Page 62 of Still With Me (She's With Me 3)

Mason and I look at each other, and I’m sure we’re both wearing the same horrified expressions.

“But the test was negative!” is all I can seem to say.

“I know when I’m pregnant. You were a false negative too. That’s why I went to the doctor and did a test. I’m pregnant, Thea. Brian and I are going to raise this baby together. We’re going to stay here, in King City,” she says as Brian places his hand on hers and looks at Mason.

I’m going to stay here. I’ll be with my friends. I was too scared to ask Mom about what we would do, where we would go once my injuries healed. I didn’t want to go back to the place I grew up, the place I lived for the majority of my life until I was forced to relocate, because that place doesn’t seem like home anymore. Home is here, in King, with my friends. And now I’m staying here, I’ll never have to fear leaving them before I’m ready again.

“We’re really happy, Mason,” Brian says. “I know this is all a lot and you two have been adjusting really well, considering, but we want you both to know that this isn’t going to change how we feel about you.”

I don’t know what to say.

She seems happy, Brian seems happy, and Mason just looks confused. I’m not sure how Natalia feels about it, but it can’t be good.

“I—uh. Congrats?” I say, nudging Mason to see if he’s broken.

He clears his throat. “Yeah, um. Congrats.”

“Do you have any questions?” Brian asks, watching us patiently.

Tons. Mason and I shake our heads at the same time.

“Okay, then. Why don’t we leave you two alone to process this?” Brian suggests, taking Mom’s hand and drawing her from the room. “We’re always here to talk. We’re not going anywhere,” he adds before they disappear from the room completely.

Mason and I sit in silence, staring at the spot they just vacated. A sibling? I’m going to have a sibling? Is Mason going to be my brother now?

Mason snaps out of it first. “Just wait until Noah finds out about this. We share more than a thing, we share a sibling.”

A laugh bubbles out of me, and he sends me a crooked grin, any tension now gone and letting us fall into our natural camaraderie.

“What do you think?” I ask Mason. “About all of this?”

“I—I don’t know. Does this mean you’re my sister now?”

I shrug. “I guess?”

Mason nods thoughtfully. “You know I’ve always loved you.”

My eyes widen. I’m about to interrupt him, but he keeps talking. “Wait, let me finish. You know I’ve always loved you, but I know you’ll always be in love with Aiden. And I’m at peace with that, I genuinely am. I thought he didn’t know you, but turns out, he’s actually the only one who truly knew you. You were meant to be together. I’ll always have love for you, but it’s the love I have for a sister, especially since you might actually become my sister.”

He gives an awkward laugh at that last part, and I say, “Mason, you know I’ve always considered you my brother. Whether our parents make it official or not, I’ll always love you too.”

When I walk through the halls of King City High for the first time since before Tony, I have a new appreciation for it all. For the beige lockers, the chatter of kids packing the hallways, the fading go lions!mural in the hall. I even spot Kaitlyn talking to Makayla in the hall and it doesn’t dim my good mood.

I am Thea Kennedy.

Aiden’s by his locker, his shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, his handsome face set in concentration as he checks his phone. I stride over to him as he closes his locker and bump into him, much like the first time I met him, except I keep hold of all my belongings. He reaches out an arm to steady me. “Did you just walk into me on purpose?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I can’t resist, he left it open for me. “Well, maybe if you didn’t bulldoze down the hall in a straight line, I wouldn’t have to jump out of your way to avoid destruction.”

Aiden’s eyebrows draw together but the corners of his lips pull up. “What are you . . . ?”

I hold up the brand-new schedule, the exact same as my old one, but now with the name Thea Kennedy printed on the top. Excitement bubbles through me. I’m here, at this school, with Aiden and my friends, as me. Not hiding secrets. Not using a fake name. Not trying to solve a murder. Not trying to bring down a corrupt politician. Just two kids going to class. Two kids living their everyday, boring lives.

I never thought I’d see the day.

My life may never exactly be normal, and especially not boring, but if these last few months have taught me anything, it’s that I have people who love me, and together, we can face anything.

I peek up at him through my lashes. “Sorry. I’m Thea Kennedy and it’s my first official day here. You wouldn’t happen to know where room 341 is, would you?”

The End

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