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We hug, and I walk her to the entrance. “Tell Raul I said hi.”

“I will,” she says. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I reply, watching her leave.

She’s grown so much since she divorced Declan. She’s more confident now, and happier. I have no doubt she’ll find a way to balance it all. She’s a Delvaux, after all. We’re resilient. We press on, even if it’s hard or it doesn’t make sense.

In June I wrote her name in my notebook with a question mark after it. I crossed out the question mark in July, and I’ve never enjoyed crossing anything out more.

CHAPTER 17 – Alycia

Wednesday, October 15

It’s so weird being back at Scarlet—Apex Predators’ offices, but I need to talk to Father. I want to give him one more chance to pick the correct side, to become a part of our family again.

I’m supposed to be at the Breakers’ offices, but I made a short detour. I told Mom that I had a last-minute errand to run and she didn’t question it.

She’s too busy with the team, the club, and the baby. She’s excited to be a grandma and I can’t blame her. I’m excited too, even if I’m also nervous. I can’t wait to meet my child, to hold him or her in my arms.

Raul and I decided not to know the gender until the actual birth. We want it to be a surprise. We also decided on the names, but we’re not telling them to anyone yet.

Making decisions with him is so easy. I don’t need to come up with countless arguments to convince him. All I need is to give him my opinion, wait for him to process it, answer a few questions or address a couple of concerns, and that’s it.

We’ve been doing everything together: shopping for clothes, furniture, toys, books. He has even made up the spare room in Valentina’s old apartment, in case I decide to move in. I’m not there yet, but I won’t lie and say that I haven’t been tempted more than once.

We’re both clear that we’re not in a relationship. We’re friends who are co-parenting, and we’re attracted to each other. We’ve slept together just that one time.

We’ve talked about the possibility of more, of a future together, but we both agreed that it’s too soon, that we need to focus on the baby and ourselves. We’re happy with what we have, for now.

“Ms. Delvaux,” the receptionist says. “Can I help you?”

“I’m here to see my father,” I say.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“He’s my father,” I reply. “I don’t need an appointment.”

“He’s in a meeting,” she says, checking her computer. “I can let him know you’re here, if you want.”

I sigh. I should’ve called ahead, but I didn’t want to give him a chance to say no.

“Tell him it’s urgent,” I say. “I just want to talk to him for a few minutes.”

“Okay. Take a seat.”

“I’ll wait in his office instead.”

“But Ms. Delv—”

I don’t wait for her permission. My family built this. I might not work here anymore, but I’m not asking a stranger’s permission to go upstairs in it.

I go to the elevator and press the button for the top floor. The receptionist doesn’t try to stop me, knowing it’s pointless.

I walk down the familiar hallway, greeting the few faces I recognize though there are more new ones. Some of them smile at me, some of them ignore me. I don’t care either way. I’m not here for them.

I reach the door of his office, and there’s a brass plate on it that says HERITAGE SUITE. Through the glass panel I can see his trophies in lit cabinets, each with a little label underneath, like a museum for somebody who’s already dead.

His office now is down the hall, in the room that used to belong to the scouts. I let myself in.