She stares at me, her blue eyes swirling with uncertainty.
“What is it?” I say, pulling her aside so we’re not overheard. “Do you not like hospitals? I’m sorry—it’s your mom, isn’t it? I wasn’t thinking…”
“Declan.” She reaches for my hand. “It’s not that. I just…I know I’m technically family for the time being, but you and I know the truth. So do most of your relatives. I don’t want to intrude on such a special moment for your brother and Savannah. And for you—you’re going to be a godfather.”
Yes, I’m going to be a godfather and an uncle. And the only person I want to share that moment with is standing in front of me with a look on her face like she’s not wanted.
“I want you there with me,” I tell her honestly. “As long as you want to be there.”
She reaches for my hand. “Of course I do. Let’s go.”
* * *
We’ve been sitting in the hospital for just over three hours, and Mia’s fallen asleep on my shoulder. I don’t want to wake her by moving, so I decline Luke’s invitation to go grab coffee.
He takes a look at Mia curled up next to me in the chair. “I’ll bring you back a cup.”
“Thanks.”
He pauses. “Last night wasn’t another one-nighter, was it?”
I don’t want it to be. But I’m not sure what it was exactly. “Not your business, cousin.”
“I get that. But what you and your wife have…” He points between us. “That’s not a one-night thing.” He taps my shoulder with his fist. “You two need to figure out your shit.”
Yes, we probably do. But not in the maternity ward where I’m waiting for my brother’s first child to be born.
Mia sighs in her sleep and shifts closer to me. When she throws her hand against my chest, I grab it and hold on.
And that’s how we’re sitting when my parents walk into the room.
“How did you get here so fast?” I ask them in surprise.
“We took the red-eye,” Mom explains. “Call it mother’s intuition. I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow.” She leans down and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Oh, Declan. So good to see you.”
Dad’s always-stern expression softens at the sight of Mia sleeping against me. “She must be exhausted,” he says in as gentle a tone as I’ve ever heard out of Tyler Wild.
I nod, not about to explain that our lack of sleep from fucking all night is what has her so wiped out.
My brother saves me from making awkward small talk with Dad.
“You want to come meet the newest Wild?!” Cam calls out as he steps into the waiting room of the maternity ward. “She’s beautiful like her mama.”
Mia jerks awake at Cam’s shout. “Savannah had the baby,” I tell her as her eyes blink into focus. “Do you want to come meet her with me?”
She puts her hand on my cheek. “You’re an uncle. Congratulations.”
I hug her tightly, and then we walk into the room to meet my niece.
* * *
Seeing my little brother holding his first child nearly brings me to my knees. I didn’t expect to be this affected, and I hesitate as Cam holds his daughter out to me expectantly.
But Mia seems to know what I’m feeling because she reaches for my arm and urges me forward.
As I take my niece into my arms for the first time, a riot of sensations hits me.
I love this child so much already.
