Page 61 of My Ex-Best Friends

I needed to just shut my mouth but I couldn’t. “It isn’t that easy. She hid something huge from us. If she could do that, she could’ve cheated.”

Karlene hit me with her stick again. “Listen to me, you little shit. She didn’t tell you about the baby because she lost it. Shewas coming home to start a family with you idiots but the baby died. She couldn’t put you through what she was going through. She was heartbroken and all alone and she chose to spare the three of you from the pain. She was also eighteen and still a child. Still a baby herself, mourning her own baby and the life she wanted, but mature enough to want to save you idiots.”

“You could’ve gone after her at any time.” Daisy’s voice had gone quiet. “You never asked me where she was. Not once. You could’ve put your pride aside and found her. You chose not to. So while you’re sitting here, blaming my baby for all the bad shit in your lives, you remember that. You could’ve brought her home if you’d made a single effort to.”

Logan cleared his throat. “Is she… Is she okay?”

Karlene glared at him. “No, she’s not okay. She’s heartbroken. But she’s stronger. She didn’t run when you wanted her to. She’s not going anywhere.”

Noah lowered his head. “Sin misses her.”

“Sin is a smart girl. Unlike her father.” Daisy huffed out a deep breath. “Fix it. If I have to come back here, you’re not going to like me.”

Karlene scowled. “The only reason you’re not getting cursed is because I know you’re supposed to end up with my niece and I don’t want it blowing back on her.”

They were gone as quickly as they came and then we were all alone with the aftermath. The air in the house was tense and none of us were willing to break the silence. It stretched on until Logan got up and went back upstairs. Noah left next, going to the kitchen. I stayed on the couch, wondering if I’d been wrong.

The rest of the night, none of us spoke to each other. It wasn’t until the next morning in the kitchen that I couldn’t stand it anymore. The knot growing in my stomach was just getting bigger and bigger.

“Did we fuck up?”

Noah swore and slammed the milk down. “If we got it this wrong, we don’t deserve her.”

“You think we did? You think we fucked up this bad?” I dragged my hands down my face. “Logan?”

“I know we did.” He sank onto one of the stools and rested his elbows on the counter. “I should’ve known better. I should’ve trusted her. She said she loves us.”

“She lost our baby all on her own.” Noah sank down next to him. “They were right. We could’ve gone after her. We were upset and we didn’t. We let ten years pass.”

“Not again.” I grabbed my keys. “Come on. We can work out the details later. We need to go get her.”

49

***Brooke***

“Alright, Lucy. I’m doing this for you. I have to be a good parent and that means I finish shit. No more running from my problems.” I looked up at the apartment building I’d lived in with Finn and took a deep breath. “I don’t think dogs your size are allowed in this building, but just think small and maybe no one will notice.”

Lucy was a god in his new leather harness and leash. He strutted like he owned the town, head held high. He also stayed by my side, so perfectly behaved on his leash. I’d stayed up all night watching videos about how to train a dog but Lucy made every dog in the videos look like chumps. I was already a very proud dog mom.

We shared an elevator with a very concerned looking older woman. She kept looking from Lucy to me and back again. Finally, she couldn’t hold her tongue anymore.

“Why isn’t he fixed? How old is he? Did you know that after two years, keeping the testicles can become a health risk?”

“I got him yesterday. He already has an appointment scheduled to lose the balls.” I smiled. “I’m going to be a really great dog mom. I’m starting by facing my ex and demanding my things back. Lucy is my backup.”

She seemed to deflate into someone nicer in one breath. “Oh, thank goodness. You just got him and he’s already so well behaved? That’s lovely. I hope your ex takes one look at Lucy and runs away crying.”

“Same.”

It didn’t happen exactly like that. When I knocked, Meredith opened the door. She looked shocked to see me and for a moment I thought about playing a cruel prank and telling her I was back for Finn. Even the thought of saying the words made my stomach hurt, though. So instead, I just pushed past her.

“Brooke! What are you-? You can’t just-” She saw Lucy and took several steps back. “Oh, my god. You can’t have that animal in here! I’m allergic!”

Finn came out of what was once our bedroom, only in a pair of boxers. “Brooke? What are you doing here and what in god’s name is that?”

I smiled. “This is Lucifer. He’s my backup. I want my shit back.”

“Finn! I’m allergic. Make her leave!” Meredith covered her nose and sneezed. “Oh, god! She’s trying to kill me!”

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