They said she’d likely sleep through the night, especially after all the medication they’d given her once he got her there.
Just the thought of that made his heart hammer.
Because God… things could have gone very differently.
He looked back down at his son.
His junior.
Just a month ago, he and Rylee had decided to name the baby after him. Xander had been all for it.
He could’ve gone back to the brownstone, gotten a few hours of rest. But his soon-to-be wife and his son were here.
So this was where he needed to be.
He kept his eyes on Rylee’s chest, watching it rise and fall. The steady rhythm anchored him.
He’d counted it at least a thousand times. Checked her pulse just as many.
He was ready to check it again in another few minutes.
The baby stirred in his arms just as he heard another stir to his right.
Xander turned his head, locking eyes on Rylee, watching her slowly blink awake.
He sat up straight, stopping himself from standing too fast when he remembered he still had their son in his arms.
Carefully, he rose and walked the baby to the bassinet just a step away.
Behind him, he heard Rylee groan.
“I’m coming, baby,” he whispered, gently moving the chair out of his path.
His eyes landed on the hoodie he’d placed beneath her when he delivered their son. It was now stained deep red with blood.
“You’re awake,” Xander said, dragging the chair closer. “Thank God.”
She winced as she tried to sit up.
“I got you, I got you,” he said low, helping her by the arm and adjusting the pillows behind her.
“What happened?” Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
Xander took a seat in the chair. “You almost gave me a heart attack is what happened, woman.”
Her eyes left him, scanning the room. Rylee’s hand flew to her stomach a second later.
“The baby,” she gasped, pushing herself up. “Where’s the baby?!”
“He’s right there. Calm down, please, mama.Please,” Xander told her, pointing. “He’s asleep. He’s good. Healthy. Ten fingers, ten toes. I counted twice.”
He stood. “I’ll get him.”
As he lifted their sleeping son from the bassinet and placed him in Rylee’s arms, he watched her face light up.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Look at him.” She looked up at Xander. “He’s beautiful.”
“Just like his mama,” Xander said, one hand on her head, his eyes still on their boy. “We got an impatient son, for real. Junior wasn’t tryna wait forshit.”
