Aleks doesn’t speak. He just watches the room.
I continue. “I am not asking for opinions. I am informing you. I’m in deep, in love.”
“She hot?” Kozlov taunts.
“She’s stunning,” I answer and try my best not to stir the little green monster that’s never truly stirred.
Laughter from the back. “Congrats, old man.”
“Thank you.”
I let it breathe and add, “There’s more.” The room quiets again, and I pull the picture out of my pocket and hand it to Aleks. “We’re having twins.”
“No way.” He says, looking at it.
“You’re kidding,” Hank asks, heading over and looking over Aleks arm. “Two?”
“Yes, plus the little princess who’s already calling me papi.”
“Fuck man, a single mom?” Callahan shakes his head. “You truly are the Mother Faulker.”
They all cackle.
“I expect professionalism. You will treat her with respect. You will treat my daughter with respect. You will not drop f-bombs within ten feet of them, and when the babies arrive, the same goes.”
Laughter again.
Dash chuckles, “You’re screwed.”
“Yes,” I reply calmly. “And very happy about it.”
Koa gives me a one-armed hug, “You won’t be if Nalani and I have a boy and yours are girls.”
“Touché.” I laugh.
“Fuck,” he steps back and laughs. “I didn’t even think about that.”
“Happy for you, man,” Dean gives me a quick hug. “They both deserve the kind of good you can give them, and you deserve the same.”
We part, “Gonna go talk to HR, try to get Lucy in here Monday when Hildy heads back to her classes. Those other places,” I shake my head. “Not cool.”
“You give the police the statement for Dr. Rathburn?” Decon asks.
“Fuck, no, but I’ll get?—”
He cuts me off, “I know you have shit going on, but my little girl?—"
“I’ll do it tonight, after the game,” I promise.
Claudia doesn’t look surprised to see me. She smiles and says, “Congratulations, Papi.”
“She sent the text,” I give her a hug.
“She did,” she laughs. “It’s pretty incredible.”
“It is, and we’d have never reconnected if not for you and Savannah.” I walk over to a chair and sit down. “Deacon reminded me I had something to report.”
“He’s not supposed to pressure you, or?—”
