“Adonis,” Atticus said without looking up from his phone.
Cricket pointed at Asa. “Go.”
“Aspen.”
She pointed at Felix. “You.”
“Armani.”
She looked at Thomas. “What about you?”
Thomas shrugged. “Alaric.”
“He already has a name.”
Everyone turned to look at Allister, who had shifted from his spot. He laid on his stomach, watching them all with luminous eyes.
“What did you say, baby?” Cricket asked softly.
“He already has a name,” Allister said, voice hushed like it was a secret.
The room went quiet—not alarmed, just attentive.
Lucas stilled, voice gentle as he asked, “What do you mean?”
Allister frowned, small brow furrowing. “The baby. He already has a name.”
Cricket blinked, then laughed gently. “He does?”
Thomas felt something settle in his chest, heavy and electric all at once. Lucas’s hand tightened just slightly on Cricket’s knee, glancing at August with something that looked a lot like concern.
Allister nodded.
Silence fell, not the awkward kind, but the kind that felt charged.
Cricket spoke first. “Come here, baby.”
Allister hesitated, then pushed himself up, fingers slipping into his mouth as he crossed the room. His shoulders were tense, like he was bracing for something.
Lucas and August moved closer.
Lucas crouched in front of him, lowering himself to eye level. “What do you mean he has a name?”
Allister sucked on his fingers, eyes darting briefly toCricket, then to the bed, then back to Lucas. He shrugged.
Thomas felt something twist in his chest. The boy carried too much for someone so small.
“You’re not in trouble,” Cricket assured him quickly, combing her fingers through his soft baby hair. “We’re just curious what you mean.”
“When I see him, he already has a name.”
Cricket exhaled slowly, one hand drifting to her belly as another contraction began to build. She closed her eyes, breathing through it, while Lucas stayed exactly where he was, even as he held Allister’s gaze.
“Whenyou see him?” August prodded gently.
Allister nodded. “I see him all the time. When I see him, we’re all playing together. We’re older then. But he has a name and it’s not any of those.”
“Oh,” Lucas said.
