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“I don’t think we can go to the party anymore.”

“Why?” I cup her cheek. “Not feeling well?”

“No. But.” Her chin wobbles and I glance down at her stomach. “It’s more than that. I think my water just broke. “

Then she smiles. Broad and happy and a little bit dopey and she shrugs. “I think we’re having a baby.”

—

“Holy shit,” I murmur. I can’t peel my eyes off him.

So damn tiny, the weight of him in my arms so damn huge even if he’s only eight pounds and one ounce. Once Cara’s water broke, her contractions started quickly after. We called Pam, who met us at the hospital a mere six hours ago.

We were settled in a room, strapped up to a heart monitor, and once her contractions became more difficult, Cara was given an epidural.

Two hours later she was pushing, and four pushes later, James Irvin Henley was born.

Nothing has prepared me for the heavy sensation in my chest and gut and the weight of the world and responsibility on my shoulders while I hold my little guy in my arms for the first time.

Cara’s voice is tired but content as she brushes her finger over his hairline on his scrunched-up and wrinkly forehead. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he? I can’t stop staring at him.”

Neither of us has taken our eyes off him, except for when we lost ourselves, kissing each other like crazy as soon as he came out and Pam and the nurses were doing what they needed to do. But as soon as they placed him in my arms and I settled right next to Cara in the bed, we’ve only had eyes for our son.

“He’s perfect.”

A knock comes on our door and a nurse, Becky, peeks her head around the curtain. “You have visitors. Want me to send them back?”

“I’m not sure Jenna will stay away,” Cara says, smiling up at me. “We should let them in.”

“I don’t want to share him.” She laughs, and I know I’m pouting. Calling Dan and Jenna was a mistake. They then called Stella and Graham, and everyone met us at the hospital, which means they’ve been here for hours, hanging out in the waiting room. For a while I thought Jenna would shove me out of the room just so she could be here when our baby was born instead of me, she’s so damn excited for us.

“We’ll have him forever, you know,” Cara says, and her eyes are glistening with a happiness I can’t even describe, it’s simply otherworldly.

“We will,” I assure her. Because we have us. The three of us, and hopefully more, forever. “We’re getting married as soon as we can. I don’t care where or how, but you’re taking my name.”

She nods. We haven’t talked much about wedding planning mostly because Cara insisted she didn’t want wedding photos of her while she was pregnant. I haven’t pushed it, but I want us to all have the same name. My name. Our family’s name.

Reluctantly, I hand James back to Cara and kiss her slowly. “I’ll go get everyone. Do you want me to call anyone else?”

She presses her lips together and shakes her head. She hasn’t spoken to her parents for months. She made one phone call to them after they tried to force her into a marriage with Graham, letting them know they’d gone too far. That they’re welcome to be a part of her life when they can accept her for who she is, and want to know their grandchild, but since then we’ve heard nothing.

“Only Luca. He’ll want to know.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure. James doesn’t need them until they can be decent.”

I hate that she still looks conflicted, something she tries to hide from me, but it’s her call. “Okay, honey. I’ll go get the rest of the family then.”

Our friends have become our family. Graham and Luca come over frequently for dinners. Graham has passed his bar exam and started working at his dad’s law firm and is currently single. Luca goes through men like water, and while there’s nothing between them other than friendship, they’ve become quite close. It’s helped Graham to be more comfortable after coming out to be introduced to Luca and many of his friends in the gay community, especially since his parents still refuse to believe him. Jenna and Dan have declared themselves our son’s aunt and uncle, as well as Stella and Robbie. The four of them are fighting for recognition as godparents, seeming to forget they’llallhelp us with raising James.

It’s a mishmash of people and personalities and lifestyles, and it’s wild and crazy and more than a bit bonkers sometimes, but it’s also perfect.

Until today—which takes happiness to inexplicable heights—I’ve never been happier, and Cara isn’t shy in sharing the same.

She grins then, wide and soft, and kisses James’s forehead. “I’ll be here.”

“I will too.” I kiss her, then James, and smile back at Cara. “I will always be here.”

“I don’t doubt it for a moment, Braxton. It’s one of the many reasons why I love you so much.”

“I love you too. Forever.”

I head out to the waiting room, practically trampled by the rush of our friends to get to Cara and James, and while they all crowd into our room, me pushed to the side for a moment, I take another look around at the life we’ve created.

It’s perfect. It’s beautiful. And it will only continue to get better because we’re just getting started.