"It's nice to finally get out of that damn club," Brooke groans as we settle into a booth at Joe's Café. Of course, we're being supervised—two of the brothers are sitting out front, keeping an eye on us.

Ghost mentioned earlier that things have been quiet lately. There's been no sign of Logan, and any time a Devil's Blood tries to stir up trouble, the guys make sure they're off the streets before anything happens.

"Of course, the one day we're finally allowed out, it's pouring." I roll my eyes, staring out the glass window as rain streams down. It hasn't rained this hard in a while, and the gloomy weather matches my mood.

"How's Austin doing?" I ask after a moment, breaking the silence. Brooke sighs, taking a slow sip of her coffee before answering.

"He's doing okay. He doesn't really want to talk about it, and I'm not pushing him."

I give her a small, understanding smile. That's where Brooke and I differ. I've never been one to let things sit—I'd push Everest until we were both yelling just to get him to open up. But Brooke? She's more patient, letting Austin come to her when he's ready, whether that happens or not.

As far as I know, we haven't heard anything from their mother. Everest didn't even bother opening the letter she sent. He tried to throw it away, but I fished it out of the trash before he could.

"He actually read the letter, and he seems more at peace now," Brooke says, her tone lighter but still unsure. "I don't know what it said, and as much as I want to read it, I've just left it sitting on the dresser... taunting me." She tries to joke, but I can tell there's a weight behind her words.

"Everest didn't read his," I admit, my voice softer. "He threw it away, but I pulled it out."

Brooke leans forward, groaning as she drops her elbows onto the table and buries her face in her hands. I watch her with concern, placing my hand flat on the table in a comforting gesture.

"You okay?" I ask softly.

"Yeah... I just got my period this morning. Feels like I got hit by a brick wall." She lifts her head slightly, and I notice how tired she looks—exhausted, actually.

That's when it hits me. I haven't gotten my period.

I pause, my mind racing. The last time I had it was after the beach... and nothing since. I glance down at my phone, pulling up my tracker. My stomach drops as I realize I'm supposed to be on my period right now. My heart pounds, and I can't help but think the worst.

I quickly pull up my texts with Aunt Teagan, noticing she still hasn't responded. I type out a quick "Hey" and send it before clearing my throat, forcing myself back into the conversation with Brooke.

We stay at the café for a while longer, picking at a small brunch and letting the quiet moments pass without rushing. Eventually, we head over to campus because Brooke needs to meet with her professors about a few things.

Being on campus feels... weird. I always thought I'd be here with Brooke, that we'd tackle college life together. But life had other plans.

Brooke's working on her master's now. She wants to be a social worker—she's always loved kids and wants to be there for them the way no one was for her.

"Alright, we can go," she says, finally emerging from her professor's office. I get up from the hallway bench, and we head off campus together.

It's impossible not to notice the stares as we walk. Two bikers are following closely behind us, their presence impossible to ignore. We're never really alone, even when we think we are.

As Brooke and I make our way back to the clubhouse, the rain has slowed to a drizzle, but the air is still damp and cool. The ride back was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts. I could feel Brooke watching me from the corner of her eye, but she didn't push. She knew me well enough to let me process things on my own.

When we pull into the lot, the familiar rumble of bikes and the sight of the clubhouse brings a strange mix of comfort and unease. The two brothers who had been following us park a few spots down, keeping a respectful distance but making it clear they weren't going anywhere.

"Ready?" Brooke asks softly, her hand resting briefly on my arm.

I nod, even though I don't feel ready at all. "Yeah. Let's get inside."

We step through the doors, the warmth of the clubhouse immediately hitting us. The scent of leather, smoke, and stale beer lingers in the air—familiar, grounding. But as soon as we walk in, I can feel the shift. The tension is thick, and it doesn't take long to see why.

The Sapphires are here.

A relieved breath escapes me as I nudge Brooke gently. "It's fine," I murmur, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

Brooke follows my gaze, and the moment she sees them, her entire posture relaxes. "Oh, thank God," she mutters under her breath, a smile replacing the irritation from moments ago.

Bonnie is the first to notice us, her bright smile lighting up her face as she waves us over. Her honey-blonde hair is pulled back in a loose ponytail, and her easygoing demeanor instantly makes me feel like I can breathe again.

"Well, look who decided to grace us with their presence!" Bonnie teases as we approach, her southern drawl making the words sound playful.

