Summer: Rhett Eaton. I know you are not texting and driving with the daddy-to-be in your car. Cade: He is. Rhett: Red light, Princess. And why are you only worried about Cade and not me? Summer: TODAY ISN’T ABOUT YOU.

Cade: Why is my child’s birth part of a group text? Summer: Because we’re excited! Violet: So excited! Send pictures! Rhett: After though. Not during. I don’t need to know Willa that well.

And I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.

“Nah,” I reply, smoothing my hand over her hair. “I love it when you pet me.” She sighs and closes her eyes with a low chuckle. “Y’all are fuckin’ weird,” Rhett quips from beside us, arm slung over Summer’s shoulders, with a cocky smirk on his face.

squeeze her hand and pull it to my lips, pressing a kiss to the knuckles of the woman I chose—the life I chose. “Jesus. Who even are you?” Rhett asks, looking a little shocked. Now it’s Summer’s turn to slap the top of his head. “Stop picking on them. It’s sweet.” “Why the fuck is everyone hitting me?”

“Baby, don’t cry. You don’t need to cry. I think if you cry, I might cry. And I’m not a crier.” “I’m not a crier either!” I sob,

“My initials are W.G., bud.” I give him another squeeze and he giggles. Cluelessly. “I know. But dad made that one. I told him the same thing.” My head snaps around to Cade, who still hasn’t moved but is staring at me like I might disappear if he blinks. “But he said they wouldn’t be for long.”

I’ve realized I’m better with Cade than I am without him. And I think he’s better with me too. I intend to tell him as much and then watch him roll his eyes at me. It’s going to be so romantic.

Willa: How is Cade? Summer: Full hermit-mode. Back to hating everyone. Please come fix him. Willa: I’m on my way.