Griffin
We stop short of the living room, where Callie and Olivia have Angie wrapped in a group hug. Tears are streaming down their cheeks, the coffee table is strewn with discarded snacks, and there's a puddle of melted ice cream in one corner.
Jaxon runs his hands through his hair while I pull mine back in a low bun, and Wilder turns his hat backward like we’re preparing for battle.
“You go first,” Jaxon says, nudging me with his elbow.
“What? No. Wilder should go first. He’s the oldest.”
“Couple of fucking children,” Wilder mutters as he strides into the room. “Everything okay in here?”
Olivia nods, then looks to Angie. “Can I tell him?”
My wife nods her approval as she slides back to her spot on the sofa, wiping her damp cheeks on her sleeve. That’s enough spectating for me.
I close the distance between us and wrap her in my arms. I love the way this beautiful, headstrong woman melts into me like she can finally let her guard down. I can almost imagine that she needs me in some small way, even though it’s the other way around.
I need her more than I need air.
Liv takes Wilder’s hand in hers and guides him to sit beside her just as Jaxon takes a seat on the floor in front of Callie.
“They want to name the baby Jessie,” Olivia says.
Wilder blinks rapidly, running his hand down his beard. “She.. uh..” He coughs, clearing his throat. “She’d love that.”
“Are you sure?” Angie asks. “I don’t want to overstep or anything.”
“Auntie Jessie would be so goddamn honored,” he says, offering up a half-smile.
“Personally, I was hoping for Griffin Junior,” I say, providing a little bit of levity.
I wasn’t sure if she was set on the name, and I should’ve known she would want to run it by Wilder first. If he has any qualms about it, he hasn't let on. I think we’re all just proud to honor Jess in any way we can. She was such a huge part of our lives for so long.
“That’s never going to happen,” Angie says, her face adorably scrunched.
“Do my nieces have names yet?” I ask.
“We have some ideas,” Callie says. “But it’s so hard to commit. I don’t want to stick my kids with a name like Calliope.”
Angie sits up straighter. “Wait. Your full name is Calliope? Like the muse?”
“Yep. The one and only. My sister got stuck with Clio.”
“No way! My middle name is Thalia.”
“Seriously? Were your parents super into Greek mythology, too?”
“Not exactly. My mom is actually from Greece. Dad’s Italian. They recently moved back to Europe so they could be closer to their roots.”
“That’s so cool,” Olivia says. “I’d love to visit Europe sometime. Have you ever been?”
“No. I tried to talk Tyler into going for our honeymoon, but he wasn’t into it. Turns out he wasn’t actually intomeeither.”
My back teeth grind together.
Fuck Tyler.
I hate him for the way he hurt Angie, but if he hadn’tdone what he did, she wouldn’t be here with me right now. The guilt is fucking suffocating, but knowing she’s mine makes it easier to bear.
