Page 25 of Better Than Baby (Better Than Stories #9)

eighteen

Aaron sat in the back seat with Mia, cooing and singing a lullaby while I white-knuckled it the entire drive home. My precious cargo made me more aware of speed limits and rules of the road. The Christmas day feeling was back and with it a wicked case of butterflies.

Today was a big day.

We’d been warned that most of the Mendez family would be at the house this afternoon to welcome us.

Apparently, Aaron’s mom and sisters had made enough food to feed an army.

My parents would arrive in two days, too.

We expected a learning curve with little to no sleep, and a lot of dirty diapers, and we weren’t about to turn down the help.

But there were certain moments that were ours alone. And this was one of them.

I pulled into the driveway, noting the car at the curb as I unfastened my seat belt. “They’re here.”

“Perfect timing,” Aaron commented.

I opened the door for him and adjusted my sunglasses against the glare. “Let me help you.”

He unbuckled Mia’s car seat and moved aside as I plucked it out of the base. I smiled at the sleeping baby dressed in winter whites with a ruffled bonnet and little mittens covering her hands. She literally looked like an angel.

Aaron chuckled. “She’s already got you wrapped around her pinky.”

I didn’t bother denying it. Or pointing out that he was equally smitten.

“You ready?”

“Very.”

Gabby and Angie stood at the curb, guarding the open door of a black Jeep.

“He was a chatterbox all the way here and conked out two blocks back,” Angie said, her lips quivering in an uneasy greeting. “I’ll get him for you.”

“Let me.” Aaron touched her shoulder, somehow imparting gratitude and gentle authority into the small gesture.

“Of course.”

“Hello, Xander. Welcome home, little man. Come see your house and meet your sister…and Murphy too. You’re going to love him. I hope you’re a fan of sloppy kisses with a side of drool,” Aaron cooed, easing Xander from the car and propping him on his hip.

His blond curls swirled atop his head, his cheeks were pink, and his wide eyes were an impossible shade of blue as he blinked against the bright sun and melting snow. I’d half expected him to lunge for Angie, but he seemed comfortable in Aaron’s arms and curious about his surroundings.

I hooked Mia’s car seat over my left elbow and pressed a finger to Xander’s nose. “Hey, buddy.”

I was rewarded with a toothy grin.

Gabby sighed. “He’s very easy with you. I think on some level, he knows you. I wish you the very best.”

Angie draped a blue blanket with cars on Aaron’s shoulder, her voice was choked with tears as she ran a manicured nail along his chubby hand.

“This is for you, Xan-man. I’m rooting for you and your family.

They’re gonna love you something fierce.

I know it. Have a good life, do good things, and be your badass self. ”

She broke with a sob, kissing his cheek before stepping aside.

“Thank you for everything.” I hugged her. It was one-armed and awkward but sincere.

Then we were alone.

A family of four, standing at the end of our driveway.

A flashback clouded my vision for a moment. We were young, unsure of each other, but willing to take a risk on the unknown.

“I’m afraid that you’ll decide you want to be with a woman.

That you want a wife, kids, dog, house in the suburbs…

things I can’t give you. Well, I guess I could do the dog, but not the others.

Those other things are normal and expected, and it’s a lifestyle you always thought you’d have. Are you sure you want me instead?”

I’d told him I didn’t see why I couldn’t have a husband, kids, a dog, and an apartment in the city. But somehow, we’d ended up in the suburbs after all.

We walked side by side to the front door and stopped at the sound of Murphy barking and our neighbor calling after him.

I waved Katie off. “It’s okay. Let him come.”

Aaron crouched low, chuckling when Murphy circled him like a small whirlwind. “Gentle, Murph. Say hi to Xander.”

He licked Xander’s cheek, which for some reason was high comedy. Xander giggled and reached for the puppy. Mia mewled in her car seat as if wanting to get in on the action.

I met Aaron’s gaze and grinned.

This was our family, our new beginning.

We were finally on our way.