Page 97 of Beyond the Hate

“Fine. I’ll get pregnant and my son will fall in love with Iliana.”

“What if you have a girl?” Nova asks.

“Then,shewill fall in love with Iliana.”

Sophia claps her hands. “I think we’re getting off track here. We’re supposed to be discussing the financial situation ofFive Fathoms Brewing.”

“Does Flynn have any idea when he’ll be able to finish the repairs on the brewery?” I ask.

“We’ll still waiting for the insurance company to process our claim,” Maya answers.

“I thought we agreed to begin the repairs immediately.”

“No.” Nova shakes her head. “We agreed to wait once Eli offered us space for the brewery at his distillery.”

I fidget in my seat. “I’m uncomfortable accepting handouts from Eli.”

Sophia waves away my concern. “He’s a billionaire. He can afford it.”

I narrow my eyes on her. “It’s wrong to take advantage of him just because he’s wealthy.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “But we can take advantage of him because he’s your boyfriend?”

“No.”

“No, he’s not your boyfriend?”

“What are you? Ten?”

“I love this,” Nova says.

My brow wrinkles. “You love how immature Sophia’s being?”

“I love how you’ve fallen in love. How we’ve all fallen in love.”

“And,” Maya adds, “we’re all staying on the island.”

Nova smiles. “Our kids are going to be best friends.”

I hold up a hand. “I’m not certain I want children.”

“Why not?” Nova asks.

Chloe moans. “You had to ask? She’s going to start lecturing us on the state of the world and how she’s unsure if she should bring children into this messed up world.”

“I don’t constantly lecture you,” I claim.

Chloe raises an eyebrow. “You spent fifteen minutes explaining the difference between paper towels and hand dryers in the restroom at the ball.”

“I did not.”

“I timed you.”

“Really? You timed me? As I recall, you’d lost your shoes and purse by this point of the evening.”

She throws her arms in the air. “Then, why did you lecture me?”

I shrug. “Because I could.”

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