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"I know you don’t agree," I defended, "but it’s my decision, and he is technically their dad"

She spun around and narrowed her eyes at me "What did you just call him?"

"You knohat Isperm donor, Kacie, not their father I’ve been irls than he has"

I looked down ateye contact with her "I know you have But… what if he’s changed? What if he can have soirls’ lives? Don’t they deserve that?"

Alexa tapped her foot against the cold tile, staring a hole right into the top of my head I could feel it "I don’t know I have no clue what I would do in your situation What I do know is that you need to be honest with Brody about this" She wiped her hands on her hot pink and black apron and took a step towardthat’s happened to you since you had those girls You don’t want to fuck this up because you were too chicken to open your ht tiht"

"Alexa is always right--remember that" She winked atto do, seriously?"

"There’s nothing to do right now I’ Do not let hied at her eyebrows and twisted up her lips "Wrap that shit in barbed hen he’s around"

"Lex, don’t be drahed "I’m fine"

"Oh, really? You’re fine? I seeirls were probably about four months old He messed up so bad that I told you if you went back to him, I’d beat the crap out of you Relared at "

I did reet that day? It was a nor in late November The leaves had all fallen froiving was the folloeek and Christmas was just around the corner It was Lucy and Piper’s first Christmas and I was beyond excited I knew they didn’t exactly knoas going on, and I’d proo crazy, but I wanted the s account, also known as the coffee can in the cabinet above the fridge

Mo and that was fine, but I’d also planned for us to have athe weekend before I was excited to cook for Zach and the girls and spend the day just being together Like every other Saturdayhiirls up and headed out to the grocery store

Zach and I both ht whatever the girls needed first--diapers, formula, and baby food--and then we stretched the rest

Adood reason Wethe Grinch’s overflowing sled The cart was piled high with a ss toas a faroceries and Lucy and Piper

The teenage girl with blue streaks in her hair handed me my debit card back "I’m sorry, ma’am Your card was declined"

"Wait What?" My voice squeaked in confusion

"Your card, it didn’t go through" She shook her head, looking down at her coave it back to her, ht "I know there’s money in there"

"Sure" She took the card back and Lucy started to howl, sick of being strapped in the cart

"Shh, shh" I tried to cal at the cashier I looked at the line of people standing behind irls and back atsympathetically

The cashier swiped the card and stared at the screen again, eventually shaking her head "I’h Do you have another forrew in the pit of my stomach as I felt my face redden

She askedThey were battling each other for the loudest screa moment of my life

"I’m sorry," I mu but my two hysterical four-month-olds

I hurried toto see the people ere in line behind irls were buckled, I hurried out of the parking lot and drove home as fast as I could