Page 39

Chapter

Thirty

C olton paced.

They were moving Sebastian from the bath area back to his private room, and they had kicked him out, and he was just—antsy. Gent still hadn’t popped up, his guys were scattered in two towns with his house and his daughter, and he needed to see Sebastian.

Needed to hold him.

Gent came squealing in. “Do we have a baby yet?”

“It’s been five hours.” God, he wished, but no.

“Huh.” He got a sympathetic look. “It could take way longer.”

“Devon said he’d been in labor for a bit.”

Gent clapped him on the arm, smiled at him. “Why aren’t you back there with him, then?”

“They’re getting him all cleaned up and getting the bed ready and everything. We were in the bathing room.” This birthing center was so cool. He was grateful for it.

“Oh, that’s cool. I?—”

“Colton! Colton, I need you!”

“Coming, love!” He ran for it, knowing Gent would check in and see what was needed. His friend was a good man. He slid into the birthing room. “I’m here.”

“He’s progressing quickly. Second babies, you know. He’s almost ready to push.” Devon smiled at him. “He’s not a patient man, is he?”

“No. No, and he can be stubborn.” He winked at Devon. “But I’m ready too. I want to meet her.”

“Yes. Our second baby girl. I want her to look just like Abby.” Sebastian was starting to pant again.

“Yeah? You don’t want her to have your eyes?” he asked, sitting by Sebastian to grab his hand.

“No. No, I love your eyes. I love—” Sebastian groaned. “She’s coming, Colton. She’s coming!”

“She is,” Devon agreed. “Get in there and support him, Colton. We need to push now. Breathe, Sebastian.”

Colton slid in behind Sebastian as he curled up and forward, supporting his lower back. “I got you, baby. This time, I got you.”

“Uh-huh. Got me. Love you.” Sebastian bared his teeth and pulled up his knees. “Please!”

“Come on, baby. Breathe. Devon says you have to breathe.”

“Uhhnnnnn!” Sebastian stopped pushing to pant, then curled up again, groaning.

“One or two more pushes, man. That’s all. You can do this.” Devon’s tone was sure, steady, and Sebastian nodded for them.

“One or two. I can do that.”

“You can.” And please let it be soon. Seeing Sebastian in such pain was killing him. He wanted his love to be able to rest.

“He’s strong. Last time took forever, right, Sebastian?”

“Shut up, Devon.”

Devon chuckled, but Colton agreed. Now was not the time to reminisce about all that.

Sebastian panted a few times, and then gasped, curling up, entire body going stiff and hard.

“That’s it! Here she comes, Sebastian. She’s ready to arrive. Look at that girl.” Devon sounded proud more than anything, and Colton was hellacious relieved.

“You can do it, love. This is it. This is our girl, our Dani.”

“Ours. Help me!” Sebastian screamed, and he held on, and in a moment that seemed to take forever, his baby girl was in Devon’s hands.

“There. There you are, baby. You’re all right.” Sebastian had to be all right. Colton eased him back, letting Sebastian collapse on him.

“Is she all right? Is she healthy?” Sebastian’s eyes were frantic, searching their baby out.

“What do you think, Papa?” Devon swiped their girl’s nose and mouth, then did something that made her draw a breath and cry for all she was worth. She looked red, and weird, and so perfect.

“She’s amazing, Sebastian.”

Then suddenly Dani was on Sebastian’s chest, and he was holding her. He was crying a little, just sniffling, and Colton was laughing, relief making him giddy.

“You did it, baby. I’m so proud of you.”

“Happy birthday, little Dani. You have light hair, like your Papa.”

She wiggled and moved her little mouth, and she looked so angry at being out in the world. Lord.

“Somebody’s hungry. Would you like to take her to get cleaned up and give her that first bottle, Papa?” Devon’s eyes were dancing.

“I would love to.” He kissed Sebastian’s head. “I’ll let you get all comfy, baby. Rest a minute,” he whispered. He took Dani off with Raven, because Sebastian totally needed a minute rather than to be invaded by the guys.

Gent waited, foot tapping, fingers flying on his phone. As soon as Colton walked out with a swaddled baby, a bottle in his hands, the pictures starting clicking, fast and hard.

He grinned. “Jerk. Look at her. Isn’t she stunning?”

Gent beamed. “She is. Let me see her little face better.” He took more pictures. “Okay, let me go let the guys in one by one.”

“Is Abby here? Abby should be first.” He wanted to have his oldest baby meet his youngest.

“She’s just over with Ben. I’ll have him get her.” Gent ducked out of the room, tugging out his phone.

So while he waited, he zonked the bottle into Dani’s mouth and studied her.

She was the spitting image of Sebastian, except that she was blonde. “You’re beautiful. Welcome to the world, sweet girl. I promise to make your life as good as your sister’s will be.”

She blew a little raspberry, which wasn’t a real one, he knew, it was a little drool caught up in the sucking motion she was working on, but God, it was cute. He loved her so much already. And he would remember never to take her or Abby or Sebastian for granted.

“Papa? Papa, I here!”

“Are you here, sweetheart? Look who else is here.” He wanted this first meeting to go well.

She skidded to a stop, and her voice went hushed. “She seepin’?”

“She is. This is your sister, Dani.”

“Dani.” She peered at her. “I’m big. I’m Abby. I will love you forever, and you will love me.”

“She will. She’ll look up to you and want to do all that you do.”

“Uh-huh, but some things she can’t, ’cause hers little.”

“But you can show her when she’s big enough.” Neither he nor Sebastian had siblings, so this would be all new.

“’kay. Where’s Daddy? I want him.”

“I think your Daddy is sleeping, honey,” Gent explained, but she just shook her head.

“No. Daddy. Want my daddy.”

“I tell you what? Let’s go see him, and then we’ll let him rest.” He made faces at Gent until Gent ducked toward the back, and Raven came out with him, smiling.

“Can you be very quiet, Abby?”

“I can!” She cheered for Raven, who chuckled.

“Shh. Whispering, okay?”

They headed into the room, where Sebastian waited.

“Did I hear my Abby?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she stage-whispered. “Dani is very red.”

“She is, but that will fade. I’m so proud of my brave Abby. Ben told Raven you were so good.”

“Crew stayed with me, so I wasn’t scared.”

“Oh, that’s so nice. Come kiss me.”

She frowned at him. “You comin’ home?”

“Yes. Soon. I’m going to take a little nap and let Papa feed Dani first.”

“Okay.” She trotted over to kiss Sebastian, then nodded at him. “You feeds her. I go get a cookie.”

“That sounds great.” That little girl was hilarious.

“Unca Gent, c’mon. My tummy needs a cookie.”

“Mine too, baby girl.” Gent traipsed out after her, and he winked at Sebastian.

“Sleep, baby. I’ll feed her, and soon we’ll take her home and have more shift work help than we can stand.”

“Sounds good. Are you happy, love? You have what you need?”

“I have more than that. I have you.”