Mia’s grip finally weakens, and I feel a bit of relief when I see her take a full deep breath.
“Um, physically…okay, a little tired, but otherwise, still in a bit of shock.”
Wrapping my arm around her was instinct, and when I kiss her temple, I see the tear roll down her cheek.
“Sorry.” She wipes at her face. “I can’t seem to get my emotions under control.”
Jensen’s up first, pulling Mia away from me and giving her a hug. “It’s okay, that’s completely understandable.”
Lucie jumps in next. “Why don’t us girls move into my room for a minute?”
Mia’s shoulders drop from her ears. “Yeah, that’d be nice actually.”
When Emma follows them, Callie stands up too but doesn’t move. She has her lips sealed tight like she always does when she has something to say, and her gaze is locked in as she watches them walk out.
“Cals?” She doesn’t answer. Fuck. “Callie, if you have doubts or questions, you need to ask me. We can go talk about this more somewhere else. I get that this is big, but I care about her and I won’t?—”
“How are you feeling?” She cuts me off. “Are you okay?”
That’s a loaded question for the scenario, and she knows that. Callie doesn’t want kids because of our childhood. She loves them, but has zero desire to be a parent.
I had never really clued Callie in on how I felt about kids, mostly because they just seemed so far off in the future. Hell, I never really saw anyone in my future in general until Mia.
“I’ve been better…still trying to wrap my head around it. But hear me when I tell you that I want to be with Mia. I want to take care of her and the baby. I’m going to give them my all.”
A hint of a smile finally lands on my sister’s face. She steps in to give me a hug and whispers, “You’re going to be a better dad than ours ever thought of being.”
Her words hit me like a freight train. The flash of his face in my head feels like a bullet in my chest every time.
When she lets me go and heads to follow after the girls, my body feels too weak to continue standing.
Will places a hand on my back. “You know we’re going to be here, every step of the way. Whatever you need.”
Looking around the room, I know he’s right. I could call any of these guys, and they’d come at the drop of a hat.
“I really don’t want to fuck this up.”
“You won’t,” Dex says. “We won’t let you.”
Beck sits up, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t think Mia will let you. Then after that, the girls sure as hell won’t. Let’s be honest here, we’re the B-team at best with them here.”
Somehow that gets me, and I let out a sound that barely qualifies as a laugh, but he’s got a point. “I really appreciate you guys. I hope you know that.”
“Oh, hell no.” Beck falls back against the couch. “I can’t handle Adam being sentimental. I’m man enough to cry—someone change the subject.”
Tripp takes the lead. “Now I have three chances to get one of these kids to like me the most. I was second until Will won Miles over.”
Will scoffs. “Callie and I are going to be the favorite aunt and uncle across the board.”
“That’s bullshit.” Beck sits back up again. “I’m still number one with Miles.”
“The hell you are.”
Will and Beck run round and round on who’s actually the favorite until eventually Dex has enough.
“Miles, come here please,” Dex calls.
We all sit as his small footsteps carry down the hall, and I can’t help but wonder what our child will sound like. Will we have a boy or a girl? What are we going to name them? Will they have Mia’s blue eyes? Or red hair?
