Page 66 of The Save

I exhaled slowly. I wasn’t going to judge her in the least for considering them. “Okay. Then I think you have to tell Rob.”

Shar’s lip trembled. “Rob wants to be a dad.” She leaned back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling. I gave her a minute. “I don’t want to tell him yet. I want him to just be happy. He’s worked so hard . . . ”

Crystal rubbed her knee. “Then don’t. Tell him when you want to.”

I opened my mouth to agree with her when the door handle jiggled. All three of us jumped.

“Hey, Mads? Is Shar in there?”

Rob’s voice. Crystal and I stared at Sharla.

“Yep! Just chatting.” Shar tried to make her voice sound cheery and mostly succeeded.

There was a pause. Then Rob said, “You okay?”

Shar teared up again, and another knock sounded. “Mads, open the door.”

I gave Shar a questioning look. Tears welled in her eyes, and she motioned for me to open the door. “You sure?” I whispered. Shar nodded.

“Mads—”

“I’m coming, geez.” I dropped off the bed and walked to the door. As soon as I flicked the lock, Rob turned the handle and stormed in. He scanned the room fast. Sharla. Crystal. Me. The tissue box. The puffy faces.

His jaw tightened. “What the hell is going on?” He rushed forward, dropping to his knees at the side of the bed. “Is this about the offer? I can?—”

“No.” Sharla swiped at her cheeks, then turned to him. “I’m so proud of you, Rob. I can’t even—” She pursed her lips, suckingin a shaky breath. “I didn’t want to tell you today. I didn’t want to make this day about anything else.”

“Tell me what?” Rob searched her eyes.

She pulled the test from her pocket and handed it to him. “I’m pregnant.”

For a long moment, he didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Then his hand lifted, cupping her jaw. “You’re . . . ?”

“I’m so sorry. This messes up everything—” she started, but Rob held a finger to her lips.

“You will not apologize right now.” His voice was raw, his breath stilted. “Holy shit,” he murmured, then stood and scooped her off the bed. “I’m going to be a dad?” He wrapped her in his arms. “I’m going to be a dad?” he repeated into her hair.

I stepped back, tears welling in my eyes. I felt like I was intruding on something sacred, but I couldn’t look away.

Rob pulled back, planting kisses over Sharla’s forehead, her cheeks, murmuring “I love you,” over and over again, then raised his voice and yelled, “Boys, get your asses up here now! I’m going to be a frigging dad!”

_____

By the time I pulled into my apartment complex, it felt like Friday night had happened in another lifetime. After much discussion over the weekend and with Shar’s insistence, Rob had made his decision. He was going with the travel team. The opportunity was too rare to turn down, and they were sure they could figure out the logistics.

I was emotionally spent when I stepped out of the truck and took my bag from Axel, setting it on the curb. I walked up tothe familiar brick of the building but paused at the walkway. My Rabbit was parked in its usual spot beneath the half-dead maple tree, but something green fluttered against the windshield.

I frowned, left my bag next to the grass and crossed the street. A Post-It note clung to the glass, stuck under the wiper on the driver’s side.

I plucked it free and found two words.Miss You.

I blinked and read them again. My eyes scanned the car, heart already speeding.

The first thing I noticed was the wipers. They were aligned. Snug against the windshield. Then I noticed another flash of green on the passenger seat and yanked open the door. What the hell?

Resting on the seat was a swirl of black plastic, and there was a piece of tape on one end with a handwritten note that said,Old and very cracked vacuum hoses. Dangerous.I laughed out loud, thinking of Chase digging under the hood after our first committee meeting.

I picked up the second Post-It.Please lock your car.

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