Page 119 of Babies for the Big Shot

Her shoulders tighten just slightly, but she steps back, letting me in.

I walk past her, into the apartment I used to know better than my own. It’s the same and different, all at once. A memory that changed without warning.

Meatball lifts his head from the couch, eyes narrow, then lets out a disgruntled huff before flopping back down. Not forgiven. Fair enough.

Sara closes the door softly and leans against it, arms crossed.

I turn to face her. “You should’ve told me.”

“I know.”

“I shouldn’t have walked out.”

She nods. “I know that, too.”

The silence between us is thick, heavy.

Finally, I exhale, my breath coming out ragged. “Triplets.”

Her eyes fill with just the slightest shimmer, but she nods.

My chest tightens. “Are you okay?”

“No,” she whispers, voice soft, fragile. “But I’m trying.”

I take a step closer. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I was scared,” she admits. “I didn’t know how. I thought… if I said it out loud, it would change everything. And then Laura said it before I could, and Nick, the look on your face…” She stops, swallowing hard. “You looked at me like I broke you.”

I close my eyes. “You didn’t. You didn’t break me. I broke myself.”

Her silence is louder than anything else in the room.

I open my eyes again. “Three babies,” I murmur, softer now. “Shit, Sara. I don’t know how to do this.”

“Neither do I.”

“But I want to learn. I want to try.”

She searches my face, eyes flicking over me. “Even after everything?”

I step closer. “Nothing matters more than this.”

“Nick…”

“No. Listen to me.” I run a hand through my hair, tension crawling up my spine. “This whole week’s been a mess. And I’ve handled it all wrong. But I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Her lip trembles. “You say that like it’s easy.”

“It’s not,” I say honestly. “I’m terrified. But I’m more terrified of not being here. Of not being with you through this. Of not meeting them. All three of them.”

A laugh escapes her, soft, broken. “They’re the size of jellybeans, and they’re already wrecking my whole life.”

I smile, just a little. “Sounds about right for Ashfords.”

Her expression softens.

I step closer again, watching her face the whole time, giving her time to stop me if she wants.