Page 40 of Shared By 3

“Chase and Hunter pointed out how sad you were at Christmas when she wasn’t there. They wanted to make you happy, sis.”

“Tris, this isn’t the way to do that and ... oh, my god. Please tell me you didn’t talk to dad. I don’t want to use my new present so soon.”

“I mean, I talked to him, but I didn’t tell him about this and I ... what new present?” He asks.

This is too much. “I’m having lady problems.”

Tristan looks at me, then at my guys. “Then why are you wearing white?”

“Go get Sophia and tell her I need a tampon,” I order.

He flushes and runs off, whispering in Sophie’s ear. When she gets to me, I take her hand and drag her to the bathroom. I put my hand to my stomach. “I think ... I can’t breathe.” “Look at me.”

I shake my head. An entire plan to keep my husbands out of jail–because I know it wouldn’t just be Hunter–rests on my shoulders and some luck. We’re planning a whole ass wedding, my mothers-in-law are already talking about babies, and now my mother is sitting at the table with said mothers-in-law while not approving of my relationship at all.

“Valerie,” Sophie grabs my hands, so tight it hurts. “Look. At. Me.”

“Is that your mom voice?” I huff.

“Talk to me about something. You’re so stressed. Is it your mom? I can distract her with Link. I mean, that’s not what my baby is for, but it works pretty well. Then you can run out because you’re having monster cramps,” she says.

“My mom won’t believe that. She’ll chase me down and tell me how much she hates my relationship with the guys and ask why I can’t just pick one. Tell me how wrong it is to live with them. My in-laws will reject me because of her and-” I bite my lip.

Sophie stares at me for a long time. “What? I feel like you’ve been keeping something from me since the first time you visited with the guys.”

“Soph ... oh god, I can’t open that can of worms. I just ... maybe if I was drunk-”

“Definitely not the answer.” Sophie looks around, then fans me with something. I don’t even know what. “Just take a few deep breaths and think about things.”

“Like what?”

“Like how in a room of more than ten people (not including your fiancés), only one doesn’t support you? Aren’t those good odds?”

“Well ... yeah.”

“And all these people know you foryou, not for your mom. This isn’t high school. No one is going to judge you based on your mom, okay?” Sophie hugs me tight. “I can do the breathing for both of us sometimes.”

I take a few deep breaths and then Link sobs. Sophie turns me and wraps me around someone else before apologizing and walking away. I look up and find Chase there. He smiles. “Hi, baby doll.”

“Hi,” I whisper.

“Your mom wasn’t a good idea?” He guesses. “Hunter and I were on the fence, but we want to give you everything, including your mom.”

“I didn’t want her here. She could ruin the happiness,” I say, choking on the words.

“Or she can change her mind when she’s around our moms. Right now, Tina is laughing and telling baby stories about you. I know that eliminates a lot of your life with her, but she’s getting along well. Plus, the baby talk has stopped,” he croons.

“How dare you calm me down,” I grumble.

He chuckles and kisses the corner of my mouth. “I’m still jealous of Lief, though. If you wanted to hide away for a bit, I’m sure I can make that happen and put you in a better mood.”

“Sometimes you and Hunter have the same mind.” I shake my head, then kiss him. “Thank you for trying this and for being here for me.”

“If it’s too much-”

“You three are always too much, but in the best way. Let’s get back out there,” I say.

“Are you sure?” Chase asks.

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