Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
I laugh.
“But he seems really happy.” Ripley’s blue eyes sparkle. “That’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah, well, he’s pretty cool.”
Jason returns, pulling a polo shirt over his head. “Blakely’s in labor.”
“Renn’s wife?” I ask.
“Yes. Renn just called me in a complete panic.” Jason grins. “Grey was working security for them and is driving them both to the hospital. I bet Grey’s ready to throttle Renn.”
Ripley laughs, hopping off the countertop. “Labor can take hours—especially for first-time mothers. I’m going to run home and grab a shower before heading to the hospital.”
“I’m heading there now before Blakely divorces our brother,” Jason says. “Are you coming or staying home?”
What do I want to do? I take his hand. “I want to go with you, of course.”
“Lock up behind you, will ya?” Jason asks Ripley.
Ripley yawns. “Sure will. I’ll ensure Tate and Mimi return, and we’ll get her situated before we leave.”
My heart swells at the kindness of these men. Not only have they embraced me, but they’ve also extended their warmth to my Mimi. They’ve changed our lives, and I don’t think they even know it.
“Let’s go,” Jason says, walking beside me to the garage. “We’re about to have another little Brewer.”
We exchange a look that doesn’t need words—which is good. I’m not capable of them right now, anyway.
“Oh, my gosh, Renn,” I whisper, pulling back the blue blankets to see the newborn’s little face. “He’s beautiful.”
Renn can’t take his eyes off his son. “I just can’t believe I’m a dad. I mean, look at him. He has hands for rugby and Blakely’s lips. It’s so wild.”
Jason clasps his brother on the shoulder, admiring his nephew, too.
“How’s your wife?” I ask.
The agony of the past twelve hours is written all over Renn’s face.
I stayed at the hospital with them for the first few hours—until it was clear the birth was going to take some time. Jason drove home long enough to drop me off, grab his computer, and then returned to stay with his brother.
Jason kept me updated through the night, and as things grew more complicated, the rest of the family began to arrive. Tate and Ripley were next, followed shortly by Gannon. Bianca and Rory flew in around two this morning and sat with Blakely’s brother, Brock, and his fiancée, Ella.
I arrived back just as the doctor urged Renn to sign off on a C-Section. Arlo Renn Brewer was born just before nine o’clock this morning.
“Blakely’s resting,” he says, nodding toward the other room of the maternity suite. “This little guy really took it out of her.” Tears well up in Renn’s eyes. “Thank you for staying by my side last night, Jason. I was scared shitless.”
“You know I have you,” Jason says, keeping his hand on Renn’s shoulder. “Just like you have this little guy.”
“Do you want to hold him?” Renn asks.
Jason smiles. “I’d love to.”
The baby’s transferred between the two men like a priceless heirloom. Renn whispers to his son, explaining who Jason is and promising him his uncle won’t drop him. I stand back and watch, trying not to laugh at the sweet moment between brothers.
“Hey, you,” Jason says softly, holding Arlo up so he can see him better. “I’m Uncle Jase. You can come to me to learn everything your dad can’t teach you, which is mostly everything besides rugby.”
Jason grins, watching Renn out of the corner of his eye. Renn just smiles.
“Don’t cry,” Jason says, chuckling. “Did Uncle Gannon already say mean things about me? They’re all lies.” He coos as he brings the baby up against his shoulder. “I got you, little guy.”
My heart leaps into my throat, lodging itself there with the force of a hurricane. A fire roars in my chest as I watch Jason and Arlo.
Renn whispers something to Jason, and he laughs. Their conversation is out of my earshot but it’s better that way. Because watching them at this moment—watching them share the sweetest memory—hits me so hard I can barely breathe.
The magic between them touches a part of my soul that’s never been uncovered.
Tears fog my vision as I soak in the moment, trying to make sense of my reaction. I’m so drawn to this. I feel a hollowness, an ache inside me that begins so deep in the fibers of my body that I don’t know how I haven’t noticed it before.
I want this. I want this for myself.
The fierceness of the realization is overwhelming. I’m dizzy from the power of it.
Is this what I really want? Or, am I just reacting to seeing a sexy man hold a baby?
It’s confusing and baffling because, just last week, I was certain I didn’t really want kids. But as Jason looks at me with the most tender look in his eye, I remember that just last week, I was certain I didn’t want a husband, too.