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“I hate him, Gray. I know I shouldn’t. He was my husband and is the father of my baby, but I hate him so much.”

The way her voice breaks at the end kills me. “You have every reason to hate him, Ladybug. It’s understandable after all the shit he’s put you through. He was an ass to you long before you asked for a divorce, and I just told him as much.”

“I’m sure that pissed him off.” The little bit of humor in her voice tells me she’s not going to take this to heart.

“It really did. I quite enjoyed finally saying what I think of him to his face. Or his ear, I suppose.”

That makes Kylie laugh. “He deserves to be told off by someone, but he won’t actually hear what you said. Nothing is ever his fault. Someone else is always to blame for his actions.”

“Well, we know the truth.”

“What’s that?”

“That he’s an imbecile and will get his day of reckoning soon.”

“I hope you’re right, Gray. I’m terrified that this is going to drag out for years because he’s too selfish to let it go.”

“If it drags out for years, it drags out, Ladybug. Fighting that bastard is worth every minute of anger because no one has ever stood up to him. He needs to be taken down a peg, and I won’t rest until we win.”

“I’m not sure I have that same level of conviction.”

“That’s okay.” I kiss her nose. “I’ll keep us going until that asshole is out of our lives for good.”

CHAPTER 32

Kylie

“Oh, how about something like this?” Gia holds up a sweater with strategically placed zippers to allow for easy breastfeeding.

Reaching out, I run my hand down the soft sleeve. “Definitely.”

Gia plops a few in different colors into the almost full cart. We’ve been braving the holiday shoppers at the mall to stock the nursery now that it’s finally done. For a long time, I’d avoided buying baby things because I was too scared it would jinx this pregnancy. Now, I’m only seven weeks away from my due date and panicking about everything I’m missing.

Gia was kind enough to accompany me while Gray and Luddy are on a daddy-daughter date this afternoon. She’s been pushing me to buy way more stuff than I’d planned. More specifically, an abundance of maternity clothes, and I hate to say that she’s right about me needing them. Most of what I brought from Seattle wasn’t meant for Colorado winters, and what I do have that still fits me barely passes for work clothes. I’m lucky Holt doesn’t mind my awkward outfits.

Gia scrolls through the Notes app on her phone. “There are just a few more things on the list, and then we need sustenance. I’m starving.”

“Same. Peanut is craving some of that questionable chicken from the food court.”

Gia grins. “That little squish and I will be best friends. There’s no doubt about it.” She gently hip-checks me away from the cart and directs it over to another section in the store.

Gia amassed a long list of essentials for after the baby arrives. She said Holt, Knox, Emmett, Grayson, and Caroline all gave input on what was most important to buy. I’m suspicious of their definition of essential given the sheer number of items in the cart, but they’ve all gone through this before, so I trust their guidance.

It seems all of Peanut’s “aunties and uncles” want to spoil them rotten before they’ve even arrived. I’ve already been told that some of this stuff is getting bought by our friends, even though they’re all insistent on hosting a baby shower for me too. I tried to protest but was very quickly outvoted by everyone.

The girls have already got something in the works for after the new year. It seems when they put their minds to something, nothing is going to get in their way.

“Nobody gave me a brand that was the best,” Gia grumbles. “Who knew there were so many choices for nipple creams?”

I snort. “That’s a sentence you never thought you’d say.”

She shoots me a cheeky grin. “Not even once did I think I’d be shopping for supplies to keep your nipples from falling off while you’re breastfeeding.”

A bark of laughter shoots out of my chest.

A woman’s voice interrupts us. “They won’t actually fall off, no matter how many times you wish they would because it would be better than the pain of cracked nipples.”

Gia grimaces, reaching up to cup one of her boobs as if to protect them. It makes me giggle even harder until I look at the woman. “Oh my gosh! Hi, Dani. I’m Kylie, Grayson’s best…er…girlfriend.” The last word comes out more like a question. “That’s the first time I’ve ever had to introduce myself to someone who doesn’t already know me.”