Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 37~

~Raelyn~

As the U-Haul lurched to a stop like it was about to tap out from exhaustion, I peeked out the window at the towering house in front of us—the one were we accidentally drank four Red Bulls and trauma-bonded over our childhoods.

"Well. Here it is in all her glory." I said, half-awed, half-nauseous.

Blake's face was practically suctioned to the glass. "Can I go explore?"

"Sure, buddy," Colby said, already sliding out of the front seat. "Just don't get kidnapped."

"Colby!" I hissed, but Blake was already sprinting toward the backyard like we hadn't just moved in and could totally still get evicted.

Right on cue, a woman emerged from across the street holding a tiny dog that was wearing a raincoat despite the sun. I assumed this was Rory—the neighbor, the landlord, or maybe the local HOA villain.

"Welcome, welcome!" she beamed, marching toward us with the energy of someone who says things like "live, laugh, love" unironically. "I'm Rory, your landlord! You must be the new additions!"

I shook her hand while simultaneously swatting Blake's backpack out of the U-Haul before it got crushed under a cooler.

"Oh, hi! Yes, I'm Raelyn and that feral child is my son, Blake. Thanks again for letting us move in—he's very excited. My sister Isa's moving in soon too. She comes with slightly less energy but a lot more sarcasm."

Rory patted my arm like I was a soldier returning from war. "Well, someone's got to keep the boys in line."

That's when Sam, Jake, and Corey burst out the front door like they'd just been summoned with snacks.

"Look alive, people!" Corey shouted, hauling a cooler. "I brought hydration! And by hydration, I mean Capri Suns and one suspicious beer I found in the fridge."

"Solid work, soldier," Colby grinned, clapping him on the back.

As everyone started yanking boxes out of the U-Haul with the grace of drunken giraffes, Rory leaned in and whispered, "You've got a great crew."

I smiled, watching Sam nearly fall over a giant box labeled "Blankets & Probably Some Random Cords." "Yeah... I think we might be a little dysfunctional, but they're mine."

"Rae!" Colby yelled from the porch. "There's a box labeled 'Toiletries' but I think you put your entire personal library in it."

"Whoops," I called back, shrugging at Rory. "Gotta go save someone's spine. It was really nice meeting you!"

"Anytime, sweetheart! And if you ever need baking soda, I stockpile."

I jogged over to the group where chaos was already in full swing. The girls were dragging boxes into the living room, Blake had reappeared holding a stick he was calling a "magic wand," and Colby was muttering something about how I labeled everything in cursive. Sorry I'm not a serial killer with print handwriting, Colby.

"Look who finally showed up!" Sam said, arms open for a hug.

"Yeah, were you out back negotiating rent with a pie or something?" Corey added, giving me a shoulder nudge.

"Oh, just sweet-talking the landlord," I said with a dramatic wink.

Jake raised a suspicious brow. "Mmm-hmm. I bet this has something to do with Colby convincing you to move in. Did he bribe you with those little lemon cookies you like?"

"No," I said too quickly. "I mean... maybe. That's not the point."

Sam and the girls were already smirking. They knew. But we weren't telling Jake and Corey about the whole pregnancy thing just yet. Surprise parties were fun. Surprise babies? Even better.