"Finally out of lockdown, huh?" Tequila adds with a wink, her dark curls framing her face as she leans against the bar. She's always had this effortlessly cool vibe that I've admired.

Red, the oldest and most seasoned of the Sapphires, gives us a warm smile as she sips her drink. Her fiery red hair and no-nonsense attitude have earned her respect from everyone in the club, and despite her tough exterior, she's always been kind to us.

"Come on, girls," Red says in her raspy voice, gesturing toward the empty seats beside them. "Get over here before someone else tries to ruin your night."

Brooke doesn't need to be told twice. She slides onto the stool beside Bonnie, and I follow, feeling the last of my nerves settle as I take a seat between Tequila and Red.

"Y'all doing okay?" Bonnie asks, her eyes scanning us like she's checking for damage.

"We're good," I reply, though I'm not sure how convincing I sound. Brooke, ever the honest one, gives me a quick side-eye but doesn't say anything.

"Been a quiet day, huh?" Tequila says, swirling the ice in her glass.

"Too quiet," Brooke mutters, and I know she's thinking the same thing I am. Quiet never lasts long in this world.

"Enjoy it while you can," Red murmurs, her tone softer than usual. "Because when the storm hits..." Her voice trails off, but the meaning lingers in the air.

"Yeah, well, we could use a little quiet," I say, trying to lighten the mood.

Bonnie chuckles softly. "Amen to that."

For a while, we just sit there, letting the easy conversation flow. It's the kind of comfort I didn't realize I needed. Bonnie talks about some ridiculous fight she broke up between two prospects, while Tequila fills us in on some drama happening at a bar she bartends at a few nights a week.

Red listens quietly, occasionally offering her two cents with her signature dry wit that has all of us laughing. I can feel the weight of the day slowly lifting off my shoulders as the familiar warmth of their company settles over me.

"You know," Bonnie says, nudging Brooke playfully, "if y'all ever get tired of babysitting those boys, we've got a spot for you with us."

Brooke snorts. "Tempting."

"Don't joke," Tequila adds with a smirk. "We could use a couple of badasses like you."

"Right," I laugh, shaking my head. "Because we'd totally fit in with y'all."

"You fit in more than you think," Red says softly, her eyes meeting mine with that knowing look that always makes me feel like she sees more than I'm saying.

I don't know how to respond to that, so I just give her a small smile and look down at my drink.

We stay at the bar for a while, the conversation flowing easily as the tension from earlier fades into the background. Being around Bonnie, Tequila, and Red feels safe in a way I didn't expect. They're not just part of the club—they're part of us.

And right now, I'm holding onto that feeling for as long as I can.

The sound of laughter and clinking glasses fills the air around me, but I barely notice it when I feel the subtle vibration of my phone in my pocket. I glance down, and my heart skips a beat when I see Aunt Teagan's name flash across the screen.

Finally.

"Hey, I'll be right back," I mumble to Brooke, who's too busy laughing at something Tequila just said to notice the sudden tension in my voice.

She gives me a quick nod, and I slip off the stool, my fingers already unlocking my phone as I weave through the crowd toward the hallway where it's quieter. I duck into one of the empty rooms down the hall, closing the door softly behind me before taking a steadying breath.

My thumb hovers over the message:

Teagan: Hey, what's up?

I swallow hard, then hit the call button before I can overthink it. The phone rings a few times, each one making my nerves tighten, but then I hear her familiar voice.

I freeze for a moment, my throat suddenly dry. "Uh... hey."

There's a pause, just long enough to make my stomach flip.

"Avery?" Her voice is a little surprised, and I can hear the hesitation in it.

"Yeah... it's me."

Another pause.

"Wow... hey." She sounds uncertain, like she's not sure where this is going. "It's been a while."

"Yeah," I murmur, shifting uncomfortably, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. "It has."

Another awkward silence stretches between us, and I hate how weird this feels. Teagan and I used to be so close—she was always the one I could turn to when things got too heavy. But after everything that happened last time... I pulled away. I didn't mean to, but I did.

"How... how have you been?" I ask, trying to fill the silence, though my voice comes out a little too quiet.

"Good," she says, but it sounds automatic, like she's just saying it to keep things light. "Busy, you know. Work's been... a lot."

"Yeah," I nod, even though she can't see me. "I figured."

"What about you?" she asks, her voice softer now, but I can still hear the hesitation.

"I've been... okay," I lie, though I'm sure it doesn't sound convincing.

Another beat of silence. This is so weird.

