“I’m his boyfriend,” he said, grinning like that was the best thing that’d ever happened to him.
I hoped it was. I wanted it to be.
I’d work on it.
“How’s Dawn?” Xander asked before I managed to. “Can we see her?”
“She’s still resting post-surgery, she’ll be just fine,” the nurse—Anna, her nametag said—explained. “But the babies have both been cleaned up, and they’re ready to meet you.”
I stood up in a hurry, forgetting about Xander’s grip on my hand until I pulled on it.
I didn’t want to leave him. Not right now.
Not ever.
But definitely not right now. There were two brand new humans waiting for me to meet them, and I was going to be at least partially responsible for their happiness. The size of my family had just exploded.
“He can come too, right?” I asked, tightening my grip on his hand. “He’s family.”
27
XANDER
“So, how does it feel?”I asked as I pushed the door to the bakery open, the bell ringing out in the early morning silence of Otter Bay. “Being an uncle?”
Milo hadn’t wanted to come away from the hospital—or his two tiny new nieces, who were both adorable—but he needed to get a good night’s sleep. Eventually, he’d let me coax him away with the promise of a soft horizontal surface and those waffles I’d mentioned the other day.
“I don’t think I’m done processing yet,” Milo said. “I… they’re not my kids, but they kind ofaremy kids. I feel responsible, anyway. I love them so much,” he said, biting his lip. “Did you see the way she curled her little hand around my finger?”
I had. I’d seen the way, and I’d seen the look on Milo’s face, and I kind of wanted to watch him holding a baby forever.
I hadn’t realized that was a thing I’d enjoy at all—I loved my kittens, but they weren’t human children—until I’d seen him do it. When the nurse had handed one of them tome, I almost burst into tears.
It’d been a long night. That was my excuse, and I was sticking with it.
“I saw,” I said. “Already trying to be the favorite.”
“They’re both my favorite,” Milo said, letting me nudge him up the stairs. “If I fall down these just… leave me there.”
“I’d bring you a blanket,” I promised, but I put my hand on his elbow as well, just in case. “I’d probably just lie down next to you.”
Milo let me lead him into the bedroom, practically falling asleep on his feet. He hummed happily as I took off his jacket, stripped him out of his sweater, and finally started unbuttoning his shirt. I hadn’t had the chance to go slow with this before now, and even exhausted, I couldn’t help enjoying it.
“Taking care of me,” Milo murmured, head hanging limp.
“What boyfriends are for,” I reminded him, turning my face up and brushing our lips together. Just for the sake of contact.
“You’re already the best boyfriend I’ve ever had,” Milo said, resting his head against mine and letting his hands fall on my hips.
“Feeling’s mutual.”
“And the sexiest,” he added, smiling a slow smile.
“Again, mutual,” I said, letting my eyes fall closed for a moment. “You still smell really good,” I added.
Milo snorted. “I smell of nervous sweat and hospital coffee,” he said. “But I appreciate you saying it anyway.”
“It’s not so bad,” I said. “And I can still smell your cologne under it. I might be a little addicted.”
