Page 96 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

I swaddle him and rock him in my arms while Bertie climbs into bed with yet another sleepy yawn.

His eyes grow heavy and when I start to hum, he can’t resist the tug for sleep. I lay him down as gently as I can in his bassinet. He gives a small sound of protest, and I freeze in fear that he’s fully waking up, but he quickly settles. I ease away from the bassinet, hands raised like I’m surrendering. Bertie laughs softly as she adjusts her pillow.

I settle onto the bed and pull the covers over my body before I turn the light off.

“We did it,” she says, snuggling close to me.

I wrap an arm around her, smiling like a fool up at the ceiling all because of a single word.

We.

I like being a we with her.

I think I even love it.

CHAPTER 34

BERTIE

I step into my six-week postpartum appointment with a mix of excitement and unease. I’m not sure I’m necessarily ready to have sex with Luke right this second—he’s not even back home until next week anyway—but I want to at least know if I’m in the clear. My libido has certainly been waking back up, so I hope that’s a good sign. I haven’t had real sex since we conceived Rory and we’re only a few months away from that having been a year ago. Honestly, I don’t know how I managed to not give in during my whole pregnancy. Even when I was trying to keep Luke at a distance there was no denying my attraction to him.

They go through all their usual quick checks before I’m brought back to a room and told to remove my pants and given a blanket to drape over my lap.

Rory coos from his stroller, his little arms and legs flailing. He’s so active already that I’m mildly terrified for when he begins to walk.

He’s already changed so much in these six weeks. He still has his newborn qualities, but I’m already beginning to see some of those elements fading and it makes me sad. I know people said it goes by fast and they weren’t kidding. It’s hard too, when you’re tired and exhausted, to soak it all in and enjoy these precious moments.

I wait a good twenty minutes before the doctor finally pokes her head in.

“Bertie.” She smiles warmly. “I heard all about your car birth.”

I groan. “People talked about it?”

“Yes,” she laughs. “I was glad to hear you were okay, though.”

Dr. Hynes is a blond woman in her forties, I would assume. She’s the first doctor I met with in Nashville, based on Kayla’s recommendation, and we clicked, but she was on vacation when I went into labor early, so I didn’t even see her after I got admitted into the hospital.

“I was very lucky to have Luke. He knew what to do.”

“And look at this little one.” She peers over at Rory in his stroller. “How precious. Are things going well? Your mood feels fine? Your energy is good? Well, as good as it can be with a newborn.” She gives a soft, musical laugh.

“It’s been going good. He’s a great baby, so I think I’m really lucky and Luke’s a great help when he’s home.”

“You said before that he’s in the NFL?”

“NHL. He plays hockey.”

“Oh, that’s right.” She grabs her stool and sits down before wheeling over to me. “I’m not a sports person.”

“I wasn’t either, but I’m getting addicted to seeing him at home games.”

Her eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles. “Is that so? Maybe I’ll have to go to one to see what all the hype is about.”

“You should.”

She gives my knee a pat. “I want you to lie back and put your feet in the stirrups. I want to make sure everything has healed correctly since your delivery wasn’t as expected.” She grabs a pair of gloves, carefully pulling them on.

I do as she says and lie back, letting her take a look.