Page 112 of Wretched Lies

I bite down harder on my lip to control a trembling smile. “Yes, but we haven’t told anyone. Let’s just say, it’s exactly what I predicted when we talked about having kids.”

“Good. And you’re going to be an amazing mom. You were to me.”

“I bossed you around too much.”

“You looked after me, Jade. I know we fought a lot, but do you think I ever doubted how much you loved me?”

“No,” I say, finally letting the tears fall. My throat constricts and my voice shakes when I add, “And I still love you. I love you so much, Blake.”

“I loved you too,” she says, her words as scratched as mine. “You know this is goodbye, right?”

“I know.” I can’t hold back the sob that tears from my chest. Panic swells. “Blake, I don’t how I’m meant to do this.” I suck in a breath. “Is it bad that I’ll always imagine you somewhere, just out of reach, with a little Chihuahua called Gizmo?”

A dog barks on the other end of the line, and my laughter is caught on another gut-wrenching sob.

Blake clears her throat. “Are you ready?” she asks.

There’s that fluttering in my belly again, and I’m crying too much to mistake it for nerves this time. The baby I’m carrying is letting me know there’s a new life waiting for me, but first I have to let go.

It hurts to swallow. It just fucking hurts. “Goodbye,Blake.”

Reid

I’m standing beneath the shade of a tree watching Quinn struggling to hold it together, and it’s killing me. She’d asked if I’d make this kind of call if I’d lost one of my brothers. I’m sure I’d be tempted, but I honestly don’t know if I’d have the courage. There’s no doubt that Quinn is brave, but even she wasn’t sure if it would give her the closure she needs.

When I catch her laughing, I relax a little. Whatever she’s getting from this, it’s working. She’s made the connection that shouldn’t feel real, but it does in this moment.

Too real, because a minute later, her sobs ricochet off the tree trunks that crowd around us. I know she wanted space, but I can’t stand back and watch her fall apart. I start walking towards her, waiting for her to lift her gaze and either tell me to back off, or…

Quinn’s chest heaves and she covers her mouth with a sob as she looks up to find me. Her phone slips from her grasp and she reaches out both arms. “Reid!”

I eat up the remaining distance and drop down to my knees next to her, pulling her into me. My t-shirt is quickly soaked with her tears. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”

“She’s gone,” Quinn says. “She’s really gone, and I’m never getting her back.”

Her grief kills me. “I’m sorry. I wish I could do something to take away the pain.”

Quinn pulls back, sniffs hard and wipes at her tears with the back of her hand. That same hand closes into a fist as she thumps against my chest. “You can, you idiot! Just ask me!”

I’m momentarily stunned by the lethal glare she aims at me. “Ask you what?”

Her scowl deepens and her fist strikes me again. “This is the moment, Reid. I don’t want rose petals and violins. I want you. I want us. So fucking ask!”

My jaw drops, and there’s a whole swarm of butterflies taking flight in my stomach. Or maybe they’re hornets because Quinn doesn’t like to make things soft and fluffy. Fine. If that’s what she wants.

I rope one arm around her waist and wrap my hand around neck. “Marry me,” I demand.

Her heavy breaths match mine. “OK.”

“Good,” I bite back.

“Good.”

I dig into my pocket and pull out the ring I’ve been carrying around for weeks. Wordlessly, Quinn lets me slip it onto her wedding finger. The princess-cut diamond isn’t the biggest, but it carries some weight. And it fits like it was made for her.

“It was my mom’s,” I tell her.

“Then it couldn’t be more perfect,” Quinn says, her voice shaking.