Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 36~

~Raelyn~

~Sunday April 1st~

The morning sun practically punched through the curtains, dragging me out of a dream that I swear made more sense than anything happening today.

Boxes. Everywhere.

I blinked around the room like it was trying to gaslight me. "Okay... so this is real. We're actually doing this." My voice came out croaky, half awe, half caffeine withdrawal.

From the couch behind me, Colby stirred like a cat in a sunbeam—except, you know, more grumbly. He wrapped his arms around me from behind like it was second nature.

Because at this point, it was.

"You're still not dressed?" he muttered into my neck. "You said we were leaving at ten. Rae, it's ten-oh-two."

"Your concept of time only applies when food is involved," I shot back, smirking as I leaned into him.

"Fair," he admitted. "But hey—this is happening. We're doing it. You, me, Blake, Bean... the whole chaotic squad."

I turned in his arms, heart thumping. "I know. And honestly? I'm so freaking excited to see our friends every day. Even if Tara wakes me up by stomping down the hallway like she's auditioning for Stomp the Yard."

Colby laughed. "Honestly, same. Also... there's a surprise for Blake at the house."

Before I could interrogate him further, Blake crash-landed into the room like a Marvel sidekick, still in his dinosaur pajamas, a juice box in one hand and sheer velocity in the other.

"MOM! Can we be goin' to the trap house nowwwww?" he practically yelled, juice sloshing dangerously.

I scooped him up mid-hyperloop, letting out a breathless laugh. "Yes, you little tornado. Today's the day."

"Yesss," Blake hissed dramatically. "I wanna see Tata, Kitty, D, Coco, Jaco, and Sammyyy."

"Every day, huh?" I said, nose-to-nose with him. "You better keep your room clean if you want those daily playdates."

Blake gasped like I'd just threatened his civil rights. "That's blackmail, Mommy."

"Welcome to adulthood, baby."

Right on cue, the front door burst open like a sitcom entrance. In waltzed Tara, Devyn, and Katrina, each armed with boxes and chaotic optimism.

"There's my boy!" Devyn beamed, immediately abandoning her box to squish Blake's cheeks.

"Hi Aunt D!"

Tara leaned down. "You excited to live with us, little dude?"

"I'm ready, Tata. I wanna play hide and seek every day."

Katrina crouched down next. "I missed you, B."

Blake's little arms wrapped around her like a koala. "I missed you too, Kitty!"

My heart could barely keep it together. God, I love them.

Then came the real chaos—packing up what was left of my room, which was really just mine and Colby's shared hibernation zone at this point.

"Girl," Tara huffed, dragging out a box. "You have more clothes than a Kardashian."

"I don't mean to be this person," I said, arms flailing dramatically, "but baby clothes are about to join this party very soon."

"Please," Devyn teased from across the room, "Bean already has a better wardrobe than I do and hasn't even been born yet."

"I haven't even bought baby clothes yet!"

"Exactly. And yet—already a style icon," Tara deadpanned.

Katrina peeked over a box. "Have you told Jake and Corey yet?"

"NO! No one tells them before me," I warned, pointing an accusatory finger like I was threatening war crimes. "I will end you."

"Relax, pregnant mafia boss," Kat giggled. "We won't say a word."

We paused for a second, everyone instinctively glancing toward my stomach, where Bean, our tiniest roommate, was currently just vibing.

"You're really gonna be a mom," Devyn whispered, and her voice cracked just enough to break me.

I bit my lip. "I know. It still doesn't feel real. Like... I'm living in someone else's Pinterest board."

"We've got you, Rae," Tara said softly, setting her hand on my shoulder. "You're not doing this alone."

"And I hope you know," Katrina added, "this child is going to be more loved than a new Taylor Swift album drop."

"Great," I said, sniffling, "I'm crying again and we haven't even left the house yet."

~

The doorbell rang—cue the boys entering like some testosterone-filled boyband reunion tour.

Colby opened the door after a knock rang out and in rolled Sam, Jake, and Corey, each with enough energy to lift a U-Haul.

"Who's ready to ruin their backs in the name of friendship?" Jake called, arms full of extension cords for some reason.

"You mean your back," Corey replied. "I'm doing this with style and zero lumbar trauma."

Sam immediately beelined to Blake. "What's up, champ? You ready to be roommates?"

"Uncle Sammy! I'm bringing my shark slippers."

"Atta boy."

Colby clapped Sam on the back. "Ready to turn our bachelor pad into a family home?"

"You best believe it brother. "

We tackled furniture like we were on a renovation reality show, Blake trying to carry a lamp three times his size while Colby gently redirected him to "maybe just carry a pillow, bud."

By the time the U-Haul was packed and the house was hollow and echoey, I stood quietly in the doorway, heart tangled in memories.

Colby slid beside me, his arm looping around my waist. "You good?"

"I think so," I whispered. "It just... feels big. Like everything's changing."

He kissed my temple. "It is. But for the better."

Devyn, Kat, and Tara joined us, solemn and giggly at the same time, because that's just who we are.

"Let's take one last selfie," Katrina said, already holding her phone up. "Capture the vibe before it becomes a museum of dust bunnies."

We squeezed in together—Blake yelling "CHEEEEEEESEBURGER" mid-photo—and it came out blurry and perfect.

Katrina lingered, her fingers brushing the spot on the wall where our beach photo used to hang.

"I'm gonna miss this dumb house. Even the haunted squeaky stairs and that one weird stain on the ceiling that looks like Abraham Lincoln."

I laughed. "We're taking the good parts with us. And replacing the rest with baby drool."

"Fair trade," Colby murmured.

Blake was still bouncing around. "Can I tell Uncle Jaco and Uncle Coco about Bean now?"

Colby scooped him up with a grin. "Not just yet buddy, let's get you and mom settled in first."

Laughter followed us down the steps and into the driveway. The U-Haul's engine rumbled to life as the sun spilled over the sidewalk like it was rooting for us.

I took one final look at the empty house, the one that saw heartbreak, healing, laughter, secrets, late-night snacks, and three different shades of failed wall paint.

"Goodbye, little home," I whispered, voice tight, eyes stinging.

Then I turned toward the U-Haul, toward our next chapter, our next mess, our next miracle.

And smiled.