“Come on,” Evie said through clenched teeth as she pulled Kat into Lexi’s room.

“No.” Kat’s furious whisper filled the room.

“What are you two up to now?” Lexi said from her bed.

Folding her arms across her chest, Kat narrowed her eyes. “Evie is trying to get us kicked out of here.”

“No, I’m not,” Evie said.

“The doctor said only one person should be in here at a time. You dragging me in here makes it two, and that’s against the rules.”

Evie rolled her eyes. “If I hadn’t pulled you in here, you would’ve waited until you were the very last person to see her, and you would have been going crazy with worry. I did you a favor.”

“We’re becoming the next generation of the Troublesome Trio, aren’t we?” Lexi asked.

“Not me.” Kat shook her head but pointed at Evie. “She, on the other hand, comes by it naturally.”

“Hey, she’s your grandmother too,” Evie replied.

“Yes,” Kat said. “By marriage. You have her blood running through your veins.”

“Yep. We’re going to be the next Trio. I don’t know if I should be proud or cry.” Lexi looked between the two of them.

“Well, you know, when your grandmother was alive she was part of the Fearsome Foursome, so technically you come by it naturally too, Lex. Sorry.” Evie shrugged.

“Shit, you’re right. We’re doomed.”

The door opened again, and a lady from the cleaning crew came in. “Oh, excuse me.”

“No, you’re fine,” Lexi said. “Do what you need to do.” She focused back on Kat and Evie. “How’s Noah doing? Really, tell me.”

“He’s better now that both of you are through the worst.” Kat walked over and picked up Lexi’s hand. “We were all pretty worried when he called us.”

“Yeah, but my wonderful husband saved the day. He was ready for this and had a plane on standby to fly us all here at a moment’s notice. My hero.” She batted her eyes.

“Whatever,” Kat said. “Oh, and all of Noah’s bandmates were here too. They’re waiting until tomorrow to come see you.”

“They all flew out here? For this?” Lexi’s brow furrowed.

Evie poked around Lexi’s dinner tray and ate a cracker. “Of course they did. What else would they do? They’re practically like brothers.”

“I know, I just hate to put everyone out.”

“Right, because this—” Evie waved her hand. “—is nothing in the scheme of things. Haven’t the two of you been to every birth and birthday for their kids? Haven’t you all gone on trips together? They’re family. We’re all family. We’re here for each other.”

“You know,” Lexi began, “I’ve been thinking. If it weren’t for Jeremy, would we even be here right now? For all the horrible, messed-up things he did to us, if he hadn’t done them I probably would have never moved here—never would have met Noah.” She looked at Kat. “Never would have needed a bodyguard who was also one of his victims. Evie, you would have never met Anthony, and Kat would have never met Jackson.”

“I still say he can rot in Hell,” Evie said. “I’m not nearly as forgiving as the two of you. He got off easy as far as I’m concerned.”

“You just hate the fact that she has a point,” Kat said, and raised her hand to stop Evie from talking. “I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am that I no longer have to look over my shoulder waiting for him to find me and finish what he started. But I’ve healed. We’ve all healed. We are lucky enough to be married to three amazing men.”

“I don’t know,” Evie interrupted. “You’re married to my brother.”

“Stop it and let me finish. Lexi and I have children now, something both of us always wanted. Your bookstore is going international, Evie. Everything has come together and we are all so much happier than we ever could have dreamed.”

“Well.” Evie pursed her lips. “I hope you both have time to get ready for another niece or nephew early next year since, you know, I’m pregnant.”

“Get out,” Lexi said.

“This is amazing. How far along are you?”

“We just found out.” Evie rubbed her belly. “I took ten tests over three days—all positive. Anthony and I are going to be parents.”

“See? Everything is coming together. I’m so happy,” Lexi said.

Evie looked down at her best friend and squeezed her hand. There on the other side was her sister-in-law, another woman who had come to mean so much to her, holding Lexi’s other hand. Together they were stronger. Together they were family.