“He’s really here,” she said, not looking up. Excitement radiated from her pores.
“Sadie?” Roman asked again.
She lifted the screen so he could see.
A brand new, totally squished baby face filled the screen.
Sadie’s eyes misted, even as a perma-grin plastered to her lips. “I’m an aunt.”
Yes, she was. This was why they’d driven to the hospital in the first place, wasn’t it?
He studied the snapshot. Even squished, the kid was cute. Full shock of black hair, cute little nose, red cheeks.
“He’s a handsome guy.” Roman’s tone went gentle without him even trying.
Sadie’s jasmine-scented perfume wrapped around him, drawing him closer. Jasmine and happiness and the scent of a life he wanted so badly it pulsed through him.
Her pupils dilated when he stepped toward her. Her breath hitched. She was practically inviting him to kiss her. A girl in a relationship didn’t act like Sadie did around him. Didn’t run her thumb over his lower lip or lean into him like it was the most natural reaction.
He would’ve asked, too. But the elevator arrived at their floor and the doors slid open.
“I’m an aunt and Marlee had a baby,” she said, totally awestruck.
“That’s why we’re here,nohchnaya babachka.” Roman used the endearment from all those years ago. He didn’t kiss the crown of her head, but fuck, he wanted to. They needed some relationship status clarity before he went any further with her. “You’re going to be an awesome aunt.”
Sadie marched straight to the glass-paned windows surrounding the nurses’ station. She hit the button. She gave a quick explanation of who they were and why they were there, and the locked doors buzzed open. A nurse met them at the other side.
“I can wait here,” Roman suggested.
Sadie shook her head and motioned for him to follow.
Right. Photos.
“Or not.” He strode behind her.
He shifted Louise against his shoulder again. “Sadie?”
“Uh-huh.” She kept marching after the nurse, not even glancing his way.
“I can’t follow you in that room without them knowing I’m here. It’d be weird.”
Sadie stopped at that, turning to look at him. “Oh right. Um…”
“If they want any pictures or anything of the kid, I can make that happen.” Yeah, taking pictures of his brother and the woman he loved at their wedding followed by pictures of a newborn? Despite the fact his tires were flat, and his phone was stolen by his grandmother, and Sadie might have a boyfriend, the night did not suck.
Sadie swiped at more tears and nodded. “Let me just ask them.”
Then she followed the nurse.
Roman loitered outside the room while Sadie went in to do the aunt thing.
“They’d love it if you’d take some pictures.” Sadie’s voice sliced through his thoughts a few minutes later.
He glanced up. “Yeah, okay.”
He pulled Louise from his bag and did a quick check and adjustment of her settings.
“Go on in, I’ll follow in a second. I want to get some candids. You won’t even know I’m there.”
