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“Can’t say I do,” Cole said.
Nash made his way upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door. Lexi sat on the made bed, her back up against the headboard. Her long dark hair was pulled into a ponytail, her face was free of makeup, and she wore a cardigan and lounge pants. A small bundle was cuddled in her arms. She smiled. “Hi, come on in.”
Nash perched on the side of the bed and waved Toth and Savannah closer. Toth hesitated, but Savannah inched closer to peer into Lexi’s arms. “Oh my god,” she whispered. “She’s so beautiful. Congratulations, Lexi.”
“She has Nash’s eyes, I think,” Lexi said, smiling at Nash. “Too early to tell the color, but the shape and spacing are him.”
“Everything else is you, though,” Nash said, stroking the little girl’s cheek.
“You didn’t have to get us anything,” Lexi said admonishingly, as she glanced at Toth, who now held the gift bag.
“It’s not much.” Taking that as his cue, he moved closer to peek at the baby. “She’s perfect,” he said. Her sweet, chubby cheeks moved as she jiggled her lips. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be dreaming peacefully.
He caught Savannah’s hand, knowing it might be painful for her to see Lexi holding her baby girl. Her hand was tense but her face was relaxed. He was sure no one else would be able to detect the slight sadness in her eyes.
His heart lurched. He should’ve put off the visit, but dammit, he’d had Nash on speaker when his brother had invited him and Savannah to meet the baby.
Savannah stepped back, and he wanted nothing more than to flee the room and pull her into his arms. Was it fucked up that he wanted this for her? Wanted her to experience the joy of motherhood? Wanted to give that to her?
Yeah, of course it was fucked up. They’d only just expressed their feelings for each other. Their future together wasn’t defined. Not yet anyway. If he wanted permanency, he’d have to ask for it.
Cole cleared his throat and approached. Lexi stretched out her hand, and when Cole didn’t immediately accept, she wiggled her fingers with impatience.
He sighed, caught her hand, and came closer.
“What do you think, Uncle Cole?”
Surprise crossed Cole’s face. “I don’t—” He cleared his throat. “C’mon, Lex. I’m not uncle material,” he said with a chortle. “But she’s beautiful. I’m very happy for—”
Lexi straightened abruptly, and annoyance flared in her eyes. “Don’t give me that. You don’t get to do that, not here and not with this little girl, okay?”
Toth swallowed. Tension pulsed in the room.
“Uh, honey,” Nash began.
“No,” she said firmly, still looking at Cole. “You are her uncle and you’ll love her just like you do Bella.”
Cole dragged his free palm down his face but didn’t let go of her hand. “I didn’t mean to be rude. And Bella’s a kid so it’s easier, I guess. I just—I’ve never been around a baby, okay? I don’t know what to do.”
The vulnerable statement came out pained. Pity wormed its way into Toth’s chest. He clapped Cole on the shoulder. “No one does, dude.”
“That’s right,” Nash chimed in. “You should’ve seen me changing her diaper for the first time. Holy fuck that was stressful. I’m learning by the minute.”
Lexi shifted the little baby in her arms and held her out to Cole. He looked to Nash with uncertainty. “I—”
“Just support her head,” Lexi said, with a reassuring smile. “She’ll be fine. Come on, you can do it.”
He snorted. “You have too much faith in me.” But he accepted the baby, holding one hand beneath her head and the other around her little form.
“She’s so tiny,” Savannah said wistfully.
“Tell that to my vagina,” Lexi said with a laugh.
Cole grimaced. “Can you not?”
She shrugged. “That’s where babies come from.”
He shook his head, but a fond smile pulled up his lips. “She sure is cute,” he said. He bounced her gently in his arms as if he’d done it a thousand times. “What’s her name?”