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Abuelita furrows her brow but walks over to me. “Fine. I suppose that’s okay.” She smiles as she sets him in my arms. “I’ll get out of your hair for a little while.”
As she walks out the door, Nick runs his hand over Hunter’s tiny fingers. “I can’t believe we created this the first time we had sex. The first time Ieverhad sex.”
“Here’s to our beautiful baby boy. And not having any more for a long time.”
“Mm. I’ll agree to that.” He kisses my neck. “But on one condition. Once we’re ready, we make lots of them.”
I chuckle at that. “Let’s see how we handle one first.”
“Fair enough.”
There’s a knock on the door as it swings open. “Knock, knock. Can we come in?” Maia calls.
“We’ve been waiting. Come on,” I say. We agreed on one big visit with her, Vince, and Braden tonight—Nick’s parents are bringing us dinner after and visiting—then we want quiet until we’re settled in at home.
“Now, I know it was just supposed to be the three of us. But I did bring one more person. Because she really wanted to meet her new best friend.”
She walks past the curtain with Harper in her arms. Harper’s eyes go wide as she looks at Hunter. “Baby.”
“Yeah, that’s your baby cousin. You’re gonna teach him how to cause all kinds of trouble.” She kisses Harper’s cheek and looks at me. “I checked her temperature, made sure she had no signs of illness, and lathered her in hand sanitizer.”
I laugh at that. “Bring her over.”
Maia walks over and places Harper on my lap, then sets a pillow on top of her lap. Nick carefully positions Hunter so that Harper is holding him, but my arms are wrapped around both her and him.
“Baby!” Harper shrieks happily.
“That’s your cousin, Hunter,” I say, as Nick and Maia snap endless pictures.
“Ohhh,” Harper coos. Then she kisses his forehead and we all melt into puddles at their cuteness. “Ah done!” Harper yells. Maia scurries over and lifts Hunter off Harper while Braden helps Harper off the bed. She busies herself, touching everything in the room within her reach.
“Well, you are officially the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen. Though your dad was a cutie too,” Maia says softly as she sits down on the edge of the bed.
She leans in toward me. “Did you ever think this is how our lives would go?”
“Both of us moms by nineteen? Not so much. But I’m happy.”
“He’s beautiful.” She kisses my cheek, then stands up. “Want to meet your Uncle Vince?”
Vince smiles as Maia slides Hunter into his arms. “Hi, Hunter. I’m your Uncle Vince. Your daddy is my brother, and boy, do you look just like him. I have a feeling you’re going to be a lot like him, too. Bouncing off the walls, driving us all crazy—but being so lovable we don’t care. Whoever you grow up to be, I’ve got your back. I promise.”
Hunter rustles slightly, then makes a cute little baby sigh. I’m a freaking puddle.
“Now, there’s one more person you need to meet,” Vince says as he walks to Braden. Nick smiles at me as Vince places Hunter in Braden’s arms.
“Hey, little dude. I’m your Uncle Braden—I mean, not technically, but close enough—and I’m here to teach you whatnotto do.”
“About that,” Nick says, walking over to him. “We both know you’ve learned a lot, and you’re working hard to be the best version of yourself.”
“And helping everyone else do the same,” I add, meeting his eyes. It’s impossible to explain how much it meant to me that he showed up for me in my worst moments.
“Which is why we want you to be Hunter’s godfather,” Nick tells him.
Braden’s eyes go wide. “Seriously? You’re sure? I mean, what about—” His eyes go to Vince, who is smiling.
“I’m always going to be his uncle. He deserves to have you, too.”
Nick puts his hand on Braden’s shoulder. “We have been through a shit-ton together. You’re my best friend. You’re the one we want to be his godfather.”
