Page 52 of Better Than Baby

“This would be the perfect time to switch his name to Curtis,” Curt piped up, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Just sayin’.”

“I don’t think so,” I commented.

“I like Xander Matthew Mendez-Sullivan.” Aaron offered.

“Ah, pulling the dad card. I see how it is,” Curt joked, slapping my back.

“What do you think, Matty?”

We’d established that I was the calm and collected one in our relationship. I prided myself on keeping my cool under pressure. No tears, no coming undone, no unraveling in the face of emotional trauma. Not me.

But the well cracked and words weren’t something I could do just then, so I scooped Aaron into my arms and held on tight.

Aaron threaded his fingers in my hair and kissed my damp cheek, wiping his own eyes as he pulled away. “You’re going to be the best dad ever.”

eighteen

Aaron satin 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 winterwhites 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.”