Epilogue Two—Rylee
“LET GO” — FROU FROU
Ishould be celebrating.
The thought keeps running through my head as I stand near the edge of the room, watching everyone around me enjoy a party that I can’t fully be part of. It’s selfish, but if they knew why… well, it probably wouldn’t change anything.
My brother and Johanna are engaged.
Brandon finally got his girl and, despite my sordid past with Johanna, I’m happy for them—truly.
I watch them from across the room as he pulls her into him, her hand still lifted slightly to admire her new accessory—like she doesn’t quite believe the ring is real.
Mia’s practically vibrating next to them, and Grayson’s busy trying—and failing—to act like he’s not emotional.
Tony and Eric are already working through yet another bottle of champagne.
To everyone else in this room, everything feels exactly like it should—right and stable.
To me?
I can’t help but feel like I’m standing just outside of it—like I don’t quite belong here anymore.
I shift my weight as I wave off yet another waiter trying to offer me a glass of champagne.
I can’t drink it.
Not tonight.
Not anymore.
My stomach flips, and I fight the urge to be sick—not from the alcohol in the air, or even all the noise—but from the thought that’s been nagging me since this morning.
Two pink lines—clear as fucking day. No room for interpretation or misunderstanding.
I’m pregnant.
No matter how long I stared at the stupid stick begging the results to be different, it didn’t change. The lines just stared back at me—permanent and definitive.
Way too fucking real.
I’m not ready to be a mother. Eric is the furthest thing from ready to be a father—and I haven’t even told him about the test.
I can’t. Not yet.
“Hey.”
I flinch slightly as his voice cuts through my thoughts. I’ve been avoiding him since this morning, and I know he feels it. He just doesn’t know why.
“You’ve been MIA all night,” he says. “You’re not still pissed at Brandon and Jo, are you?”
I force a smile—automatic, practiced.
“Of course not,” I say. “I just needed a breather.”
His eyes narrow slightly.
He knows me too well.
He’s definitely not buying it.
“All day? Ry—”
“I’m fine, Eric,” I cut in softly. “I promise.”
A beat passes as he watches me, like he’s trying to decide whether or not to push me further.
He doesn’t, but I’m not surprised. He never does.
Instead, he takes a sip of his drink before glancing down to my empty hands.
“You’re not drinking?” he asks.
My heartbeat stutters.
Shit.
“I’m pacing myself.” I shrug, hoping it sounds as nonchalant as I mean it to.
He raises a brow.
“Uh, since when?”
I laugh, because it’s true. Under normal circumstances, I don’t know the meaning of that phrase.
“Since I decided I don’t want to end up like Tony tonight.”
“Hey!” Tony shouts from the other side of the room, because apparently he has the hearing ability of a fucking bat now. “I’m thriving! You’d be lucky to end up like me.”
Eric shakes his head, a small smile breaking through before he looks back to me.
My heart can’t help but swell, because Eric doesn’t smile often—but when he does? It makes my whole world stop.
Always has.
“Come on, pretty girl,” he says, nodding towards the rest of our group. “Let's toast to the happy couple.”
I hesitate, just for a second. Then I nod.
“Yeah. Okay.”
He extends his hand, and I take it, letting him pull me back into the crowd as the noise swallows us whole—laughter, voices, glasses clinking together.
“To forever!”
“To forever,” everyone echoes.
I say the words along with the rest of the room, forcing them past my lips as I do my best to pretend like I’m part of this.
My hand drifts absently to my stomach.
Everything I thought I had figured out—every plan, every version of my life—just changed in a way I never expected.
I glance over at Eric as he laughs at something Grayson says, completely unaware that his life is about to change, too. Somehow, in the middle of all this happiness, my entire world—our entire world—just tilted on its axis.
And the scariest part of it all?
I have no idea what I’m going to do next.