Poppy peers over his shoulder. “She looks like she’s thinking about something.”
Weston reaches out one finger, and Ellie curls her hand around it instantly.
His breath leaves him in a rush.
“Oh,” he says. “Oh wow.”
Poppy laughs. “You’re done. You’re gonna need one of your own.”
Weston clears his throat. “I’m fine.”
He’s not fine. None of us are. Ellie has brought more joy to all of us than we ever could have imagined.
We sit together, pulled together at one of the long tables. Ellie sleeps through most of it, tucked against my chest in the carrier, her weight warm and steady.
Poppy keeps glancing at her like she’s afraid she’ll disappear.
Weston raises his coffee. “To Ollie and Poppy. That baby and Owen are lucky to have you two as parents.”
The conversation drifts, as it always does, to ranch stuff. Music stuff with Walker and Violet, and firehouse gossip. Weston updates us on all the legal things with Owen and Ellie. Ellie starts to fuss and I check her over.
“She’s good,” Poppy says, stroking her back.
I check anyway, and she’s fine.
Weston watches me and smiles. “You’re different now.”
“Am I?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he says. “You’re more serious.”
I snort. “That’s not true.”
Weston tilts his head. “You are, though. Like you’ve got something to be happy about now. Being a family man looks good on you.”
I look down at Ellie, at the way her cheek presses into my shirt, her tiny breaths puffing against my skin. Then Ilook over at Poppy, who is just as present with me, by my side. Taking on an additional motherhood role without even hesitating.
“Yeah,” I admit. “It feels pretty good.”
Poppy’s hand reaches mine, and she squeezes.
Weston shifts in his seat. He watches Poppy for a second, the way she leans in to kiss Ellie’s head without thinking.
Then he looks back at me. “You’re kinda making me want one,” he says.
I choke on my drink.
Poppy loses it. “Oh my gosh, really?”
Weston smirks. “I didn’t say now. Just someday.”
Ellie stirs and opens her eyes, blinking up at all of us.
By the time we stand to leave, Weston’s hovering when I lift Ellie back into the carrier.
“If you need anything,” he says. “Anything at all, I’ve got you.”
“I know,” I tell him. "Thanks, man.”