"Look, Avery..." she finally says, her tone gentler now. "I know things have been... I don't know, distant between us. And I hate that."

"Me too," I admit quietly, and for the first time, the words feel like they break through the tension a little.

"I'm really glad you called," she adds softly, her voice more sincere this time.

"Yeah..." I trail off, feeling the weight of what I really need to say pressing down on me again. My fingers tighten around the phone as I take a shaky breath.

"Teagan... I, um..." My voice drops, and I have to force the words out. "I'm late."

The line goes quiet.

"Late?" Her voice is softer now, but I can hear the shift in her tone.

"Yeah," I whisper, my throat tightening again. "I... I should've started a few days ago. But I haven't."

A long pause stretches between us, and I can practically hear the wheels turning in her mind.

"When... was the last time?" she asks carefully, her voice quiet but steady.

"The beach," I murmur, barely able to say it aloud. "It was... right after the beach."

Teagan doesn't say anything right away, and the silence feels heavier than before. I know what she's thinking. She knows.

"Avery..." her voice is softer now, more cautious. "Have you taken a test?"

I shake my head, even though she can't see me. "No," I mumble. "I... I didn't want to. I was hoping maybe I was just... stressed, or something."

I can feel her hesitation, like she's choosing her next words carefully.

"Sweetheart," she finally says, her voice as gentle as ever, "I know this is scary. But you need to know for sure."

"I know," I whisper, my throat tight. "I just... I can't do this again, Teagan."

Her breath catches, and for a moment, I think she might get choked up too. "Oh, Avery," she murmurs softly, and the warmth in her voice nearly breaks me. "I know, sweet girl."

I blink hard, trying to stop the tears that threaten to spill over. "I don't know how to tell Everest," I whisper, my voice barely holding steady. "What if... what if it's happening all over again?"

Teagan's voice is quiet but firm when she answers. "We're not going to think about the worst until we know for sure, okay?"

"Okay," I murmur, but it barely sounds convincing.

We stayed on the phone for a while after that, the conversation shifting to safer topics—how work had been keeping her busy, how I'd been doing at the club, and little things that didn't feel so heavy. It was nice, almost like how things used to be before everything got so... complicated.

But eventually, we circled back to what really mattered.

"Okay," Teagan said gently after a pause. "So, here's what I'm thinking... If you're able to make it, I can fly into Fort Myers. I have a friend there—she's an OB/GYN. I trust her. She'll be discreet, and she'll make sure everything's okay."

Hearing her lay out a plan, something solid and real, made the knot in my stomach loosen just a little. It was still there, sitting heavy in my chest, but at least now I didn't feel like I was completely floating in the unknown.

"Fort Myers," I murmured, repeating the words quietly to myself, letting them settle. "Yeah... I can make that work."

"Good," she said softly, her voice steady but warm. "I'll set everything up and let you know the details. You won't have to go through this alone, Avery. I promise."

"Thank you," I breathed out, my voice barely above a whisper. I hadn't realized how much I needed to hear that until the words left my mouth.

"Always," she murmured again, and this time, I felt it down to my bones.

For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel so alone.

After we hung up, I stayed in that quiet room for a moment longer, letting the silence settle around me. My mind was still spinning, but at least now I had a direction—something to hold on to. I ran my fingers through my hair, taking a slow breath before finally standing up.

I had to pull myself together before going back out there. Brooke would take one look at me and know something was up if I didn't. I glanced at my phone again, seeing the last message from Teagan sitting there like a silent promise.

Teagan: We've got this. One step at a time.

"Yeah," I whispered to myself, tucking my phone back into my pocket. "One step at a time." With a deep breath, I pushed the door open and headed back to the bar where Brooke and the Sapphires were still laughing and talking like nothing had changed.

By the time I found Everest, the bar was louder than usual, the low hum of conversation drowned out by the thumping bass of whatever song was blasting through the speakers. The air smelled like spilled beer and smoke, but it was the sight of him that made my stomach flip.

Everest was leaning against the bar, his head tilted back slightly as he laughed at something Austin had just said. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes had that hazy, unfocused look I knew all too well. He was drunk.

So was Austin.

Brooke caught my eye from across the bar, her brow furrowing slightly as she glanced between me and the guys. She didn't say anything, but I knew that look. I gave her a small nod, silently asking her to handle Austin.

"I got him," she mouthed before making her way toward Austin, slipping her arm around his waist as she whispered something in his ear. Austin grinned lazily, letting her lead him away, and I watched as they disappeared into the crowd.

