Riley laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ronan smile so much as he has in the last hour.”
“I heard that,” I catch Ronan grumbling in the background.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Oh, and, Riley?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
Riley is quiet for a beat before whispering down the phone, “I love you too.”
I’m not sure I’m ever going to get tired of hearing her say that.
Grinning to myself like a lovesick idiot, I pocket my phone and head down the hall to the nursery where, as expected, I find Elena kneeling on the floor sorting through piles of tiny socks.
She jumps when she sees me, holding a hand to her chest as she pulls out an earbud.
“You scared me. I didn’t realize you were home. These things don’t lie when they say they’re noise-canceling.” She laughs.
I go to speak, but I’m suddenly hit with another wave of panic as I glance around at the piles of tiny onesies that are barely bigger than my hand. “
“Is everything okay, Kieran?” She arches a brow.
I flinch slightly at the sound of my name.
“Uh…yeah, I’m fine.” I run a hand through my hair. “It’s just…the clothes are so small, you know? It’s terrifying.”
Elena chuckles softly as she scoops up the pile of socks and dumps them into a drawer.
“Is Kieran Sullivan afraid of a couple of babies?” she teases.
I don’t bother denying it.
“It’s ridiculous. I’ve faced down armed men, watched people get torn apart limb from limb, but the idea of holding something so tiny and breakable is what gets my heart racing.”
Elena tilts her head as she looks up at me. “You know, it’s okay to be scared. It means you care. Besides, babies are tougher than they look.”
I pick up a tiny yellow onesie off the dresser and unfold it slowly.
I can’t believe that in a few months, Riley and I will have a child of our own who will be able to fit into such tiny clothes.
“What if Riley and I end up with twins too?”
Even just the thought of two babies has a cold sweat breaking out on the back of my neck.
Elena laughs, shaking her head.
“All I can say is if that happens, you’ll have one hell of a team around you to help.”
I nod, trying to steady the tight coil of nerves in my stomach. “I guess.”
“So, was there something you needed, or did you just come in here to freak yourself out?” Elena holds back a smile.
“Riley called and said something about needing extra clothes, but I have no idea what to bring.”
“It seems you’re already on the clock, Uncle Kieran.” Elena gets to her feet.
“It seems I am.”
