Page 102 of Finding Peace
Jas pulls his phone from his sweats and calls his sister. Joe answers on the second ring.
The second the words are out of Jasper’s mouth, Joe screams. Not a polite gasp or a stunned silence. Sheliterallyscreams. A full, unfiltered shriek straight through the speaker. Honestly, it’s a miracle Abigail doesn’t wake up from that alone.
“You’re LYING?!”
“I’m not,” Jasper shoots back, grinning like a man who just won a world title. “Swear on everything. You’re going to be an auntie.”
There’s a thud on Joe’s end like she just hit someone.
“Ouch,” Enzo whines in the background. “Why am I getting assaulted?”
“I-I’m just so excited I don’t know what else to do with it!”
“And you’re the easiest target,” Dante answers dryly.
“She’s okay? Abbie’s okay? You swear to me she’s okay?” Joe shoots off all three questions without taking a breath.
“She’s fine,” Lawson says calmly. “Tired. In shock. But fucking glowing.”
Joe’s breath shakes through the phone. “She’s glowing, you guys,” she whines to the men who are sitting in her apartment. She’s silent for a minute before she says. “Oh my god. You guys are such idiots.Actualidiots.”
Well, that quickly took a turn.
“We know,” Beau says. “Can’t say I’m sorry though.”
Luca cuts in, voice amused and smooth. “Statistically speaking, the chances are high.”
“Not helpful,” I mutter.
Joe starts crying again.
I think I’m getting whiplash.
“I love you guys,” she says fiercely. “Every single one of you. And if any of you stress her out, I will personally fly there and bury you in a shallow grave.”
“Always so violent,” Jas scoffs.
“I like it,” Enzo says. “Gets me h—”
“No.” Jasper cuts him off. “Don’t finish that sentence.”
We all laugh before Enzo adds, “So which one of you is explaining this to a kindergarten teacher in five years?”
“Rock-paper-scissors,” Beau replies immediately.
The whole conversation is starting to turn ridiculous.
It feels normal.
Which is maybe why the thought slips in so clean. It hits me again mid-laugh. Not from fear. But from instinct.
As I watch the way Jasper paces the kitchen while Joe continues asking a million questions none of us have the answers to yet, or the way Beau’s hand keeps drifting toward his chest like he’s steadying himself, or the way my brother is scrolling through pediatricians on his phone while still engaging in conversation, one thought rips through my subconscious.
While we’re in here trying to build a future, Keller is still out there.
Still smiling for the cameras.
Still thinking he’s untouchable.
