Epilogue
Olivia
Four Weeks Later
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I say as I pace the bathroom. “This is bad. Like, really fucking bad, Kate. What if… I can’t lose them. I can’t. This can’t be happening.”
“Liv,” Kate says, jumping into my path to grab my shoulders. “Baby, breathe. You’re okay!”
“I can’t be pregnant, Kate,” I say tearfully. “It could be… What if…”
“They will not leave you if your rape resulted in pregnancy,” Kate says. “Do you honestly think those men would do anything other than dote on you? It’s literally all they do, Olivia.”
“But…”
“No,” she says simply. “Liv, if you want an abortion, I will sneak you out of this house and hold your hand through it. If you want them to take you, I will wait in the car. If you want to keep it, I will teach that baby so many cuss words.”
I laugh through my tears, and she gently wipes them away. “I just… I’m so afraid, Kate.”
“No matter what happens, you will always have me,” Kate says. “Always, Okay? And hell, if they get stupid, me and Luke will be the daddy.”
“Who’s a daddy?” Luke asks, walking into the bathroom. He glances at the test on the counter, and his eyes go wide.
“Shh,” Kate hisses at him.
“I’m so happy for you,” Luke whispers, hugging me.
“It might be Miguel’s,” I mutter.
“And?” Luke asks, pulling back. “Who said you had to find out who the dad is? If the kid looks mixed, it could still be Jett’s baby. It doesn’t matter what the biology is, because that will be the most well-protected set of twins ever.”
“You shut the fuck up right now,” I say, and he giggles. “You’re right, though.”
“Do you want to keep the baby?” Kate asks.
“Yes…” I admit.
“Then go toss the test onto the kitchen table and wait for a reaction,” Luke says.
I sigh again, but pick the test up and leave the bathroom. I don’t know why I am so scared. Maybe it’s because I am expecting a reaction like I would have gotten from Jason. God, he would have beaten the shit out of me.
When I get downstairs, Kate and Luke stay in the doorway as I walk over to the table. Bodhi, Rhett, and Jett are talking and laughing. Bodhi wraps his arm around my hips before looking up at me.
“Hey… Whoa. What’s wrong, my love?” Bodhi asks.
I set the test down in front of him before stepping back.
They all stare at it for what feels like forever.
They look up at each other, and I can see the gears turning as they do mental math.
Bodhi stands and takes my face between his hands to kiss me gently.
“Are we happy, or are we looking at other options?” he asks softly.
“I… I want to keep it,” I say, my voice trembling. He surprises me when he leans down and wraps his arms around my hips to lift me. I squeal and cling to him as he spins us.
“We’re going to be dads!” Bodhi says excitedly. Rhett is choking back tears as he steals me from him. He wraps me in the tightest hug.
“You’re going to be an amazing momma,” he says softly.
Jett is the one who breaks me. When he drops to his knees in front of me and gently grabs my hips, tears roll down my face as he kisses my belly. When he stands, he cups my face and smiles sweetly. “We’re gonna be okay,” he says softly.
“Hey. Oops,” Tim says as he walks into the kitchen.
“Hey, Tim. Hey, Marcy,” I say, wiping my face.
“Did we interrupt?” Marcy asks.
“Olivia’s pregnant!” Kate blurts out, but Luke covers her mouth.
“Oh, my God! That’s amazing!” Marcy says excitedly.
“It might be Mig…” I start to say, but Tim cuts me off.
“You three boys are going to make amazing fathers,” Tim says. “Nothing else matters.”
“It does if…”
“Miguel is in custody,” Tim tells me, and I stop talking. “He’s pleading guilty to avoid letting you testify again. He will get life without parole.”
“Oh wow,” I say. “So… It’s over?”
“It’s over,” he says with a smile. “Oh yeah. And Jason got stabbed a few days ago. He’s dead. Forgot to tell you.”
“Whomp whomp,” Kate deadpans. “Pancakes, anyone?”
“I do like pancakes,” Marcy says with a smile.
“Thank you,” I say to Tim. “You didn’t have to cover for Rhett when…”
“I don’t know what you mean. You escaped on your own,” Tim says, winking at me. “Sometimes the best choice is the wrong one, Liv. I’m glad you survived this.”
“Me too,” I say, smiling.
“Come sit and eat, Liv. You’re eating for three,” Luke says.
“Don’t you curse me like that,” I laugh.
We all sit at the table as Rhett brings the food over.
I can’t help but feel thankful for all of these people around me.
Without them, I wouldn’t be here today. They all played a role in helping me survive my past. I will live with the comfort that even on our worst days, we can spend them together under rusted stars.