Page 49 of Triplet Babies for the CEO

“I’m going to miss you, Penny,” I murmur, choking up as she leans into my hand. “And…I wish things could’ve worked out with your daddy.”

My tears fall as Penny licks my cheek, her warm, gentle presence soothing me in a way that makes it even harder to leave.

For a second, I feel like I might break. This isn’t what I wanted. This isn’t how it was supposed to end.

But I know I can’t stay. I give Penny one last scratch behind her ears, wipe my tears, and stand up, grabbing my suitcase and walking out the door, leaving Penny and everything else behind.

The drive to the nearest hotel feels surreal, like I’m moving through some hazy in-between space where my body is on autopilot, but my mind is spiraling.

The road stretches out in front of me, dark and empty, save for the occasional streetlamp casting pools of cold, artificial light on the pavement.

As I drive, a hollow feeling settles in my chest, filling me up with a kind of numb sadness. It’s as if the weight I’ve been carrying for weeks has lifted, only to be replaced by something heavier—an emptiness that feels vast and overwhelming.

I keep my eyes on the road, but my mind is racing, replaying everything from tonight, every word I overheard at the restaurant, every flicker of excitement on Brody’s face when he thought of Gemma’s pregnancy.

That happiness, that warmth…it was everything I’d hoped he’d feel for me, for us.

Finally, the neon sign of the hotel comes into view, casting a dull, flickering light across the parking lot. I pull in, park, and just sit there for a moment, staring at the building’s faded facade.

The silence inside the car is thick, almost oppressive, pressing down on me as I gather the strength to go inside.

Once I’m in my room, I toss my bag onto the bed, the mattress creaking beneath the weight, and sink down beside it, feeling the exhaustion settle into my bones.

My hands shake as I pull out my phone and dial Jasmine’s number. She picks up almost immediately, her voice as bright and warm as always, bringing a familiar comfort I’ve been craving all night.

“Hey, Tasha! What’s up?”

The sound of her voice undoes me, and before I know it, I’m sobbing, each breath hitching painfully as I try to get the words out. “Jasmine…I’m pregnant. I should have told you sooner.”

Her voice softens instantly, worry replacing the cheerfulness. “Oh, Tasha…hey, hey, it’s okay. Just breathe, okay? Take it slow, girl. I had a feeling.”

My voice wobbles, and fresh tears blur my vision. The memory of Brody’s face, his voice, is sharp in my mind, every word laced with that detached practicality.

He was right there, just inches away from me, but it felt like a chasm had opened between us. I draw in a shaky breath, trying to steady myself, but the words tumble out in a rush.

“I overheard Brody talking to his son tonight. He was talking about me like…like I was some mistake he made or a complication he has to deal with.”

Jasmine’s voice is quiet, steady, a lifeline in the storm raging inside me. “Are you sure, Tasha? I mean, people say things in passing, without thinking…”

“Yes, Jasmine. I heard every word. His son even offered to let me stay with them—like I’m some stray they’re taking in. And Gemma’s pregnant, too. Brody was thrilled, clapping Josh on the back, congratulating him.”

My voice cracks, and the pain sharpens, raw and cutting. “But for me…I’m just… something to deal with. A burden.”

I press a hand to my stomach, feeling the weight of what’s happening, the realization that this isn’t just about me and Brody. There’s someone else involved now—someone innocent and unknowing, and I’m the only one they have.

“Oh, Tasha,” Jasmine murmurs, her voice breaking with empathy. “You don’t need that. You deserve better. Come here. Come to Vegas. We’ll figure this out together. You’ll have me. We’ll work it out.”

“I’ll be there in the morning.” I nod, wiping my eyes even though she can’t see me. My voice is steadier now, resolute.

The pain is still there, gnawing at me, but her words give me a new sense of direction. And in that moment, with Jasmine’s promise of support, I feel a small flicker of hope, a fragile yet determined ember of the old fire within me pushing me forward.

I look around, taking in the plain walls, the soft hum of the air conditioning, the faint scent of old carpet.

The room is silent again after I hang up, but this time, the quiet feels different, more bearable.

It’s not home, not by a long shot, but for tonight, it’s a place to breathe, to gather my strength for what lies ahead.

I stare up at the ceiling, lying on the bed, letting my thoughts drift to Vegas, to Jasmine’s welcoming smile, the way she always knows just what to say.

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