Page 17 of Word to the Wise

Lyla and her tarot cards might as well be attached at the hip. She’s always reading the future and the signs of the universe. It’s why I think she saw this coming last time I was here, even if she didn’t know exactly what it was that I was hiding.

“The cards only say so much.” Lyla squeezes my hand. “The rest is your story to tell if and when you’re ready.”

“When did you get so calmingly insightful?”

Lyla tries to bury her grin, and that’s when I notice her face is brighter than it was the last time I saw her. It might be love or something else, but she’s practically glowing.

“Wait.” I let go of her hand and turn to face her on the bed. “What’s different?”

“This isn’t about me, Reed.” She shakes her head and brushes her fingers over her cheeks like she can sense her body’s giving her away. “I’m here for you.”

“And I’m so tired of thinking about me right now, that if I have to face one more person looking at me like I’m broken or scared, I won’t be able to handle it. So please, forget me for a minute and tell me what’s going on.”

Lyla bites her lip, a smile creeping up in the corner of her mouth. “It’s early still.”

“Early for what?”

“I’m pregnant.” It’s almost a whisper, but the smile that spreads her cheeks speaks volumes.

“What?” My hands fly to my mouth as tears spring to my eyes. Pulling her in for a hug, I’m shaking. “I’m going to have a niece or nephew.”

Lyla is crying and nodding, and I can’t hold back my own tears.

Pulling away, my gaze drops to her belly, and my heart grows in my chest. Sage and Lyla have been through so much to be together, and they’re finally getting everything they deserve.

Nothing in the past forty-eight hours has made sense, until now. It settles that Lyla’s growing my brother’s baby, and I finally find the clarity I need. I find a kind of love that offers me strength.

For my family. For my niece or nephew.

I need to be stronger for them.

“I just found out.” She smiles. “I’m still in shock, and I don’t think Sage is going to survive the stress of it. Thesecond I say I’m nauseous, he wants to tie me to the bed and take care of me.”

My brother is so soft for her, and I love it.

“Let him take care of you. You don’t have to do this on your own.” I squeeze her hand, thinking about how Mason said something similar to me this morning.

“I’m so happy for you guys.”

“You’re going to be an auntie.” She smiles.

An aunt.Someone another person is going to look up to.

My gaze moves to the mirror—to the darkening bruises on my face. This isn’t who I am, and not something I want my niece or nephew to see. I was strong once—maybe I can find her again.

Somewhere deep.

I could at least try searching for her.

“I brought you some things.” Lyla hops off the bed when she notices me staring at myself in the mirror.

Walking to the doorway, she picks up the bag she dropped when she came in.

“I know we don’t have the same style, but I grabbed what I thought might work, and we can always go shopping.”

Lyla wears a lot of fishnets and short skirts. She likes band tees and has more edge than I do. So I appreciate that when she digs through the clothes she brought, it’s more subtle. Jeans, tank tops, sweaters. More my style.

“I should have brought my things.”