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After checking Violet’s okay, I pull him aside. “We tried to make it fair, and it didn’t work, remember? I know you, Mad, as cocky as you are you’d never put yourself before Violet’s feelings. You didn’t have a breakdown when she didn’t answer the phone. You put her first. So trust me when I say this is the right thing to do.”

For once, he doesn’t make a joke. He’s always serious when it comes to Violet.

We don’t need to say anymore. I feel it the moment he accepts that this is what’s best.

Violet comes over, breaking us out of our silent connection.

“Look at how cute these rompers are! They’re so tiny! They even have them in yellow to match our nursery theme.” Violet holds the clothes up to show us, that oblivious smile still plastered on her face as it should be.

“Get as many as you want, sweetheart. You’re right about the more the better.” I lean in close and tip her chin up with the pad of my finger. “We should make sure we have plenty for all the babies that will come after these three.”

Her eyes widen, her cheeks flaming red. “You’re not joking about that, are you?”

I shake my head slowly, a wide grin forming. It’s cute that she thinks all the talk of us keeping her constantly pregnant was ever a joke.

She heads back to the rack of clothes, picking a few more things out. Mad quietly watches her, appreciating her joy. I wrap my arm around his shoulder and pat him on the chest. “The way you’re looking at her. That’s the reason why it has to be you.”

After a few more stores, we stop off to grab some coffee for the walk back to Dad’s place.

“Violet, is that you?” A female voice calls out from across the street.

I pull Violet behind me as they cross over to us.

“It’s only Chloe,” Violet says, stepping into view. I immediately block her again.

Chloe, whose boyfriend was friends with James. I can’t be sure whose side she’s on.

“Hi! I didn’t think I was going to see you around here again.” Chloe pants.

“I’ve been busy with college and everything else. Max, will you please move?” I don’t budge, and Violet takes it upon herself to circle around me. She gestures to her stomach with the hand with both engagement rings on.

“Oh wow! Congrats. Who’s the dad?”

Violet points both her thumbs toward me and Mad.

“Oh. Oh!” Chloe’s face goes bright red. She leans in to whisper in Violet’s ear, and I’m about to pull Violet away when Ihear what she says. “Good for you. I’m sorry for trying to set you up with James. I had no idea he was like that.”

“What? A rapist?” Mad makes sure he’s loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Um, I’ll leave you to it. It was nice to see you.”

Knowing we don’t want her here, she starts walking away, but Violet calls out, “I have a new number if you ever want to catch up properly!”

Chloe hesitates, eyeing Mad and me.

“Ignore them. They’re just grumpy because I made them come shopping with me.”

They end up exchanging numbers, and Mad quietly says to me, “Why exactly are we okay with this? She left Violet alone to be fucking assaulted.”

“She didn’t know.” At least that’s what I’m telling myself to allow this. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on her if she does end up getting close to Violet again. But for now, I refuse to be the one to suck the joy out of today for her.

Dad’s already home by the time we get back. Violet heads straight upstairs for a nap with Mad following close behind. Before I have a chance to go with them, Dad’s calling me into his office.

I slouch down in the chair in front of his desk and shove my hands in my pockets. He always hated it when I used to sit like this, but it doesn’t seem to faze him anymore. I’ve been here far too many times for one of his talks. Usually, they were about how I needed to do more to secure my future. Guess I’m not too oldfor another one. In a way, I’m grateful for them. Now, I put all that obsessive training I had for baseball into caring for Violet.

“Did you have a nice time in town? Not much has changed since you moved.”

“You never bring me in here for small talk, so what do you want?”