I nod solemnly. “I’ve seen things, Park. I’ll never recover.”
She shifts, groaning with exhaustion. “I’m a mess.”
“No, baby.” I shake my head. “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”
Lifting her head, she peers at me through a curtain of dark hair, then glances down at our daughter. The look on her face is so soft, it makes me well up.
She shifts up onto one elbow, brushing a thumb beneath my eye.
“Still crying every time you look at her?”
“No.” I huff a laugh. “I hydrate aggressively now.”
She snorts, but it turns into a sigh. “You’re obsessed.”
“With both of you.”
“She’s got your frown.”
“Poor thing.” I glance down at Ivy. “We’ll work on that.”
Carina leans in, nestling her head into the corner of my neck, her breath brushing over my skin.
“This is the good stuff,” she whispers.
“The fucking best.”
I’ve taken slap shots to the collarbone and played through concussions. Skated on torn ligaments with my jaw clenched and lungs burning.
But one hiccup from this kid, and I’m ready to set the world on fire.
***
The doorbell rings.
Gremlin growls from her perch on the windowsill, preparing to defend the house from intruders. Or just Chase.
I crack the front door and don’t even get a word out before Meadow barrels through, plastic tiara askew, clutching a glittery notebook.
“I’m the maid of honor!” she announces to no one in particular. “I already have the color scheme and a signature cocktail!”
I blink.
Jake’s behind her, holding coffees in a cardboard tray and looking only mildly apologetic. “She’s been planning this since Charlie told her you had a girl.”
“Ivy is six days old.”
“Exactly. We’re behind schedule.”
Meadow makes a beeline for the living room, announcing that Ivy will be walking down the aisle in sparkly roller skates.
Charlie shrugs. “Could be worse.”
There’s a beat of silence, broken only by the soft thud of small feet on the porch. Theo toddles in a moment later, round-cheeked and determined, one fist clutching a toy car. He pauses when he sees me, then lifts both arms with total confidence.
“Hutcheeee! Up, please!”
I huff a breath, already melting. “Still as bossy as your sister, huh?”
