anything more magical than our first time being after a masquerade party, if I'm being truthful."

"Out of the three of you, I never thought it would be you reeling me back in," I say, laughing shakily.

"I'll always have your best interests at heart, Isla."

"Hold that thought.” I pull out my phone and hold up a finger when I see Charlie’s name on the screen. "Charlie?"

"Isla. It's time."

48

Ihear the panic in Charlie's voice as she says those two little words, and my phone slips out of my hand, crashing to the floor. I pick it up, slicing open my trembling finger on the glass as I hold it back up to my ear. Nothing. "No. No, no, no, no!"

"Isla! What's wrong?" Theo yells after me as I take off, running toward the castle.

"No time!" I pound up the steps and tear inside, running from room to room, looking for them. I finally give up and scream Charlie's name, hoping she'll hear me.

"Jesus Christ, Isla," Theo pants, catching up with me. "Jack texted me. They're at the hospital already."

"What! This wasn't the plan! I was supposed to go with them. I was supposed to be there for her."

"He said they were out on errands when her water broke, and they went straight there. He said it's progressing fast. They're getting ready to have her start pushing."

"They what?!??" I run back to the foyer to grab the keys to the farm truck off the table. "Fuck. Fuck!"

"Give me those," Theo says, snatching the keys from my hand.

"What about Dylan and Henry?" I ask as he buckles me into the truck.

"Let me worry about them. For right now, let's focus on getting you to the hospital before she has that baby."

"Right. God. I didn't realize my brain would shut down like this. What will I do when it'smehaving a baby? I'll be a total mess!" I look over at him just in time to see his eyes soften, the corner of his mouth pulling up. "What?"

"A baby? With us?" he asks, hope sparkling in his eyes.

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