For a long second, he just stared at me. Then he broke into a giant grin. “No way.”
“Way.”
He laughed, immediately getting up and coming over to give me a hug. “That was fast.”
“Neither of us wanted to wait,” I confessed as he thudded me on the back. “Part of it was that they need an heir, but we’re also both just ready, you know? We wanted to start trying and?—”
“I don’t need the details, bro. I know how babies are made.” He laughed. “Just, I mean, wow. Do you know what it is yet? I know there’s some pressure on Eliza for a boy.”
“No, not yet,” I said. “It’s too early.”
“But you’re?—”
“Thrilled,” I said without hesitation. “Completely, overwhelmingly thrilled. Whatever it is, I’ll be happy.”
He gave me one last thump before he let go, still grinning. “Congratulations, man. Really.”
“Thanks.” I paused for a beat, finally going to sit down when he went back to his chair. “I just wanted to say thank you. I’m not sure where we would’ve been if you hadn’t stepped aside and checked that contract again.”
He looked back at me, that same steady gaze I’d caught from him before now fixed on me once again. “You did me a favor, man. Lots of favors, actually. I just happen to be good at reading the fine print.”
“Either way, thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”
He smiled. “Any time, man. Any time.”
We sat there for another few minutes, catching up before I sighed when I caught the time on the clock above the door. “Shit, I need to get going. I have a meeting with the lawyers.”
“Some things never change,” he said dryly. “Try not to sign anything life altering this time without having me look it over, okay?”
I chuckled. “No promises, but I ripped them a new one for missing it. I doubt they’re going to be making any more mistakes like that anytime soon.”
He smirked. “We’ll see.”
Both of us stood up and headed for the door, but when we reached it, I paused to glance back at the office just one more time. I used to think this life was everything, but it was so easy to leave it behind again when I left after saying goodbye that I knew deep down I’d made the right decision.
Jesse seemed to be settling in well. According to Nate, the transition from me to him had been relatively painless. All things considered, it really felt like this was the way things were always meant to play out.
My meeting with the lawyers took longer than I’d wanted it to, but on my way back to the hotel where I was staying, I still made one more stop. Alex and Jane had invited me to stay with them when he’d found out I was coming, but I’d declined.
They were new parents. It had just felt like I would be intruding, but I did have the code for his penthouse since he’d sent it to me just in case. I let myself in, immediately registering the faint scent of coffee and something vaguely baby-related in the air. Powder, maybe? But I wasn’t an expert. Yet.
“Hello?” I called, still somehow managing to keep my voice muted just in case the baby was sleeping. I didn’t even know if it was necessary. My voice had just kind of done it of its own accord.
God, I have a lot to learn.
“In here,” Alex’s replied from the living room, his own voice completely normal.
I sighed and kept walking, stopping short as soon as they came into view. Alex was sitting on the couch with one arm carefully supporting baby Cameron, making it look so easy, it was like he’d been doing this his entire life.
“This feels illegal,” I said quietly. “Is he supposed to be that tiny?”
Alex looked up and smiled. “Why on God’s green earth would it feel illegal?”
I eyed my nephew like he might explode. “He’s tiny. It just kind of feels like there should be a grownup in the room with us.”
“Tiny is generally how babies start,” he said, fighting a laugh. “Makes it easier on the mother. And I hate to break it to you, butweare the grownups in the room.”
I crouched when I reached them, peering at Cameron who blinked up at me with the vague confusion of someone who hadn’t asked for it but had somehow been dropped into the chaos of being a Westwood anyway.
