Chapter Thirty-Eight—Riley
Isit on the edge of the guest bed and swallow hard against the nausea that’s been rolling through me since I woke up.
My stomach doesn’t care that I’ve barely eaten in twenty-four hours. It just keeps reminding me that nothing feels steady anymore.
I press the back of my hand to my mouth and breathe through my nose until the wave passes.
I grab my phone. The group chat is still open.
Liam’s last message sits there, trying to be light.
I already told them I needed space today. I already said I wasn’t disappearing.
But after twenty-four hours of near silence, the words feel thinner than they did last night.
I open Jules’ chat instead.
Riley: Connor knows everything. I stayed. I’m a mess this morning and the nausea is winning.
Her reply comes fast.
Jules: Wait. He KNOWS knows? Like full download?
Riley: Full download. Pregnancy included. He asked if I even knew which one was the father.
Jules: Wow! That’s a ballsy question even for Connor. You okay?
Riley: Nauseous. Tired. Scared I just blew up every relationship I have.
Jules: First, hydrate before you puke on your brother’s fancy floors. Second, you stayed. That’s the part that matters. You didn’t run.
Riley: I know. But what if staying just makes everything worse?
Jules: Then you deal with it. You’ve got a spine now. Try not to panic-pack it away.
Riley: Feels more like nausea and bad decisions.
Jules: Bad decisions built that baby, so they can’t be all bad. Send me a selfie so I know you’re not dying. And if Connor needs yelling at, give me his number. I’ve been practicing.
I laugh. I snap a quick photo of my tired face and send it.
Jules: Gorgeous. Now eat something bland. Love you. Call if it gets worse.
Riley: Love you too.
I set the phone down feeling a little steadier. Jules always does that.
A soft knock sounds on the front door. I already know who it is.
Sarah stands there with two coffees and a small paper bag. She smiles gently. “Decaf for you. And plain toast. Figured your stomach might be protesting.”
I let her in. The toast actually smells tolerable. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to.” She sets everything on the kitchen island. “Connor’s been quiet. He’s hurting, but so are you. How are you holding up?”
I wrap my hands around the warm cup. “I keep thinking I should have told him sooner. Or differently. Then I remember I’m pregnant and staying with three men and there was never going to be an easy version.”
Sarah nods. “Andrew is a trigger for him. He watched you fall apart after that breakup and it left a mark. Now finding out that same man has been working beside him for over a year, pretending nothing happened… it feels like a double betrayal. It’s a lot for Connor.”
“I get that,” I say. My throat tightens. “Andrew isn’t the person who left me. And Ethan and Liam make me feel safe in a way I’ve never had before. And I’m terrified I’m going to lose all of them. Slowly. One decision at a time.”
Sarah squeezes my arm. “It sounds like you do know what you want. That matters. He’ll come around. It just might not be today.”
When she leaves, she pulls me into a quick hug. “Text if you need anything. Even if it’s more toast.”
After she’s gone, I open the group chat again. I can picture them across the street—Andrew watching his phone, Ethan already trying to solve something that doesn’t have a clean answer, Liam pretending he’s not losing his mind.
Waiting.
For me.
I type carefully.
Riley: Still here. Still need today, but I’m not disappearing. Promise. Thank you for giving me space.
I hit send. Relief and guilt twist together in my chest.
I take a small bite of toast. My stomach actually accepts it.
Then my phone buzzes again.
I expect Liam. Or Jules.
Instead it’s an unknown number.
Harrington Group Assistant: Mr. Harrington requests an urgent call this afternoon regarding partnership stability. Mr. Monroe has canceled several key meetings and expressed concerns about personal conflicts impacting the deal. Please confirm your availability.
My grip tightens on the counter.
Everything they’ve built together is starting to shift.
And I’m right in the middle of it.
My brother.
The men I love.
The baby.
Everything colliding at once.