Page 95 of Dandelions and Smoke

“When did that start?” My gaze narrows on her.

“Around the time you came back to the house earlier,” she says with a shrug.

“Scarlett Monroe!” I shriek. “That was almost an hour ago!”

“I couldn’t miss this,” she argues, leaving me at a loss for words.

Tris snorts. “Unbelievable.”

The guys help Lucas pack the truck, and Chief even holds the umbrella so everyone can stay dry, since that’s no longer an option for us.

“Wait,” I yell, my bottom lip jutting out as I look down at my wet clothes. “I have to be there.”

“I’ll call Sammy and have him pick you up on his way,” Lucas calls out over the rain.

“Be careful!” I yell as he runs around the truck to the driver’s side, clicking his heels before getting in.

“He’s going to be a great dad,” Chief murmurs. “Come on, let’s get you dried off.”

After arguing about it, Chief finally agrees to stay at the house since the waiting room of a hospital is nowhere to find rest after a flight. I set the guys up with the TV remote and the number for the closest pizza place, give Tris total access to my new bubble bath collection, and, this time, promise Chief I’ll be back as soon as I can.

Sammy arrives right as I’m putting on a dry pair of Converse. Filled with excited energy, I bounce to the car. True to Florida weather, I’m not the least bit surprised to see that the storm has already passed, and the sun is shining once more.

“Are you ready to meet our Godson?” Sammy asks once I close the door.

“I’m ready,” I answer him, then wave to Chief, who walks onto the porch to watch us leave. “For all of it.”

Noticing Chief, Sammy’s grin turns into a face-splitting smile before he puts his car in drive and we’re on our way.

After arriving at the hospital, Lettie is in labor for only another hour when Cam makes his grand entrance, weighing in at six pounds, two ounces—a whole three weeks early.

Sammy and I are already competing for the title of favorite. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t realize that as he walks into the room carrying a perfectly normal-sized teddy bear to welcome our little guy to the world.

About twenty minutes later, I return with my gift.

A teddy bear that is almost as big as I am.

“Oh, it’s on, hermana pequeña,” Sammy declares, laughing in disbelief.

“Bring it.” I stick my tongue out at him before sitting to admire Cam with his momma.

After making sure that they have everything they need for the hundredth time, I call Chief to let him know I’m on my way back so they can get some rest. Sammy drops me off, and I find Chief already waiting for me when we arrive. Wasting no time, I run and jump into his arms.

“Hey there, handsome.” I cover his face with kisses as he walks us to the porch swing.

“I missed you,” he whispers into my hair, his lips lingering against my head as though he’s afraid to let go.

Breathing him in deeply, the smell of sun-warmed cotton and sharp bergamot fills me with that sense of home I’ve been missing as he rocks the swing back and forth in a comfortable silence. A soft drizzle begins, but the stars are still bright and visible through the thin veil of clouds. A breeze picks up, carrying with it the scent of wet earth as I snuggle closer to Chief. I rest my head on his shoulder, legs tossed over his lap, and let the distant patter of raindrops against the corrals guide my thoughts.

After some time passes, his hand comes down, untangling my fingers from my hair ties and bringing them to his lips.

“What’s on your mind?” he asks softly, kissing each finger before entangling them with his.

“Nothing,” I say too quickly.

His head tilts, and he raises his brow.

“Fine,” I exhale, shifting before putting my thoughts into words. “What’s the plan?”