Which left me... with Everest.

"Hey," I murmured, stepping closer, my voice barely audible over the noise.

His eyes found mine instantly, and for a moment, something softened in his expression. "Avery," he murmured, a lazy grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. His voice was a little slurred, but his smile was genuine, and it made my heart skip a beat.

"Come dance with me," he said suddenly, reaching for my hand before I could even respond.

"Everest..." I started, but he was already pulling me toward the middle of the bar where people were swaying to the music.

"Come on," he murmured, his hands finding my waist as he tried to guide me into the rhythm.

I went along with it at first, letting him sway us gently to the beat. His body was warm against mine, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the feeling. But something about it didn't feel right. His movements were sloppy, and I could tell he was trying too hard to focus.

"Everest," I whispered softly, my hands resting on his chest. "Let's go outside."

He blinked down at me, confusion flashing across his face. "Why?"

"Just... come with me," I murmured, gently tugging his hand.

He didn't argue. He let me lead him through the crowded bar and out the back door, where the cool night air hit us like a breath of fresh air.

And that's when I felt it.

The rain.

It was a light drizzle at first, but within seconds, it was pouring—warm, heavy drops falling from the sky, soaking through my clothes almost instantly.

"Damn," Everest murmured, looking up at the sky, blinking as the rain ran down his face.

I was about to suggest going back inside when he turned to me, that lazy grin tugging at his lips again. "Dance with me," he murmured softly.

"Everest..." I started, but he was already pulling me close again, his arms slipping around my waist.

"Please," he whispered, his voice softer now, more... vulnerable.

And just like that, I couldn't say no.

So, I let him.

We swayed together in the rain, the world around us fading away as his forehead rested gently against mine. His breath was warm and a little unsteady, and I could feel the way his heart pounded against my own.

"This is better," he murmured softly, his voice barely louder than the sound of the rain hitting the pavement.

"Yeah," I whispered, my arms tightening around his neck as I closed my eyes, trying to memorize the feeling of being this close to him.

For a moment, everything felt perfect. But deep down, that gnawing feeling in my stomach wouldn't go away.

Because I hadn't told him.

I hadn't told him that I was late. That I might be pregnant.

The rain pounded harder now, but we didn't stop dancing. We just kept swaying, the world around us blurring into the background. The cool droplets mixed with the heat radiating off of Everest's skin, and for a moment, everything felt almost serene. Almost perfect.

But inside, I felt anything but.

I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't even know if I was pregnant. The thought of it made my stomach twist in fear. If I was, how far along would I be? What if I wasn't? What if this was all in my head? The uncertainty, the unknown—it was enough to make me dizzy.

What if I was? What would Everest say? What would he do? How could I bring something like that into our mess?

There was so much chaos around us, so much we hadn't even begun to figure out. Our lives were far from stable. He was drunk, and I wasn't much better off. We barely even had an established relationship to begin with, let alone one strong enough to bring another life into it.

I didn't even know what I wanted. The fear of losing him, the fear of not being able to hold it together, was almost overwhelming. What if this was too much for him? What if I couldn't handle it, either?

"Hey," Everest's voice cut through my thoughts, his face close to mine, his breath warm and steady. "You okay?"

I forced a smile, pushing down the wave of anxiety that rose in my chest. "Yeah, I'm fine," I said, trying to make my voice sound more convincing than I felt.

He studied my face for a moment, his hand moving to tuck a strand of wet hair behind my ear. "You sure?"

I nodded, swallowing hard as I tried to calm my racing thoughts. "Yeah, just... just thinking."

"About what?" he asked, his voice soft, like he genuinely wanted to know.

I hesitated, the words sticking in my throat. I could feel the weight of everything pressing down on me, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth. Not yet. Not when everything felt so fragile between us.

"I... I'll be okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, hoping he couldn't hear the lie in it.

But he wasn't convinced. He pulled me a little closer, his hands holding me gently, almost protectively. "Avery," he murmured, his voice low. "Talk to me."

For a moment, I wanted to. I wanted to tell him everything—how scared I was, how unsure I felt about everything, how I didn't know if I was ready for any of this. But I couldn't.

Not yet.

Instead, I just leaned into him, closing my eyes and letting the rain wash over us both, as if it could wash away all the uncertainty and fear I was feeling inside.

"Let's just keep dancing," I said softly, pulling back just enough to look up at him. "For now, let's just... keep dancing."

And for a little while longer, we did.