Page 144 of The Road Less Traveled By

All their heads perk up and swing to mine as I enter the room.

“Bree! Thank goodness you’re here. I didn't know if you guys were going to make it,” Tristan says as he pulls me in for a hug.

“How are you both feeling?”

“Wonderful!” Tristan cheers.

“Terrible,” Liv says at the same time. “You better worship the ground I walk on after this, West.”

“Don’t worry, Liv. You’ll probably get sick of me telling you that you’re the most amazing, beautiful, and magnificent mother of our children. I’m in awe of you, pretty girl.” Tristan leans down and presses a kiss to Liv’s head.

“I know Tabitha will be with you guys the whole time, but I’ll be in the waiting room with Teags and Vince. Can you two give us a second?” I ask as I walk over to the side of my sister’s bed.

“We’ll be in the hall. Come on, Mom,” Tristan says as he shuts the door softly behind him.

“Bree, make this quick because I’m going to have another contraction soon,” Liv says as she huffs.

“I wanted one last moment with just us. Just the two Hart sisters, like we’ve always been.”

“I hate to break it to you, but it hasn't been just us for a while now, sis.”

I stifle the emotions about to pour out of me. “I know, but this is different. We always thought we were alone our whole lives, and now, we’re not. Now, there’s going to be a small piece of you out in the world. I just want one last moment with you before you become a mom. I want to say thank you.”

“For what?”

“For always taking care of me. For raising me to be the woman I am today. Thank you for everything, Liv. And if you ever doubt your ability to be a parent, just look at me and how I turned out. I’d say you did pretty damn good.”

“Bree…” she trails off, emotions overcoming her. “You’re who you are because of so many things, not just me.”

“Yeah, but you made sure I was never alone. You were like my very own built-in best friend, and I’m so fucking grateful I get to call you my sister. I’m sothankful that, despite everything, we still had one another. You may be so many things to so many people, but you’ll forever be my sister.” I grab her hand, her grip loose but firm in mine. “I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you too, Bree. So damn much.”

“Okay, now, bring me a niece or nephew, okay?” I say as I kiss her forehead.

She nods at me, and as I leave the room, I have to wipe a few tears away. Tabitha spots the tears, resting a calming hand on my arm before she heads back in, but Tristan doesn't. He just stands there and looks at me.

“God, how did we get here?” he asks as he runs a hand through his hair.

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

He smiles at me. “It feels like only yesterday I ran into her with that coffee.”

“Are you nervous?”

“A little. I wish my own dad was here to give me some fucking pointers on how to do this whole thing, and Tobias, too. If he was here, he would’ve read all the fucking books about what to do so he would have all the answers for me.”

“I bet they’re really fucking proud of you, Tristan. For everything, not just today,” I say as I pull him in for a hug. “You’ll be a wonderful father. You have a good team, you and Liv.”

“Yeah, we do,” Tristan smiles before we hear Liv scream in pain. “Shit, I have to go!”

He races back into the room, and I know we’re in for a long night as I head back to the waiting room with Vince and Teags.

Eight Hours Later

Vince fell asleep onmy shoulder two hours ago, but as Tristan bursts through the doors, the biggest smile on his face, we jump up to meet his excitement.

“So?” Teags asks, nervously tugging at the ends of her hair.

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