Page 109 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends

“I love you. I love you both so much,” I tell her.

“I love you all,” Emma says, her bottom lip trembling.

I share a warm look with Ryan and Max, the reality of our lives hitting me hard enough to steal my breath away. This is our life now. This is our family.

We’ve come so far. Everything used to be about work, but that’s the furthest thing on our minds now. We have so much more going on now, and our lives border on chaotic.

I wouldn’t change that for the world.

After getting Emma and the baby squared away and comfortable, everyone else pours into her room to visit, taking turns holding and fawning over our baby. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen Ethan and Andrew so happy before as they hold their niece in their arms.

And to think they were ready to beat us up over all this.

“You did so good, honey,” Emma’s mom tells her with tears in her eyes. “You have such a beautiful family.”

Emma looks over at Ryan, Max, and me and smiles. “I know.”

I smile back as a surge of emotion fills my chest. This is the best family that I ever could’ve asked for. My parents missed out on the beauty and joy of my life, and that’s on them.

Why should I mourn over the past when my future is so promising?

When I get another turn to hold our daughter, I gaze down at her little face and shake my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re finally here. You’re already so loved, Nessa.”

Nessa peers up at me with big eyes. She can’t understand what I’m saying now, but she’ll feel the meaning of them soon.

I cradle her close, never wanting to let go. Never wanting to go back in time.

This is what I’ve always been waiting for, even if I didn’t know it.

Chapter forty-nine

Chapter Forty-Nine: Ryan

One month later

“Everyone ready?”

“Almost,” I say from the other side of the car as Emma and I get Nessa tucked away in her stroller for a walk outside. “I think she’s in there good.”

Emma nods as she adjusts the little brimmed hat on Nessa’s head. The stroller already has a canopy to protect her from the sun, but the four of us have been insistent on making sure that Nessa is as safe and comfortable as possible.

The past month has been a whirlwind of lessons in parenthood and a lack of good sleep. Even between the four of us, we all still have plenty of responsibilities to take care of, whether it’s housework, childcare, or our jobs that we’ve been doingremotely. So far, we’ve mostly stayed at Josh’s apartment, but that’s all about to change soon.

“Ready to go, baby girl?” Emma coos at Nessa. Before I can even step toward the stroller, Emma grabs the handle and pushes Nessa to the shaded sidewalk herself.

Emma has plenty of help between us, her family, and Max’s parents, but she stays as involved as possible. Until we convince her to take a long nap or a short outing with her mom. The last thing we want is for her to overexert herself.

“This is a nice neighborhood,” Emma comments as we all head down the sidewalk together, passing by nice houses with multiple stories and fenced in yards.

“Yeah, we came across it not too long ago,” Josh replies as he passes Max and me a wry grin.

I withhold a chuckle and brush my hand against Emma’s back. The guys and I have been in this large, beautiful neighborhood just outside of the city multiple times now.

“It’s so nice to stretch my legs,” Emma sighs in bliss as she strides just ahead of us, her eyes sweeping back and forth. “Oh, wow. Is that a park up there? This place is fancy.”

Max presses his teeth into his bottom lip briefly, stifling a grin that’ll sell us out too quickly.

I playfully nudge him before nodding to Josh, motioning for him to take the lead. Our plan is ready to be put in motion.