Page 167 of Smoke and Glitter

The second her weight settles against me, every smart thing I could have said disappears. She weighs almost nothing. Her face is pink and scrunched, her mouth working in her sleep while I stare down at fingers so tiny I could cover her entire hand with the pad of my thumb.

"Hi, Wren."

"She's perfect," I say, and my voice comes out embarrassingly soft.

Summer smiles at me in a way I don't trust myself to look at for very long.

After a few minutes, she glances toward the doorway. "Where's Sam?"

"He's in the waiting room. He didn't want everybody piling in here before you were ready."

Her eyes narrow. "Go get him."

I look down at Wren. "You understand that you're asking me to give the baby back."

"I gave birth. Hand her over and go get your boyfriend."

The word still gives me a stupid little jolt.

I carefully return Wren to her and head back out.

Sam is packing empty containers into one of the takeout bags when I find him. He looks up immediately.

"Everything okay?"

"Everybody's perfect. Summer wants you."

His hands stop. "She asked for me?"

"She ordered me to come get you."

The smile that pulls at his mouth is small, but I catch it. I hook my fingers through his and tug him toward the hallway.

"Come meet Wren."

Summer spots him the second we walk into the room. "There you are. Get over here."

Sam comes farther inside. "You doing okay?"

"I just had a person removed from my body. You tell me."

His mouth pulls into a smile as he reaches the bed. "You look like you had a baby."

"That I believe."

Colt shifts Wren in his arms and looks at Sam. "You want to hold her?"

Sam's attention drops to the baby, and every bit of ease leaves his body.

"She's fucking small."

Summer laughs. "She's supposed to be."

Colt stands and moves toward him. "Give me your arm."

"My arm works."

"Then stop holding it like you're about to defuse something."