Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 34~

~Raelyn~

We sat there in silence for a moment—me staring at the ceiling like it might whisper answers, Colby twiddling his thumbs like a bored toddler.

"Should we go tell Sam?" Colby finally asked, breaking the tension. "He's probably shitting himself wondering what's going on."

I snorted. "Knowing Sam, he's pacing around planning your funeral and writing a eulogy. I should go wash my face first before I give him an actual heart attack."

I got up and headed into the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face and patting it dry. "The girls already know," I called through the door, "but Sam's the wildcard. How do you think he's gonna react?"

"Honestly? Somewhere between a scream and a sob," Colby replied. "Probably both. Maybe he'll throw up."

"That'd be iconic," I muttered, applying moisturizer and the Elf lip oil that I've been unhealthily obsessed with lately.

"You good?" he asked, suddenly appearing in the mirror behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I'm nervous," I admitted, feeling the tremble in my voice.

"It's gonna be okay," he whispered, kissing the top of my head like it was the easiest promise in the world.

We walked out hand in hand, my heart hammering in my chest like a toddler with a toy drum. Sam was by the fireplace, pacing like a dad waiting for news from the delivery room.

"Hey," Tara said the moment she saw us, her voice tinged with suspicion. "You guys good?"

I inhaled deeply. "We, uh... definitely have something to tell you."

Immediately, the girls scooted in closer like this was the season finale of a reality show. Sam stopped pacing and joined Colby, face pulled into a tight frown.

"What's going on? Are you two okay?" he asked. "Did you break up? Did Colby cheat? Because if he cheated, I swear—"

"Sam!" I held up my hands. "We're fine. Great, actually."

"There's two things," I added, voice barely holding steady.

Tara leaned forward. "Two?"

"Raelyn and I are... mates," Colby said, dropping the bomb like it was nothing.

There was a collective gasp. Kat audibly choked on her own spit.

"Are you serious? That's impossible!" Tara practically shouted.

"I mean... is it?" Colby shrugged. "Fate? Magic? I don't know. Rae smells like home and now we're soul-glued forever."

"Well damn," Katrina muttered, blinking rapidly.

"That tracks," Sam said, arms crossed. "I've been calling that since, like, week two."

I glanced at Colby, silently begging him to keep being the brave one because my nerves were shot. He squeezed my hand.

"There's more," I said, stomach flipping. "Sam, this next part is why I've been so scared."

Sam's face dropped. "Rae. You're freaking me out. Is it cancer? You're dying, aren't you? You are. I knew it."

"Oh my God, Sam, stop talking," Tara snapped.

I took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant."

Silence.

Then—

"YOU'RE WHAT?" Sam's voice cracked like he was thirteen again. "Like, with a baby?"

"I didn't mean to be, it just kinda—well, not kinda, obviously we did the thing and—"