I chuckle.
Because Leo is still his favorite.
After Sawyer, of course.
Lainey took a little longer to warm up to the Grizzlies star, but it all worked out in the end.
I wince as another contraction hits.
“Go,” she says when it’s over. “We’ve got this end of things.”
A minute later, Leo and I are on the road, and less than a half hour after that, we’re at the hospital and settling into our room.
The contractions come fast and furious, Leo strokes my brow, holds my hand as I get my epidural.
And two hours after that?
I’m pushing out my baby girl.
Wrong again.
But in the best possible way.
“Hi, Skye,” Leo murmurs, brushing his hand over her tiny head. “Happy Birthday.”
I smile tiredly. “You were right.”
“And you were amazing.” He kisses my forehead. “As usual.”
Our eyes connect and hold, and a thousand emotions seem to flow between us—incandescent joy, love, disbelief that we somehow made this beautiful human together, hope and elation and so, so much more.
“How is this our life?” I whisper.
Right on cue, Skye lets out a wail.
I laugh and Leo cups my cheeks, brushes his lips over mine, and smiles.
“Because we found the courage to trust in the beauty of forever.”
Sawyer
I don’t know why I’m here, propping up the wall at Faye’s book signing.
Of course, that’s also a lie.
I know exactly why.
It’s because I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
Of Lainey.
Only, she’s not among the women sitting here, entranced by Faye and all of her sweetness, her cleverness, her kindness as she answers questions, as she signs books and talks to her readers.
For as shy as she is, Faye’s really good at making everyone feel welcome and calm.
Then again, I already know that.
Have seen the women of the Grizzlies do that time and again.
