Page 108 of The Arrangement

“Do you want to hold him?” Renn asks.

Jason smiles. “I’d love to.”

The baby’s transferred between the two men like a priceless heirloom. Renn whispers to his son, explaining who Jason is and promising him his uncle won’t drop him. I stand back and watch, trying not to laugh at the sweet moment between brothers.

“Hey, you,” Jason says softly, holding Arlo up so he can see him better. “I’m Uncle Jase. You can come to me to learn everything your dad can’t teach you, which is mostly everything besides rugby.”

Jason grins, watching Renn out of the corner of his eye. Renn just smiles.

“Don’t cry,” Jason says, chuckling. “Did Uncle Gannon already say mean things about me? They’re all lies.” He coos as he brings the baby up against his shoulder. “I got you, little guy.”

My heart leaps into my throat, lodging itself there with the force of a hurricane. A fire roars in my chest as I watch Jason and Arlo.

Renn whispers something to Jason, and he laughs. Their conversation is out of my earshot but it’s better that way. Because watching them at this moment—watching them share the sweetest memory—hits me so hard I can barely breathe.

The magic between them touches a part of my soul that’s never been uncovered.

Tears fog my vision as I soak in the moment, trying to make sense of my reaction. I’m so drawn to this. I feel a hollowness, an ache inside me that begins so deep in the fibers of my body that I don’t know how I haven’t noticed it before.

I want this. I want this for myself.

The fierceness of the realization is overwhelming. I’m dizzy from the power of it.

Is this what I really want? Or, am I just reacting to seeing a sexy man hold a baby?

It’s confusing and baffling because, just last week, I was certain I didn’t really want kids. But as Jason looks at me with the most tender look in his eye, I remember that just last week, I was certain I didn’t want a husband, too.

Maybe it takes this—the right person at the right time—to rip the shields down that protect you from potential harm … and open you up to the one thing you really need the most.Love.

“Do you want to hold him, Chloe?” Jason asks.

“Oh. Um, sure,” I say, as Jason places Arlo gently into my arms.

Oh. My. God.

He’s so tiny.

He’s so … precious.

The feeling of the child nuzzling against me makes me reconsider everything I thought I knew about myself.Because this? This feels right.

My palms sweat under the hospital blankets. Jason excuses himself to take a call in the hallway.

“Renn, Arlo is so sweet,” I say, taking in his little pursed lips and button nose.

“It’s wild.” He laughs as if the fact that he’s a dad is hitting him. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before. As soon as I saw him, I loved him more than I’ve ever loved anything. I’d die for this boy right now. No questions asked.” He blinks back tears. “I wasn’t prepared. That’s all.”

“I don’t think you can prepare for something like this. How could you?”

He stands behind me, peering over my shoulder. Arlo takes Renn’s finger and squeezes it.

“Here,” I say, returning the baby to his father. “I think he wants you.”

“I don’t know what I would’ve done without Jason last night,” Renn says. “He’s a really good guy, Chloe. I hope you know that.”

My heart swells. “I do. I know that.”

Footsteps capture our attention just before Jason appears in the room again. There’s a shadow on his face that sends a shot of concern racing through my body.