"Ah, ha." The nurse smiles. "Are you ready?"
We nod.
"It looks like Dad was right. A baby girl."
Ace nuzzles his head against my neck, and I wrap my arm around him, stroking the back of his hair while his shoulders shake.
"You hear that?" I whisper. "You get to be a girl dad."
"Thank you, Harper." His voice is muffled against my skin. "Thank you for giving me everything I dreamed of."
I let my eyes flutter closed. Hold him while he holds us.
"Oh, she's an active one. Look," the nurse says.
We look up at the screen. She's completely flipped, feet where her head was, she's showing off already.
My heart has never been so full.
"I just need to take some measurements, and I'll see you again in two weeks?"
"Yes. Please."
We watch in silence as she measures and checks our little girl. Every click of the machine, every still image saved, Ace watches with complete concentration as if it’s the most important data in the world. I mean, this man memorized three pregnancy books in two weeks. He'll be quizzing this poor nurse in the parking lot next time.
"April?" I ask, turning to him.
He sits back. And of all the smiles I've seen this man wear, the wicked one, the cheeky one, the one before he chases me, the one when he’s pretending to be serious, this one will always be my favorite. Pure, unfiltered happiness. The smile I’ve always dreamed of seeing on his handsome face.
"April Harriet Sterling?" he says. "A little part of both of us?"
Harriet was his mom’s name, so this is perfect. Both of our initials and a nod to the woman who raised him.
"I think it's perfect," I say, clutching theAnecklace that's firmly back around my neck. New chain. Same gold letter. Some things you don't replace; you just repair them and hold on tighter.
I lean over and wipe a tear from his cheek.
He's still covered in cuts and bruises. Honestly, he probably should be admitted to this hospital, not visiting it.
But he’s so damn happy. All the pain he just went through was worth it for this one moment.
April Harriet Sterling. Size of an avocado and already flipping for an audience.
Daddy's girl. No question about it. And I can’t wait to have her in my arms.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX
Ace
I keep my eyes shut, but I feel her trailing her nails along my abs. Teasing me while she thinks I'm asleep.
The worst part of this whole recovery bullshit is not being able to fuck her like we both need. I ain't in any fit state to be chasing her anywhere. Hell, I had to lie there and watch while she put the bars of my Jacob's ladder back in. I managed to convince her that a blowjob wasn't going to give me a heart attack. And my God, I exploded in her mouth.
But she knows me too well. Once I start, I won't stop. And then I'll probably fuck myself up worse than I already am.
She's been a pretty strict nurse, really. But by the feel of her fingers tracing the V that leads to my dick, I'd say she's struggling now, too.
Ten days since I woke back up.
