Page 137 of False Start

“So, do I have a baby brother or sister?”

“We don’t know yet,” Kyle said.

“Can I help name them?”

That question surprised me and Kyle both, and we laughed a little before I swept Sebastian’s hair back. “Maybe.”

“What would you name them?” Kyle probed, curious.

“Spider for a boy! Or Rockman!”

I rolled my lips together to stop my laugh.

“And for a girl?”

“Flower! Twinkles! Pinky!”

“Yeah, I think we might need to work on these a bit,” Kyle said, pinching his side. “But you can definitely be a part of the conversation.”

“Okay.” Sebastian yawned, and we took that as a cue to get him ready for bed.

All of us were still excitedly chatting about the news as Sebastian brushed his teeth and washed his face. He asked me all kinds of questions, including ones I wasn’t quite ready to answer likehow are babies made?But I was happy he was inquisitive. This was a good sign for my little one. He only got curious about things he really cared about.

When he climbed into bed, Kyle tucked him in. We were just about to turn out the light and leave him be when I noticed him sniffle, his little eyes watering.

“Oh, honey. Are you okay?” I asked, sitting next to Kyle.

“Yeah,” he assured us with a nod, but he sniffed again. “I’m just…happy.”

Kyle smiled, swallowing as he smoothed Sebastian’s hair back. “Because you’re going to be a big brother?”

“Because we’re finally going to be a real family.”

Kyle and I shared a look before I leaned down to kiss his forehead. “Oh, sweetie. We’re already a family. We always will be, no matter what.”

“I was wondering something,” Sebastian said.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“I know you asked Mommy to marry you,” he said to Kyle, all serious-like now. “But I think you should wait until the baby is here. I don’t think it’s fair for them to miss it.”

Kyle looked at me with an arched brow, and I considered for a moment before nodding.

“You know what, that’s a great idea,” Kyle said. “Let’s wait for the baby.”

“But I can still be the ring tiger?”

I snorted. “The ringbearer,” I corrected. “And of course.”

Seemingly satisfied with all his questions answered — at least, for now — Sebastian settled deeper into his covers. He wished us both goodnight, and we slipped out of his room and into the hallway.

I looked at Kyle.

Kyle looked at me.

And then we crashed into an embrace.

Kyle held me tight to his chest as I melted into him, the weight of the news lifted off both of us. I knew we still had so much to come our way — pregnancy, birth, a wedding, a court trial. But somehow, it felt like the hardest of all of it was behind us. Somehow, it felt like it was all an easy breezy downhill skate from here.